5 helpful tips to treat sore nipples
If you have sore nipples, you as a mother quickly lose the desire to breastfeed. With these five tips, you can continue latching your baby and prevent sore nipples.
How can you prevent sore nipples?
Rubbing with breast milk: At 68 percent, most of the mothers we surveyed recommend rubbing the last few drops of breast milk that come out of the breast during or after breastfeeding. Spread it on your nipple and areola and let the breast milk air dry. This is beneficial for your nipples and cares for them.
Lots of fresh air: Lots of sun and fresh air is good for your nipples and accelerates wound healing. 63 percent of the mothers we surveyed therefore recommend doing without bras and the like more often if they have sore nipples.
Tip: Nipple protectors from the pharmacy, which are placed in the bra, ensure that air gets to the nipples, even if you don’t want to do without the bra.
Change nursing pads often: Keep both healthy and sore nipples dry. Because constant moisture promotes soreness. 60 percent of the mothers surveyed therefore recommend changing the nursing pads frequently to prevent sore nipples or to speed up wound healing.
Rub with wool fat: Lanolin products made from so-called pure wool fat can also make the skin more supple and prevent sore nipples. 59 percent of the mothers we surveyed recommend this method.
Use a red light lamp: You can also achieve a beneficial effect similar to that of warm sunlight with a red light lamp. The heat relaxes and promotes wound healing. At least 9 percent of our survey participants still recommend this method.
More tips against sore nipples
- Start applying to the nipple that is less sore. In this way, the milk flows more easily on the second side, since your child’s suckling has already triggered the milk ejection reflex.
- Alternate breastfeeding positions regularly and make sure your child is latching properly to avoid sore nipples. Because only then can it really get hold of the nipple and hold it. However, the baby should drink for at least 10 minutes on each side.
- Breastfeed your baby often! Then its hunger is not so great and it sucks less greedily. In addition, the breast is not as full and the baby can grip it better, which means that sore nipples are less likely to develop.
The fungal infection thrush can also be behind the supposed soreness of your nipples. You can recognize them by the stinging and burning pain in the nipple that lasts beyond breastfeeding. Flaky skin on the nipples and severe itching are also indications of a fungus. The baby is usually infected too. Does it have white coatings in the mouth, on the palate and on the cheeks? Check this before breastfeeding so you don’t confuse it with leftover breast milk. Even if the child shows no symptoms, mother and child are always treated at the same time. If you suspect thrush, contact your pediatrician. He will prescribe something for you and your baby.
More pointers to prevent sore nipples
In our special “Breastfeeding” you will find further information on how you can prevent sore nipples by correctly attaching and detaching the baby , the correct breastfeeding duration and the right breastfeeding rhythm.
