Sore Nipples
The most common cause of sore nipples in the early days and weeks of nursing is a shallow latch. And the first line of defense against a shallow latch is effective positioning.
If breastfeeding has been going well and you are now experiencing sudden onset of sore nipples, there are a myriad of possible causes. For example, vasospasms, yeast infections, and biting can cause sore nipples later in your breastfeeding journey.
If your nipples are tender without broken skin, you can express some colostrum or milk after nursing and allow it to dry on your nipples. Many parents find hydrogel pads, cooled in the fridge before use, to be very soothing on tender nipples.
If you develop broken skin, cracks, an open sore, or a scab on your nipple, here are some guidelines for you to follow. Nipples sores usually heal quickly if they are kept clean, if appropriate wound healing strategies are used, and with correction of the underlying problem (such as by improving latch).
Watch for signs of infection in the nipple (redness and swelling, yellow or pussy discharge, fever, not healing despite position correction and appropriate wound treatment). Seek medical advice if such signs appear.
Watch for signs of mastitis (spreading redness, chills, fever, engorgement that does not resolve with appropriate treatment), and seek medical treatment as soon as possible (may mean a trip to the ER if you cannot get an appointment at your clinic).
Use hydrogel pads to promote moist wound healing and to protect the nipple. KINDNESS can supply you with these.
If you choose to use silverettes, we recommend that you do so only temporarily, and consider alternating them with hydrogel pads.
Before nursing, gently pat your nipples with a wet, warm, clean cloth to remove any excess gel or cream before latching.
Seek help if you do not see improvement or if your nipple damage and/or pain worsen.
Want more information? Milkworks.org has several resources related to sore nipples, including information about additional treatment options such as medical grade honey and Polymem (an option for moist/deep/cratered wounds).
When it comes to sore nipples, KINDNESS takes an individual problem-solving approach to figure out what might be going on. If your sore nipples don’t resolve within 1-2 days after correcting positioning and trying other strategies as described in this post, please contact us for in-person support as soon as possible. The sooner sore nipples are addressed, the better for both you and baby! Don’t grit your teeth and “nurse through it”… We can help!
DISCLAIMER: We know when you surf the web for information, you can get conflicting results, and it’s not easy to know whether you are finding evidence-based, high quality recommendations. That’s part of our job here at Kodiak KINDNESS; we are here to support your informed decisions about infant feeding through your baby’s first year. We’ve done some background work, and to the best of our knowledge, this post reflects current best practices. However, the information contained in this post and any links contained herein is for your informational use only; it is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Furthermore, Kodiak KINDNESS is not responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in this post or links contained herein; it is for you to review at your own risk and discuss, as needed, with your health care professional in order to make a plan that suits your individual circumstances.