Sore nipples when breastfeeding

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. Period.

If your breastfeeding hurts, it is the body's way of letting you know that something is wrong. There are several things that can play a role. For example, the baby's sucking technique, the breastfeeding position and possibly the baby's tongue, lip and jawbone or tension in the baby's neck if the birth was quick, took place with a vacuum or by caesarean section - in that case I recommend that the baby is checked by a skilled osteopath. If you hear someone asking when breastfeeding stops hurting, the message is that it should not hurt at all!

It is simply a myth that breastfeeding hurts. And it is also a myth that the nipples need to harden. We women are created to breastfeed, and babies are created to be able to breastfeed. From there it is learning by doing. And to remember that in the vast majority of cases practice makes perfect – for both mother and baby AND that it can easily take a month or more to establish a well-functioning breastfeeding.

If this is your first time breastfeeding, it is a completely new bodily experience when baby creates the correct vacuum around your nipple. It can feel super intense and…. like when a dairy cow gets a milking machine attached. Of course I don't know what that feels like, but most women understand and can relate to the description. So there is a difference between the experience of an intense vacuum, where you may have to count to 10 very slowly before the intensity decreases, and then it really hurts.

If it hurts when you put your baby to sleep, put your little finger in the corner of your baby's mouth and puncture the vacuum and start putting baby to sleep again. Read about my general advice for breastfeeding positions here .

In general, it is important that you remember to take good care of yourself - including your nipples. Often, as mothers, we can focus completely on the baby and almost throw ourselves through the air when the baby cries, forget to feel if we are sitting properly when we breastfeed, forget to eat, pee and more because .... we are so attentive to the baby.

It's important that you are also there for yourself - including your nipples.

For example, if you leak a lot of milk, keep your nipples dry. After breastfeeding, let the nipple air dry and then put on a nursing pad that absorbs the leaked milk. Make sure to change the nursing pad often so that your breast does not become damp and there is a risk of getting thrush. If it is a cool or cold season, you are also welcome to use a woolen nursing pad. It should be large enough to cover most of the breast. This helps to keep the breast warm and thus prevents mastitis.

When you are in the shower, shower with a warm shower all the way around your breasts. If you have tension in some places in your chest, you can rub the area lovingly with the warm water. Always in the direction of the nipple. This can both prevent mastitis and be a present moment for you and your breasts.

If you have sores or cracks on your nipples, it is important to seek qualified breastfeeding help in the form of a breastfeeding counselor. Many women rush out and buy various creams, patches and more to 'fix' their nipples. This can also help, but (!) the cause of the sores and cracks needs to be found and remedied. Creams, ointments and patches do not help.

So dear, you and your nipples should feel good, and breastfeeding shouldn't hurt!

Poop poop from here - and reach out for help if you need it.