Sore Nipples

What are they?
Sore nipples can turn the joyous experience of breastfeeding into a dreaded event.
Sore nipples are most often caused by the baby latching onto the nipple improperly. It only takes a time or two of this to turn healthy nipples into painful, raw, red, or blistered nipples. Also, a baby who is latched onto the nipple improperly is not receiving your colostrum or full milk supply as he is improperly milking the ducts behind the nipple.

Recommendations for Sore Nipples

  1. Prevention: Make sure your baby is latched deeply onto the nipple. Some tenderness may occur as the baby takes the nipple into the back of his mouth and should be relieved a minute into the feeding.
  2. If pain persists, examine how your baby is latched on (the lips should be flared out, not tucked in). Take your baby off and relatch. Tickle his lower lip with your nipple and wait for him to open his mouth wide (instead of gumming his way onto your nipple with a half opened mouth). Patience pays off!
  3. Try breastfeeding when your baby is just waking, not when he is frantically hungry. He will be more patient, and his suck will start out more gently when he is drowsy.
  4. Decrease your nursing time of the sore nipple to 5 minutes.

    If your milk is not in and you are exquisitely tender on one side, you may skip nursing your baby on that side for a couple of feedings.

    If your milk is in, you may choose to nurse your baby on the least tender side, pump the sore nipple with an electric or hand pump, and feed your baby the expressed milk for 24-48 hours. When your nipple has had time to heal, you can resume nursing on both sides.

  5. Begin each feeding nursing your baby on the least tender side. His suck is strongest when he is most hungry at the beginning of the feeding, and becomes more gentle on the second breast as he becomes more satisfied.
  6. Position your baby differently on the nipple so the same sore area is not continually irritated. Switch to the football or side-lying position.
  7. Change bra pads when wet.

  8. Remember: A wet nipple = a sore nipple!
  9. Apply wet, warm, black tea bags (not herbal) directly over your nipples after a feeding for 15-20 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea decreases inflammation. Then air dry your nipples for the same amount of time. After that, gently squeeze a drop of your colostrum or breast milk onto your nipple (it's very healing and soothing - naturally!)
  10. Your nipples have their own lubricating glands. Avoid using soap which may further irritate and dry your nipples.
  11. You may spread a thin layer of pure lanolin (PureLan) over your nipple after drying if you choose. Use it again when you pump to decrease friction. It won't hurt your baby. Other lanolins contain pesticides, alcohol and detergents which may further irritate a raw nipple. If you are allergic to wool, do avoid all lanolins as they may cause a skin reaction.
  12. Shells (not shields) - worn over a sore nipple keep clothing from rubbing and allows for further air drying. Use the wide ring in the shell.
  13. Take a mild pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, one half hour before nursing.
  14. Call a lactation consultant or dermatologist if your tenderness persists. A lactation consultant can recommend a dermatologist that is familiar with treating sore nipples.

We hope these recommendations and comfort measures help!


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