Guest Author - Jessica Gunsch

It is very important to have your baby properly latched on to the breast to prevent a myriad of breastfeeding problems. One of the most painful for you is sore nipples. When a bay doesn’t latch on properly your nipples can become extremely sore, cracked and may even bleed. Additionally a snowball effect happens; you are too sore to nurse, your milk supply suffers and your baby won’t be getting enough to eat. Ensuring that your baby is probably latched from day one or correcting the problem after the fact will allow you to prevent having to continually treat symptoms. Here are some tips on getting your baby properly latched on and treatment measures for sore, cracked nipples.

Proper latch on :

-Feeding your baby as soon as possible after birth will increase her chances of nursing successfully.

-Your baby’s gums should be positioned on top of the areola, not on the nipple itself. The areola is the dark circular area surrounding the nipple. When the baby starts to suck the sinuses located above milk will be compressed and release the milk. If your baby is instead latched on to just the nipple, she is going to have a harder time drawing out the milk. This in turn will cause her to suck harder. This, along with the virtual chewing of your nipple, this will cause soreness or more serious conditions like cracking and bleeding.

-In order to get your baby to grasp the entire nipple surrounding the areola, you need her to open her mouth wide. You can do this by stimulating her rooting reflex. There are a couple ways to do this. First you can ‘tease’ your baby’s lips with your nipple or finger and she should respond by opening up. You can also softly stroke your baby’s cheek and she should automatically turn her face towards you and open wide.

-When she opens up, gently pull her towards you until she has grasped as much of your breast in her mouth as she can. If she hasn’t latched on properly the first time, immediately try again- practice makes perfect and your nipples will thank you!

If you are already suffering from sore, cracked nipples try the following remedies which should help you heal quickly:

-Take a pain reliever just before nursing. Check with your doctor about what is safe for your baby. Usually Tylenol is ok. Taking the pain reliever just before nursing will diminish the amount of medication that may pass into your milk supply.

-After nursing, let your nipples air dry. Try and wear 100% cotton shirts and bras for maximum air circulation. Change breast pads frequently. This will assist in healing as well as preventing the growth of yeast or bacteria which would cause further problems.

-Used a lanolin based cream on your nipples after nursing to hasten healing and do not touch or pick at scabs or blisters. Lansinoh breast cream is highly recommended and it can also be used as a very effective diaper rash ointment.

-Avoid washing your nipples with soap. Warm water will be an adequate cleanser until you are healed. Soap dries out your skin and can cause further irritation.

-If your nipple soreness is unbearable, you can use a breast pump for 24 hours and feed your baby the expressed milk, giving your nipples a chance to heal. It is wise to consult a lactation professional before doing this to make sure this will not interfere with breastfeeding in the long term.

-If your nipples do not begin to feel better within 12-24 hours there may be a more serious cause such as thrush or nipple dermatitis. These conditions need medical treatment and will usually not clear up without prescription antibiotics.