For many new mothers, tender and sensitive nipples are common during the first few days of breastfeeding. However, sore, cracked or bleeding nipples are not normal. The optimal prevention of sore nipples is ensuring that from day one, your baby is well positioned at the breast and is latched on properly.

Observant attention to how your baby takes the breast will help eliminate or minimize most sore nipple challenges.
Before breastfeeding your baby, focus on your positioning first. Are you comfortable? Are your shoulders relaxed? Is your back straight and well supported? Then, as you prepare to breastfeed your baby, whether s/he is in a transitional, cradle or clutch position, be sure that his/her body is in alignment and that you are bringing the baby to you. Your baby should be facing the breast, chest to chest, so that his/her mouth is directly in front of your breast and centered towards the nipple.

Consider beginning feedings on the breast with the least sore nipple. Support your breast, with your thumb positioned on top and well behind the areola and your fingers underneath. Compress your breast in the same plane as the baby’s mouth to make a “breast sandwich” for the baby to latch on to. Tickle his/her lips, wait for a wide open mouth, and then with a rapid arm motion (RAM), pull him/her to the breast so that s/he is able to get as much areola tissue in his/her mouth as possible. As your baby breastfeeds, his/her top and bottom lips should be flanged. If your nipple continues to hurt, or the latch appears to be too shallow, insert a finger into the corner of baby’s mouth, to release the suction and break the latch before attempting to relatch. In the early days of breastfeeding, when you are both learning, it is not uncommon to latch and relatch baby several times at the beginning of a feeding until the latch is correct.

When the positioning and or latch is corrected, you may still feel some tenderness, but the pain should decrease as you breastfeed and as the nipple begins to heal. Additionally, to help relieve sore nipples, feed your baby often. Wearing plastic dome shaped breast shells, which promote the circulation of air around the nipples, can help protect your nipples from rubbing against your clothing. Many mothers have also found that applying a small amount of colostrum or breastmik on the nipple/areola tissue helps facilitate the healing process. Avoid using anything on your nipples may dry them or which can cause nipple damage such as soaps, hairdryers or harsh towels. If your nipple/s are too sore to breastfeed, breastfeed on the least sore breast while you pump your sore side for a day or two. However, be aware that, depending on your sensitivity tolerance, pumping can irritate the nipples if you use too much suction or if you pump for too long. Your expressed breastmilk can be fed to the baby in a cup, spoon or feeding syringe. Avoid giving supplements with artificial nipples. Feeding expressed breastmilk to the baby with an artificial nipple, may make it more difficult for you to resolve sore nipples if latch-on problems are contributing to your sore nipples.

Breastfeeding should be a pleasant and rewarding relationship for you and your baby.

The above is general breastfeeding information, which does not replace the advice of your health care provider, but is intended to help resolve uncomplicated sore nipple challenges. There are instances in which sore nipples may indicate a more intense problem. Please seek professional help if your sore nipples do not resolve quickly. If you have a breastfeeding concern that you are unable to resolve, seek the help of an experienced Lactation Consultant or call your physician.