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If you have decided to feed your child with breast milk, you will be offering him the most complete nutrition he can receive.
And although this is wonderful for babies, it also brings a series of discomforts for moms, such as pain when breastfeeding. This can occur for many reasons, but one of the most common is cracks in mom’s nipples.
The good news is that they can be prevented, they can be cured, and they can lead to successful breastfeeding.
IS IT NORMAL FOR BREASTFEEDING TO HURT?
How many times do we say or hear the phrase: is it normal for breastfeeding to hurt? What is normal?
If you consider something physiological or natural normal, you should know that hormones can make the nipple more sensitive to stimuli. The muscle fibers of the nipple and areola are stretched during breastfeeding and can be uncomfortable. However, this does not cause pain as such, it is rather an annoyance that is limited only to the first few days.
So, it stands to reason that all lactating women feel some degree of discomfort, at least for the first few days, until the breast adapts to its new situation. In fact, up to 90% of women report some type of pain when breastfeeding. So, yes, we can say that this type of pain is common.
The causes of pain are multiple, but in this article we will focus on one of the most common: cracks in the nipple.
WHAT ARE NIPPLE CRACKS AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?
The cracks are wounds in the form of erosions in the skin of the nipple, which can be very painful.
Although they are tiny, the nipple is very sensitive (duh), and it is possible that the pain begins even before the wound is visible, simply being redder than usual.
If your nipples hurt when breastfeeding, it would be the first thing to suspect. The peak incidence occurs on the fifth day after delivery, although cracks can appear from the first day and at any time during lactation.
But they have a solution and their total cure will depend on good detection and management.
HOW TO HEAL A CRACKED NIPPLE
Cracks heal successfully but it’s easy to get discouraged when they appear. And it is that, in addition, they do it coinciding with those first days, in which you feel that this immense responsibility of taking care of your newborn overwhelms you. But calm down because then I will tell you what you can do to cure them and prevent them from coming back again.
There are two main things to deal with: healing the injuries and correcting the cause.
An injury that remains wet much of the time will take longer to heal: therefore, it will be useful to have the affected area air out as much as possible . You can use nursing pads, which, in addition to keeping the nipple dry, prevent clothing from rubbing against you. If you use nursing pads, change them very often.
Regarding whether it is useful to apply any substance on the nipple, there is some controversy. Scientific evidence does not indicate that any option is miraculous, although it favors virgin olive oil as the substance of choice to apply to the crack.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON REMEDIES TO APPLY TO THE NIPPLE?
- Virgin olive oil : it has emollient, antibacterial (due to its flavonoid and antioxidant content) and antifungal (due to its linoleic acid content) properties. It is not necessary to wash the nipple before feeding. It is even effective in preventing sore nipples.
- Lanolin : fatty substance obtained from sheep’s wool. The evidence is not very clear, there is little or no difference between applying it or not applying it. It is not necessary to wash the nipple before feeding, but it does not prevent pain and can promote the moist environment of the lesion, delaying healing.
- Breast milk : a little of your own milk is applied to the nipple and allowed to dry. Its effectiveness is also not sufficiently proven. There may be the case of infection on the wound; milk contains lots of beneficial bacteria for the baby’s digestive system, but not so much for a sore nipple.
- Aloe Vera : its effectiveness is not proven. It can cause rejection of the breast due to the taste, and diarrhea in the infant, so it is necessary to wash the nipple well before feeding, which can be painful.
- Ointments with vitamin E and/or provitamin B5 : they do not have enough evidence to support them. You must wash the nipple well before feeding and that can be painful.
Other options:
- Warm compresses: Regardless of whether they may be more or less comfortable, they have not been found to facilitate the healing of cracks.
- Nipple shields: the current ones are good enough that they do not interfere with breastfeeding. It is essential that you choose the right size and place them well . You can wear them until the crack heals, to minimize chafing and pain.
Remember that at any time, you can consult with your doctor or midwife, so that he or she can personalize your care.
TIPS TO AVOID CRACKS IN THE NIPPLE
Beyond healing the wounds well, it is important that you correct the initial problem that causes them. And it is that, even if we heal some cracks, if what has caused them is still there, new lesions will appear.
The main cause is less-than-optimal attachment of the baby to the breast. Here is how a good latch should be made:
- Position yourself in a relaxed and comfortable way.
- The baby’s body must be very close to yours and completely facing you, avoiding having to turn their neck to hook the breast.
- Hold baby tight from behind to maintain that position, but loose enough to allow him to tilt his head back if he wants to.
- The baby should latch on to the breast with her mouth wide open. To achieve this, place her nose at the height of the nipple and brush against it. If she just latches onto just the tip of the nipple, it will hurt you and cracks will appear. Make her latch on like she’s taking a bite out of a big burger, not like she’s slurping spaghetti or drinking through a straw.
- The latch should be asymmetrical, covering more of the areola with the lower lip than with the upper lip. You will see the lips everted outwards.
- As you breastfeed, watch your baby. If baby needs to correct his or her latch, his cheeks are rounded, not sunken, she takes faster and shorter sips, but after a few minutes they become slow and long. You hear how he swallows, but no clicks with his mouth. Baby’s chin is at all times touching your chest. This is the correct latch.
Is all this right and you still have pain or do you get cracks over and over again? If so, you and your baby need to be evaluated by a professional. Because although the latch is the main cause of cracks, there are other possibilities:
- Insufficient milk production: which causes more intense suckling.
- Teat-nipple confusion: the baby moves the tongue as if extracting milk from a bottle, brushing the nipple too much.
- Sensory or anatomical issues of the baby: especially ankyloglossia (tongue tie), which can cause future problems with swallowing, pronunciation, placement of the teeth, sleep apnea, scoliosis, reflux…
CONCLUSION
Yes, breastfeeding can hurt. Unfortunately, it is normal! Knowing this and being certain that these situations, fortunately, have a solution and can be key to the success of your breastfeeding.
These common discomforts can be prevented, but, if they have already appeared, early management with a good professional will mean that in a few days you can be enjoying (relatively speaking) your breastfeeding again. If these issues make you discouraged, keep in mind that they will only be a temporary difficulty. You are everything your baby needs!
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