NIPPLE PAIN
For those that have experienced it you know that there is nothing like nipple pain in this world. It can be excruciating! Whether you are breastfeeding or pumping, nothing ruins your experience more than dreading each and every feed because you are terrified it's going to hurt again.
As a lactation consultant, 95% of the problems that we see can be solved with correcting the latch. See our blog post on "How to get the best latch" for advice on how to correct your own attachment and positioning issues. Always remember lactation consultants are an invaluable resource for solving your lactation issues and sometimes there is no replacement for a well timed, in person, professional feeding support session.
This article is meant to discuss tips and strategies for resolving and healing your nipple pain. In the early days after the birth of your child, whether you're pumping or breastfeeding, your nipples are working in a way they never have before. As you're getting used to this sensation it can be normal to experience a bit of soreness or discomfort. This usually resolves on its own in the first week or so. The body goes through a desensitization process and sort of leathers up!
However, if you're experiencing sharp excruciating pain that's going on beyond this period of time, it's likely that you have a latch issue and you want to get some professional support. For those with transitional nipple discomfort there are lots of great remedies to make you feel better in the meanwhile.
Studies have shown that just simply expressing breast milk and massaging it back on to the nipple can reduce pain and also heal damage. They also make nipple creams and butters that can be very soothing.
When we look at the research, newer studies have found that pure coconut oil is really useful for healing damage and resolving pain. It also feels really nice and smells lovely. And it's safe to get in the baby's mouth!
Another very popular tool that's come about in recent years is the Silverettes. Anecdotally, these tools have worked wonders for women who have experienced nipple soreness at any point in their feeding journey. We don't actually understand how or why they provide such relief, but thousands of positive testimonials have to mean something. There's a theory that the silver itself which has an antimicrobial property protects from infection. But that's not evidence based. Others think it's just simply acting as a reservoir to collect the breast milk and bathe the nipple in milk, which has been found to heal nipples faster anyway. It may simply be down to the fact that it creates a barrier between your sore skin and your bra or clothing that provides the relief. Whatever the reason, if it works it works!!
Step 1 Express a couple of drops of breast milk in each cup and place directly over each nipple, secure the cups with the nursing bra.
Step 2 Before breastfeeding, remove the cups and clean the nipples with warm water or a water wipe. Once feeding has completed, rinse the cups with warm water, pat dry and repeat step 1 in-between feeds.
Some people have found that hot or cold compresses can help with the discomfort as well. You could run a washcloth under the hot water and place them over your sore nipples, or you could hug a bag of frozen peas between feeds. Nowadays they make these handy dandy things that you can pop in the microwave or freezer and find which temperature is more beneficial for you.
If you've experienced deep cracks, scabs or bleeding this would be classified as severe nipple damage. We can also look to the evidence to find remedies to speed this healing from more severe damage. In the hospital we use moist wound healing with large scale skin damage, such as 3rd degree burns. Turns out this also works to treat for nipple damage! The concept is to keep the wound covered for a full 48 hours with a Vaseline soaked gauze, so that the tissue remains continuously moist and this speeds up the healing.
You can get this gauze yourself and administer the treatment at any time. Only take it off to pump or breastfeed then put it right back on. It’s safe for babies and fine to get in their mouths. It’s also hypoallergenic. Just change the gauze out for a fresh one once a day to prevent any bacterial colonization.
If you see any worrying signs of infections such as fever, shakes, flu like symptoms, redness, or heat around the damaged nipples or in breasts themselves, then definitely see a healthcare professional, such as your OB, lactation consultant, nurse, or midwife as soon as possible.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns! info@pacificnorthbreast.com
The Breasties!!
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