Painful nips aren』t what you want, but unfortunately it’s unavoidable for most of us when breastfeeding.

While breastfeeding is brilliant for your baby, it isn』t so great for your nipples. The excessive tugging and suckling may have caused them to be sore and cracked, and possibly even bleed.

But don』t stress too much. There are loads of relief methods you can try out to soothe and heal your nipples and also lots of ways to avoid them getting sore in the first place.

Get the position right 


If your baby is positioned and latched properly, breastfeeding shouldn』t be all that painful.

『Remember that your baby 『breast』 feeds not 『nipple』 feeds,』 explains breastfeeding expert Geraldine Miskin. 『So, your baby needs to scoop up some breast as well as your nipple.』

『When your baby gapes widely, bring him onto the breast quickly, applying pressure to his upper back, so that your nipple flicks to the back of his mouth and is out of harms』 way,』 Geraldine explains.

Relax your nipples


Simply apply a hot wet cloth can go a long way. 『This will soften any dry skin and relax nipples before latching,』 says Geraldine.

Cream up 


Nipple creams are really popular and putting them in a fridge can make yours tonnes more effective.

『A lanolin cream is great for broken skin,』 advises Geraldine. 『But, if your nipples are just sore and not cracked, opt for a lanolin-free alternative such as hydrogel pads instead.』

Go natural 


There are some fab natural products you can apply to calm any pain.

『Manuka honey is a great natural treatment,』 says Geraldine. 『Opt for the highest level of manuka activity and your nipples will heal quickly. If you do use Manuka however, just remember to wash nipples well before latching baby onto the breast, as babies can』t tolerate honey at all.』

Organic olive oils are also widely recommended – just check that the ingredients are safe for both you and your baby and remove the oil before breastfeeding.

Skip the soap


It’s best not to use soap to wash your breasts as it removes the natural oils on your skin and dries out your nipples. 

『When you wash, just get your nipples wet – you don』t need to use soap,』 advises Claire. It’s a good idea to wash your hands before nursing, too, to make sure you don』t transfer any soap onto your nipples when you touch them.

Go topless


Try air drying your nipples after each feeding. OK, not possible if you』re down the local coffee shop, but if you』re at home then definitely go topless for a while.

Apply your own milk


Some women have had success from applying their own milk to their nipples. It’s a great (free!) way to soothe any soreness as its anti-bacterial is a great healing agent.

Dealing With Painful Breasts While Breastfeeding – What You Can Do

Breastfeeding may be best but, for some women, it can be painful. If you』re experiencing discomfort, work out the cause and soothe it fast

You』ve worked out the most comfortable position, got the hang of encouraging your baby to latch on and pretty much have breastfeeding established.

So, when something feels painful or uncomfortable, it can be disheartening.

There are different reasons why this might be happening, so it’s just a case of working out what’s going on and how to solve it.

1.Letdown reflex

The letdown reflex (when milk fills the breast ready for feeding) can sometimes be pretty uncomfortable. The sensation can range from a slight tingling or pins and needles to a feeling of great pressure that ends up giving you an achey boob. For some, there’s not really any feeling at all. 


The good news is that letdown discomfort tends to lessen with time and can fade almost entirely within the first three months of breastfeeding. This is particularly true if you produce a lot of milk at first. You』ll find your milk supply soon settles down to match your baby’s needs during the first few weeks and months.

What you can do: Relaxation exercises and techniques may help you to cope with discomfort during letdown. Taking painkillers (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) can help ease the pain and are fine to take if you』re breastfeeding – although speak to your GP if your baby was born prematurely, at a low birth weight or has a medical condition.

2.Thrush

Up until now, thrush probably made peeing pretty horrid and resulted in a quick trip to the pharmacy. But it can also develop and be passed between your baby’s mouth and nipples when breastfeeding.

Look for spots of cottage cheese or milk curds in and around your baby’s mouth and on your nipples. Unlike a white milk coating, if you touch a patch of thrush it won』t easily come off – and if it does, you may notice a sore red area underneath that may bleed.

On rare occasions, the infection may enter your milk ducts and make breastfeeding painful. Unlike letdown discomfort, thrush pain tends to gets worse after you』ve finished a feed.

What you can do: See your GP who will be able to confirm thrush and prescribe treatment for you both.

3.Engorgement 


A few days after giving birth, milk floods into a woman’s breasts while blood flow to the area is also increased, resulting in the tissues becoming hot, swollen and engorged. While this can be painful in the early days, the discomfort should pass once your baby starts feeding.

If your baby has trouble latching on to suckle, ease the engorgement by expressing some milk by hand or using a breast pump until he can draw your breast comfortably into his mouth.

What you can do: To help milk flow before a feed, try putting warm damp flannels on your breasts. Once you』ve finished feeding, cold damp flannels or cold gel packs (some women swear by green or white cabbage leaves) can help to reduce the swelling.

If your baby is latching on well and feeding regularly and engorgement pain remains a problem, make an appointment to see your health visitor or breastfeeding specialist.

4.Mastitis 


Mastitis is a painful condition that happens when excess milk is forced out of a duct and into your breast tissue, causing inflammation. Breasts feel tender (they may be red, hard, sore, hot or swollen) and you may also notice a lump, caused by milk in the breast tissue.

Other signs include feeling feverish and flu-like symptoms, such as chills, headaches, exhaustion and a temperature of more than 38.5 degrees C.

What you can do: The inflammation can quickly turn into an infection, so see your GP immediately, who will most probably prescribe a course of antibiotics. Removing plenty of milk will help to heal your mastitis, so it’s best to continue feeding.

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