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The term "sore nipples" should not be confused with normal adjustment sensations. A little soreness can be expected during the first few days, but if nipples crack or if it is painful to nurse, it is time to look for treatment. The best strategy is to learn how to prevent sore nipples beforehand. There are some simple ways to help control nipple soreness during the first few months. Remember, nursing is not supposed to be painful!
It is common for a newborn to suck in his bottom lip. Running your finger under his mouth while he is latched on will determine if this is happening. If it is, gently pull on his chin until the lip comes out, or latch him on again. Another common cause of nipple soreness is positioning problems. When latching baby on, it is important to bring the baby to the breast, not the other way around. Leaning over to let baby take the nipple isn't just hard on your back, it can cause your nipple to be slightly stretched in a slant position after you have leaned back in your chair. This can cause extra rubbing on certain parts of the nipple, leading to soreness. With older babies, soreness can result from teeth rubbing against the nipple while baby is nursing. Again, this is caused by improper positioning. The nipple should be centered in the baby's mouth. To make sure this happens, sit with your back straight and with enough pillows on your lap to rest the baby at chest level. If you are using the cradle hold, turn your baby so his tummy is against your body. You should be bringing baby's head to your breast. Sitting upright also allows you to see the latch-on better. If you do get sore nipples from improper latch-on or bad positioning, it is important to take steps to help your nipples heal. The first thing to remember is to nurse your baby on cue. It my be hard to imagine nursing your baby frequently with sore nipples, but if you make baby wait until he is extremely hungry, he will suck more vigorously — which can cause the soreness to be worse. Also, it certainly wouldn't help to get engorged by denying feedings and using supplements. If your baby has a strong suck, it may be helpful to hand express some milk to get the flow going before you latch baby on. Unfortunately, pumps can cause just as much pain as nursing for some mothers, so hand expression is the best choice to keep nipple pain at a minimum. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Nipple Soreness in Breastfeeding is owned by . Permission to republish Nipple Soreness in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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