What can solve sore nipples during breastfeeding? ?

Question

My daughter is 2 weeks old tomorrow and I have been breastfeeding her about every 3 to 4 hours, and i have also been pumping some milk so that i can have a bit of a rest and my husband can feed her with the bottle of expressed milk. I am suffering from really sore nipples and i feel drained, is this normal and what can i do to soothe my nipples? I dont really want to give up breastfeeding because i plan for her to self wean (up to a point) what can i do?

Answer 1

DO NOT PUT LOTION OR CREMES ON YOUR NIPPLES

What you can do is take some of your breast milk and rub it on your nipples. It will keep them from getting really dry and will act as a creme.  

Answer 2

A friend of mine just had her second baby.  She asked me if I inteded on breastfeeding and she recommended I use a nipple shield.  She said it makes the latch on easier and a lot less painful for her, and that she doesn't know what she would do without it.  I fully intend on trying it!  I don't know where all you can buy them but she got hers at babies r us, as did I.

Hope this helps.  Here's a link with more information on it!  Best of luck to you!

Also, Lansinoh will help with any cracking and is safe to put on and breastfeed.

Answer 3

Early days! The nipples will toughen up! The only 'cure' is to dry them completely, don't let them stay damp...leave them swinging free in the air as much as possible! Your husband will like this, too!! :-)  

Answer 4

Poor you. I breastfed my 2 kids who are 2 and 6 months now and I didn't have any issues with sore nipples however I know this can be very difficult and it can be very easy to give up - one word persevere. Call your health visitor and get her to do a home visit. She will be able to give you the best advice. There are so many different products on the market: breast-shields, creams, sprays etc that help but the health visitor will be able to discuss all the different methods with you. Also the main factor is making sure your baby is attached correctly to your nipple. This usually is the cause of sore/cracked nipples.

Good Luck you are doing a good job.

Answer 5

Once baby has finished feeding express a small amount of milk onto the nipple and rub this in. its a good cure and you can also buy a cream called Lanolin Nipple Cream its about 6 pounds for a tube but its great stuff works miracles apply after every feed there is no need to wash it off before feeding as its natural product. It also could be the breast pump that is the issue, if your baby is having a mixture of breast and bottle she could be getting a little confused what i would do is just purely breast feed while you re having the nipple problem once it is sorted which should be In a few days get back to what you are doing now.

Hops this helps

Answer 6

It Would Be Easier On You If You Didn't Have Nipples.

Answer 7

try some Vaseline on them the skin type. and have your partner do it, if you relax it will feel much better if that doesn't work get in a hot bath with candles around you and a soft bath foam.

when you get out use baby oil that you use for your baby it makes your skin lovely and soft.

Answer 8

I agree - you need to keep doing what you're doing, and it should go in time.  The nipple shield is a good idea, as is applying a cold compress after feeding.  

It may also be worth checking your technique - I found a good website here: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/b...

Also avoiding soaps and drying lotions helps and sometime a lonolin based cream can provide some relief.

Also it's possible you may be tensing up during feeding - because of the pain - before feeding, take several deep breaths and relax the shoulders.  This should help the milk flow a bit more freely, meaning the baby gets her fill a bit quicker.

good luck and congratulations.

Answer 9

LANSINOH   LANSINOH   LANSINOH!!!!  It's expensive (10 quid for a 55mg tube in the UK) but it WORKS!   Put it on after every feed and then a few times between feeds as well.  

You have to rub a blob between your fingers to warm it up so that it smooths on easily, and don't be afraid to coat it on thickly.  You do not need to wipe it off before a feed, it is completely safe.

After a couple of uses you will feel a difference and after a couple of days most of the pain will be gone.  

Once you find that you don't need it, and you're annoyed to have a tube of expensive cream left over, it's great for dry lips, chapped hands, and on baby's dry skin.  My son has horrible dry skin on his hands and I didn't want to use a moisturiser as he gets his hands in his mouth -- I rub some Lansinoh on there knowing that if he does suck his fingers it's fine.  It's worked wonders on his dry skin as well as mine!

Answer 10

lanolin ointment smeared on the nipple is wonderful - helps to keep any scabs from cracks getting too hard. Lansinoh is one brand that's safe to use while feeding (you don't need to wipe it off before each feed), I'm sure there are others. I only really needed it for the first month - they toughened up after that, although when my son started teething I found it also helped if he nipped me.

Answer 11

Have your partner put nipple clamps on you so that you will associate the pain with eroticism.

Answer 12

You can get some nipple cream. Lanisol (not sure how to spell it) works good. And, they had little soothie pads you can put on them.  

Answer 13

I have 3 kids all breastfed my youngest split my nipple clean in 2 and really all you can do is perserevere  and make sure she is latched on properly look for the special k shape when she is feeding, some breast pumps can put to much pressure on the nipple to, trust me when I say it will get easier as she gets a bit bigger, we have to remember our nipples are huge in their little mouths