How to Alleviate Sore Nipples

The one thing that will probably arrive shortly after your newborn is a period of really sore nipples. Sore nipples are sometimes caused by positioning or an incorrect latch. However, even if you do everything correctly when it comes to breastfeeding, you may still experience a period of sore nipples. The soreness will go away in time and with experience, but the following steps may help to alleviate it sooner.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Check your nursing position. Make sure that your baby is tummy to tummy with you, which makes it the optimal position for feeding. Try alternating positions (football hold, side lying, cross cradle, etc.) when feeding if one particular position is too uncomfortable.

2. Make sure that she has a very wide latch when she attaches to the nipple. One way to encourage a wide latch is to stroke her chin. Her lips should be outward on the breast and not sucked in. Her tongue should be down under the nipple and you should not hear any clicking sounds.

3. Try massaging your breasts to help stimulate the let-down reflex before putting baby to breast. Expressing a little bit of breast milk before your baby attaches softens the nipple and makes it easier for him to get a good latch.

4. Begin nursing on the least sore side first. And when you do begin to nurse on the tender side, do some relaxation techniques like breathing or visualization to help you through the first few minutes.

5. When the baby is finished feeding, take her off the breast. Do not let her nurse for comfort on a sore nipple. This will only make it worse.

6. Never just pull the baby off the breast. If you have to break the suction for any reason you should stick your pinky finger in the corner of his mouth and gently pull to break the suction before taking him off of the breast.

7. If you continue to have sore nipples that don't seem to be getting any better, or seem to get worse, contact your local lactation expert. You can check at the hospital or with the La Leche League.

Tips & Warnings

• To help the nipples heal, you can express some breast milk onto the nipples and let them air dry after a feeding.
• Get some sunshine on your nipples. This too, will help them heal.
• Apply hospital-grade lanolin to your nipples.
• Consult with a lactation expert.
• Some soreness in breastfeeding is normal, but continued pain throughout the feeding is not.
• If you notice any type of streaking in the breast accompanied with a fever and/or flu symptoms, consult your doctor. You could possibly have a breast infection.

Resources

• La Leche League International
• Breastfeeding

[thebirthauthor]

on 3/3/2009 Thank you, MariM. I'm glad that you find them useful and informative.

[MariM]

on 1/28/2009 great advice thanks 5* recommend. you have some great articles