Most first-time moms had sore nipples during breastfeeding, a problem that may lead to an early drop out. Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt!

It usually happens when the baby can't do a proper latch on and starts chewing the nipple, or the baby is not suckling properly, or even both. The first thing you must do is to ensure that your baby can latch on correctly. Sometimes a change in the positioning is sufficient.

If you happen to get a sore nipple here are some tips to help you:

• You can use a breast pump to express the milk of your affected breast and give a bottle of breast milk to your baby, for 2 days.
• Consider applying warm, wet tea bags to your nipples for a short time after nursing. Many moms report that this can be very soothing.
• Squeeze a drop or two of your milk onto your nipples at the end of the feed and spread it around the aureole.
• Make sure you keep your nipples dry and change breast pads frequently.
• Ointments can sometimes be helpful. If you do use an ointment, use just a very small amount after nursing. In my case I used a 100% USP modified lanolin preparation and I could feel better in a few hours. This does not need to be washed off prior to nursing as it is safe for baby to ingest. Recent studies seem to indicate that using 100% lanolin may hasten the healing process by maintaining the internal moisture of the skin. Avoid other creams and ointments sold for the treatment of sore nipples as these may actually impede healing by preventing air circulation and drying out the skin. Some of these other preparations may also be toxic to your baby and will need to washed off prior to nursing. Over-washing of the nipple area results in a loss of the natural lubricants that protect it and provide it with antibacterial properties.
• If your nipples become so sore that you cannot tolerate the pressure of your bra or clothing on them, you might want to consider wearing breast shells inside your bra to protect your nipples as they heal.

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