Causes of Sore Nipples When Breastfeeding

"Greetings! My name is Asma Hanif. I am a certified nurse midwife with a private practice in Baltimore, Maryland, and on behalf of Expert Village, this segment is on sore nipples. You may ask yourself a question; is it normal for my nipples to be sore from breast-feeding? Sore nipples are so common to new breast-feeding moms that you may think that they are a normal part of nursing, not so. Most women feel some tenderness in the beginning of a feeding during their first few days, but severe or prolonged pain associated with nursing is neither necessary nor normal. If the pain is intense or lasts longer than a few days, it is a sign that you may need to make some changes. Nursing should be a pleasurable experience for you and your baby. So what is causing the soreness? If your nipples are sore, you are most likely have a baby who is latching on improperly or is positioned incorrectly at your breast. Be sure to place your breasts well into your baby’s mouth so that his lower lip is well below your nipple, if he has to suck or pull your nipple into his mouth it can cause you soreness and pain. Now since you are having soreness, what you can do is to use a purified hydro-allogenic lanolin cream formulated especially for sore and cracked nipples, such as this. If your nipples are cracked and sore for longer than five days, the cracks are probably infected with bacteria, which can slow healing and put you at risk for a serious breast infection. Try these creams; it will help to soften the breast and promote healing. In the meantime you and your baby need to get it together. On behalf of Expert Village, this is Asma Hanif saying thank you for watching."