When breastfeeding is a new and undeveloped skill, minor mistakes can very quickly lead to complicated breastfeeding problems, leaving a new mom and hungry baby, frustrated and on the brink of tears!

Sore nipples are often overlooked by professionals, as they are considered part of the breastfeeding course. I believe this is where many moms are being let down as sore nipples can indicate that the breast is not being drained well, leading to blockages and mastitis for mom and a less than satisfactory meal for little one, resulting in frequent feeds!

Sore nipples do not only result from poor positioning or attachment. Often combining elements of your breast tissue with your baby’s oral cavity, can result in soreness of the nipples and breast pain. For instance, a mom with inverted nipples or flat nipples, may find that mastering the art of breastfeeding is a little more challenging than other moms. Whilst your baby is more reliant on scooping up the areola when breastfeeding, rather than the nipple, you may feel that having flat or inverted nipples mean your baby slips off the breast more easily, creating feeding problems.

This is quickly and simply corrected with careful and tailored positioning and attachment skills which you will find in my Let’s Breastfeed Program!

If you have sought breastfeeding help and have corrected and modified your technique, you can expect your nipples to feel a little tender at the beginning of the feed for up to 60 seconds. Provided your nipples are round at the end of a feed, you can rest assured that your sore nipples will soon be a thing of the past, as with the correct attachment, you can expect your nipples to heal in a couple of days!

If you are experiencing sore nipples, seek professional help. Pain is a good indicator that there is something wrong and ignoring your pain, will just lead to further complications.

Let's Breastfeed is dedicated to making your breastfeeding dreams become a reality! If I can't see you in person, you can still have me in your living room with my Let's Breastfeed Program! www.letsbreastfeed.com/blog