Sore Nipples

If you have sore nipples from breastfeeding, it will comfort you to know that help is available, and this is a problem you CAN solve. First, we need to determine the cause of your soreness. About 90% of nipple soreness is caused by incorrect positioning of the baby at the breast, resulting in a “latch” that puts pressure on a less than ideal part of the breast. Try this checklist:

• Is baby positioned so her belly is against yours? If not, she may have to turn her head sideways to latch on, and that causes pulling on one side of the nipple.
   
• Is baby's mouth in front of the nipple before she latches on? If not, you may be pulling the breast to the baby, causing pulling when you let go.
   
• Are you tickling baby's lower lip with the nipple, waiting for him to open wide, and THEN pulling him in close? If baby's mouth isn't wide enough, he may be sucking on the tip of the nipple, and this hurts! Try this: put your index finger in your mouth up to the first knuckle, and suck on it. Feel your tongue rubbing the tip of your finger? Now put your finger in your mouth to the SECOND knuckle and suck again. You can't feel your tongue on your fingertip at all, right? THAT's how far the nipple has to go into baby’s mouth!
   
• Are you breaking the latch gently? Make sure that you break the suction by placing your finger at the corner of baby's mouth before removing baby from your breast. If you hear a popping sound as baby comes off, or let the baby continue to suck as he pulls away, soreness will result!
   
• Are you varying nursing holds? If you ALWAYS use the cradle hold, you keep putting pressure on the same side of the nipple. Try football, lying down, or cross cradle holds, for variety.
   
• Are you air drying your nipples after breast feeding? Putting nipples back in the bra the second you're done feeding, especially with breast pads, increases tissue break down by keeping the skin wet. Let them dry thoroughly before covering them.

If you are doing all of these things, and you still have sore nipples, you may have a yeast infection called Thrush, or some other problem that requires an expert. However, almost every breast feeding problem can be solved so don't give up. You and your baby are going to get better at this every day, and your patience and perseverance will be rewarded! Find a midwife, lactation consultant, pediatrician, nurse-practitioner or La Leche leader who can help!