Nipple Pain

Most moms experience some nipple pain at the beginning of baby’s life, but this should resolve within 2 weeks. Think of it as an adjustment period. Your nips are getting used to a baby’s constant nursing, they haven’t ever had this much action! After the initial 2-week break-in, breastfeeding should be painless.

Is this normal pain?

It’s important to know what “normal” pain is like or if you may have a more serious issue that needs to be addressed.

Normal:

  • Pain for up to 30 seconds at the beginning of a nursing session

  • General nipple tenderness

  • No skin damage (cracks, blisters, bleeding)

  • Nipple looks the same before and after a feeding (not flattened, creased, pinched)

 

Not normal:

  • Excruciating, toe-curling pain

  • Pain that lasts longer than 30 seconds after latching

  • Pain between feedings

  • Pain that persists after the first 2 weeks of baby’s life

  • Nipple damage like bleeding, cracks, or blisters

  • Nipple looks different before and after a feeding (flattened, creased, pinched)

What to do?

For normal nipple pain, just hang in there. It’ll get better. These things can help:

  • Apply nipple butter after each nursing session and whenever feels good to you.

  • Let those nipples breathe. Air time aids healing, so 2 tits out ladies!

For not normal nipple pain, you’ve got to figure out what the underlying issue is.

For starters, make sure your baby has a good latch every time you nurse.

It’s all about that latch.

Poor latch is the biggest culprit for abnormal nipple pain. If left unresolved, it will cause more pain, nipple damage and can seriously dampen your breastfeeding experience. Getting baby to latch onto your breast properly is so dang important. 

When your baby is properly latched, your nipple goes deep into your baby’s mouth, so their lips and gums aren’t sucking and chomping on your nipple at all (and therefore can’t cause pain and damage).

Please watch the 2 videos below for techniques to help you achieve a proper latch. These videos also cover some good breastfeeding positions to help you achieve this.

 

Once you’ve figured out what a good latch looks like, stay diligent. At the beginning of every nursing session, help your baby latch onto your breast and start over if it doesn’t look and feel good. Just pop that baby off (by breaking suction with your finger placed between baby’s mouth and your boob) and try again. Don’t ever just continue to nurse and  “breathe through” pain. It might take 10 tries to get a good latch when you’re just getting started. Stay calm and reset. It will get easier.

Maintaining a proper latch takes diligence and sometimes help from a lactation consultant. Waking fully during night feeds can help to ensure a proper latch when it’s often the most difficult time to remain focused - try turning on a light and sitting up all the way.  Once you and your baby master the latch, you will be able to simply put your baby to the breast without fully waking so that you both can go back to sleep quickly and easily!

When to get help

Contact a lactation consultant or health care provider if:

  • You’ve watched the videos above, tried all the things, but just can’t seem to get your baby to latch well. Sometimes we just need a little extra help from a lactation consultant, who can watch you nurse and give you specific feedback and help.

  • Abnormal pain persists, despite ensuring your baby has a good latch. There could be other underlying anatomical issues (like inverted nipples, or baby with tongue or lip tie).

  • You develop any symptoms of thrush (see thrush page).

Want to talk with a lactation consultant?