On many occasions, I have taught new mothers how to correctly position their babies for breastfeeding, educated on ‘proper attachment’, nipple care e.t.c

 I had sore nipples about a week postpartum, being an ‘expert’ you would expect me to retrace my technique and positioning but I felt clueless! I made an SOS call to more experienced moms, Mrs DY reassured me it would be over eventually!

 And here I was, moonnnthhsss Postpartum with CRACKED NIPPLES!! Again! Hence the SOS!!!

Painful and Sore nipples are NOT a normal side effect of breastfeeding, Nursing your little human should not be uncomfortable!

 I know many moms have experienced this or are experiencing this.....so the questions are:

 What causes cracked/ sore nipples?

1. Improper latch/ Attachment, which can also cause severe nipple pain.

• Correcting your nursing technique can go a long way toward letting cracked nipples heal.
  
• Sometimes just the slightest change in positioning will make a world of difference.
  

 2. Improper use of Breast pump.

• This can also hurt or damage your nipples.
  
• Some women mistakenly turn the suction level up too high, for instance.
  
• To make matters worse, some pumps come with flanges (or breast shields) that are too small.
  

3. Fungal infection in baby.

• If your baby has oral thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth, he may pass it on to you, which will cause nipple pain or damage.
  
• Signs of thrush in breastfeeding moms include itchy, red, shiny, painful nipples and shooting pains in the breast during or after a feeding.
  

4. Severe dry skin or eczema.

• Eczema can show up as scaly, dry patches of skin that may be itchy or painful.
  
• If you think you have eczema, see a dermatologist.
  

5. If your baby has a Tongue-tie.

• This means that the tissue connecting his tongue to the floor of his mouth is short or extends too far to the front of his tongue.
  
• This can cause nursing problems, like poor attachment leading to  sore nipples, but the good news is that it can be easily fixed .

What do you do while breastfeeding?

1. Check your baby's latch.

• The best latch position is off-center, with more of the areola below the nipple in your baby's mouth.
  
• One way to achieve this is to line up her nose with your nipple so her bottom gum is far away from the base of your nipple when she opens her mouth.  
  

2. Try different nursing positions.

• You may find that certain positions make it easier for your baby to latch on correctly and are much more comfortable than others.
  

3. Nurse on the less injured side first.

• If you have one. Babies often nurse more gently on the second side since they’re less hungry.
  

4. Briefly apply a cold pack to numb the injured area before nursing.

What do you do after breastfeeding?

1. Clean your nipples gently.

• When you have a cracked or bleeding nipple, rinse the breast after each feeding with water to reduce the risk of infection.
• Don't use alcohol, lotions, or perfumes on the nipples.
  

2. Use an antibacterial ointment.

•  If you have an open wound, your doctor will probably recommend an over-the-counter ointment.
  

3. Use emollients or medical approved nipple creams made for breastfeeding mothers.

• Rub a small amount of  vaseline, olive oil or the nipple cream on your nipples after every feeding.
• This treatment relieves pain and allows the wounds to heal much faster without forming a scab.
  

4. Take painkillers. 

Taking Ibrupofen or  Paracetamol about 30 minutes before nursing can help lessen pain and swelling.

Can the condition affect your Baby?

• The fact that your nipples are cracked or bleeding won't bother your baby.
  
• She may swallow some blood and you may see it come out in her diaper, but it won't do her any harm. I
  
• Although if she's got a poor latch, she may not be getting enough milk.

Should you STOP breastfeeding?

• NO!
  
• Once you identify and start to correct the problem causing the nipple damage, you can and should continue to nurse while your nipples heal.
  
• You don't need to stop breastfeeding unless it's simply too painful.
  
• In that case, you can pump for a day or so to give yourself a break and use a cup and spoon to feed your baby during this time
  

In love & health

Dr. Mims