Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share this question with you as I am seeing very similar cases popping up all the time. Often when you are first learning how to breastfeed, you get your positioning and attachment wrong. The skin on the nipple is so sensitive, it is easily damaged and that will naturally equate to pain. But what happens if the cracks have healed? Surely there is no reason for you to have sore nipples, right? So what is going on, have a read below and see if this relates to you.
Hi Geraldine,
I really hope you can help me….I have had sore nipples right from the start. I can’t believe that anyone could possibly say they enjoy breastfeeding, but I want to breastfeed my baby for at least 6 weeks!! Longer would be brilliant, but I need to be realistic!
My baby was born 2 weeks ago and right from the start I had sore nipples. Naturally with the initial cracks I expected it to hurt, but the cracks have gone and I still have incredibly sore nipples. The midwife at my baby clinic says the positioning is great and that some moms just are very sensitive to sore nipples because I have fair hair?
I have looked at your website and my nipples are round after feeds not pinched like you said it would be for bad positioning. My nipples burn the whole time and I can’t even wear a bra or shirt without wanting to cry. When Harry is feeding, it is really painful to begin with, but then it calms down a little. I can only describe what a feel as sand paper or broken prickly glass being rubbed on my nipple.
Am I just being too sensitive as this is normal or is there anything I can do to fix this?
Please help.
Josie Piper
Wandsworth
Hi Josie,
It just isn’t fun when breastfeeding is not as easy as everyone says it will be. I think you are right in saying that pain with bleeding nipples is understandable! What I am more concerned about, is why you are still experiencing pain even though the nipples have healed.
There are two things I think you need to explore;
- Have the cracks on your nipples completely healed, or have they just stopped bleeding? If you still have cracks on the nipple that are not bleeding nor healing, I would suggest that you pay your GP a visit to assess whether you have a slight bacterial infection that will slow down the healing process. If your GP feels you have a slight infection, he may prescribe you a course of antibiotics such as flucloxicilin. Be sure to get some acidophilus capsules to take if you start your antibiotics course as I wouldn’t want you to develop thrush.
- The second possible diagnosis is that you have thrush, though it is difficult to assess without taking a full history. The sand paper/broken glass sensation is classic thrush symptoms, so I would suggest you visit your GP and discuss possible treatment with antifungal creams with him.
Just so that you are aware, if your nipples are round after feeds – or the same shape as they were when baby went onto the breast, your positioning is fine. If your nipples are pinched, your positioning is not good.
I hope this helps and please do let me know how you are getting on.
Geraldine
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!
