Nipple Survival Guide for Breastfeeding Mums

The joy that comes with childbirth is just amazing really and more especially if you are a first-time mother. Holding your precious bundle of joy in your arms it’s just one of those great gifts of nature.

Your little angel needs to eat and the best way to feed her or him is with breast milk. Breastfeeding should generally be fun but not when your nipples are sore and hurting. It is not uncommon to experience some tenderness in the initial days of breastfeeding but the process should not generally hurt. There are many causes of sore nipples including the baby not being positioned correctly, latched on or removed properly from the breast.

Cracked, dry and even sore nipples can be the cause of so much pain during breastfeeding and make the whole experience rather unpleasant. Instead of looking forward to feeding your baby, you would cringe at the thought of the pain and discomfort you’ll endure.

When you are just beginning to breastfeed it is logical that your nipples will hurt because they are adjusting to being suckled and pulled on. Sometimes you’ll feel like they are about to actually fall off! There is not much you can really do to avoid that because it is a normal reaction but you can soothe the pain and even quicken the healing phase.

Some experts would say that when you experience such pain then you should seek medical help but most mums will tell you that the experience is very normal. However, if you feel pain when breastfeeding it is advisable to visit a lactation professional to advise you further but it still might take you some time to get used to the new experience.

These nipple survival guides will help you get through the pain and discomfort that comes with breastfeeding especially if you are a new mum.

1. Rub some breast milk on your nipples after breastfeeding

This should be used as a daily nipple treatment routine. Just express a few drops of breast milk after feeding the baby and rub it gently into the skin then leave it to dry. This should help in easing the pain especially caused by soreness. It is one of the best form of nipple survival tips and at no extra cost.

2. Apply nipple cream

This can be used to enhance the healing process. After the milk applied over your areolae and nipple has dried up, you can rub nipple cream or even modified lanolin to support the healing process. When it comes to ointments used for nipple survival, modified lanolin is considered the best choice of treatment. It is not advisable to use any ointment that has to be wiped off prior to feeding the baby. This has the downside of further irritating your skin and causing more discomfort in the process.

3. Express your milk to prevent engorgement

When the baby sleeps for long hours, your breasts might be full with milk and this may cause a lot of pain especially when you have sore or cracked nipples. Enlarging of the breasts as a result of high milk production can cause engorgement and in the process making the nipple pain unbearable. To reduce the pain and avoid engorgement, it is best to express your milk. You can use hand expression or a breast pump to achieve this.

4. Soothing gel pads

After an intense breastfeeding session especially if the baby was very hungry, your nipples may feel like they are on fire. The pain and soreness sometimes may be a lot and the best way to get some relief would be by using soothing gel pads to relieve the pain. For maximum effect, you can put the Rite Aid Hydrogel Breast discs in the refrigerator because that ice-cold feeling helps to numb the pain and eliminate the soreness. These pads are a must have for any new breastfeeding mum.

5. Great latching technique

Sometimes what really causes nipple pain and soreness is the use of poor latching techniques. Positioning of the baby at the time of breastfeeding is very important so that you don’t feel as if the infant is trying to yank your nipples loose. New mothers are at a great disadvantage because of lack of experience. You can always use a nursing pillow to get the baby at a favorable level with the nipples to avoid any pull on them that may cause you pain.

6. Proper Nursing Bra

It is important that you wear a bra that supports your lactating breasts effectively. You may notice that most lactating mothers have relatively large and full breasts and therefore require appropriate bras to hold the additional weight. Spend some money but bring yourself some relief in the process too. If your bra is too small and not appropriate for a nursing mother then you may experience a lot of discomfort and probably pain.

7. Reusable breast pads

Sometimes the gel used in disposable breast pads can cause nipple soreness, blocked duct and even thrush. This is because these types of pads use an absorption gel that can cause irritation especially if your skin is very sensitive. The same gel is also similar to the ones used in baby diapers. Reusable breast pads are usually made of cotton which does not cause irritation to the skin. What’s more, since they can be reused means that you get to save on money.

8. Continue breastfeeding

The soreness and paining of nipples during the initial stages of breastfeeding for new mums is very normal. Simply use the above nipple survival guides to alleviate the pain. As you continue breastfeeding, the nipples will toughen up and you will no longer feel the pain.

It is great to be a mother and if it’s your first time the experience is even more amazing.

Soreness and pain on the nipples should not deny you the joy of performing the natural duty of breastfeeding your baby. It is a normal experience and the only thing any new mum who is breastfeeding should strive to do is to find appropriate measures to bring relief on the sore nipples. The nipple survival guides should go a long way in helping new mums take care of their nipples and also have a wonderful time while breastfeeding their young ones.

Did you find this guide helpful? What do you think?