Breastfeeding can be beautiful, but it can also be hard, especially in the beginning. Some moms and babies get the hang of it quickly, but many need time, support, and a lot of patience. A good latch takes practice, and those first few weeks can come with plenty of growing pains.
As I often tell my clients, the first two weeks are usually about building milk supply, and it can take about six weeks to feel more confident breastfeeding. During that time, you may deal with engorgement, sore nipples, cracked nipples, clogged ducts, bleeding nipples, or signs of mastitis. It can be a literal pain in the boob.
These tips can help soothe common breastfeeding aches and pains, but you do not have to push through severe pain. If you have fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, worsening breast pain, red streaks, pus, or cracked nipples that are not healing, contact your provider or an IBCLC.
Key Takeaways
- Engorgement, sore nipples, cracked nipples, and clogged ducts are common breastfeeding challenges, especially early on.
- A painful latch is a sign to get support, not something you should simply push through.
- Warmth before feeding, cold after feeding, gentle hand expression, and frequent milk removal may help with engorgement.
- Nipple butter, air drying, breast milk, and breathable nursing pads may help soothe sore or cracked nipples.
- Call your provider or an IBCLC if pain is severe, symptoms worsen, or you notice fever, chills, redness, pus, or signs of mastitis.
Related: 7 Breastfeeding Discomforts and How To Manage Them
How To Soothe Engorgement and Cracked Nipples
Engorgement and sore nipples are common when breastfeeding, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through severe pain. These tips may help you find relief while you work on the root cause, whether that’s latch, milk removal, clogged ducts, or nipple healing.
1. Use Nipple Butter
Did you know that our lips and nipples have the highest density of nerve endings of any area of the body? Crazy, right? Because they are sensitive and delicate areas, they require care. Think about it: if you lick your lips constantly and bite them every couple of hours throughout the day and night, you’re more likely to experience chapped lips. They will then crack and bleed and become very painful. This is why we wear Chapstick to avoid lip irritation.
Now imagine all of that happening but with your nipples . . . Not fun. But that’s exactly what’s happening when you breastfeed. A tiny human is licking, sucking, pulling, and tugging on your nipples.
That’s why you need Chapstick for your nipples, and getting a good nipple butter is the key to this solution. Using it will help hydrate your nipples, avoid irritation and pain, and can make those early feeds feel a little more manageable.
2. Use Warm and Cold Breast Pads
Warm and cold breast pads can be incredibly helpful. When you’re feeling engorged, and your breasts are getting hard, sore, and downright painful, these hot and cold breast-pads are amazing. They provide incredible relief. I love that they are reusable, can be cooled or warmed as needed, and can be worn with or without sleeves to relieve a clogged milk duct and engorged breasts. Many breastfeeding moms find them incredibly helpful during those early weeks when engorgement and discomfort are at their worst.
I recommend using it as a hot compress for 5-10 minutes before nursing and then applying it as a cold compress for 10 minutes after feedings to help reduce swelling and inflammation if you are experiencing engorgement.
Related: Breastfeeding Essentials Every New Mom Should Have
3. Take a Warm Shower and Hand Express
For engorgement, take a warm shower and hand express enough milk so it no longer hurts. Don’t completely relieve and empty your breasts, though. Expressing a little breast milk and reducing pressure will help soften your breasts and ease discomfort. The warm water will help your breasts let down a bit.
4. Use Gentle Massage To Relieve Pressure
As mentioned, while you’re taking a warm shower, gently massage and compress the breast (or breasts) to express some milk and reduce engorgement. Also, massage the breast when the baby pauses between sucks. This may help drain the breast more, leaving less milk behind.
5. Air Dry Your Nipples
If your nipples are sore and feel raw, you may find that anything touching them makes them hurt even more. To help with this, you can use breast shells to protect them from being touched by your bra or t-shirt. But something that can help even more is letting them air dry.
As much as possible, expose your nipples to the air so they will stay dry and heal. This is one of the best things that you can do for healing.
6. Check for Tongue-Tie or Lip-Tie
Tongue-tie and lip-tie can be tough to diagnose. If your baby has difficulty lifting their tongue or moving it forward, you should speak with a pediatric dentist to see if they have either of these issues. These are pretty simple to fix and can help your baby get a better latch, reducing nipple irritation while breastfeeding.
Related: What Is Tongue-Tie and How to Treat It
7. Try Breast Milk on Sore Nipples
If you meet a breastfeeding mama, you’ll quickly discover that breast milk is something many moms use for just about everything. You’ll often hear, “Just put a little breastmilk on it.” Clogged tear duct, skin irritation, you name it. Some mamas think it’s the answer to curing it all. And one of those things is also sore/cracked nipples. Express some of your breastmilk, rub it around your nipples, and let them air dry. Do that after every feeding, and you should notice a difference soon.
8. Wear and Change Nursing Pads Often
If your nipples have cracked and are bleeding, you will want to gently wash your nipples after each feeding so you can reduce the chance of infection. Once a day, use a gentle soap to clean them.
After each feeding, use nipple butter and a breathable nursing pad to prevent your nipples from rubbing or coming into contact with your shirt. We don’t want your nipples to stay damp, so change your nursing pads once they become damp. This is why I recommend Bamboobies nursing pads. Their reusable and disposable nursing pads are breathable and are our favorites. The goal is to keep your nipples protected without letting them stay damp.
9. Pump to Soften Before Feeding
If massaging or hand expressing isn’t doing the trick, briefly use your breast pump to soften your breast and help baby get a better latch. When your breasts are rock solid, it can be difficult for baby to grab hold of your nipples and areola to breastfeed. Your pump can help.
Related: 6 Rules for a Better Breastfeeding Latch
10. Try a Nipple Shield Only if Needed
Nipple shields aren’t typically my first recommendation. They can sometimes cause more problems than they solve. Some babies can become dependent on them and refuse to nurse without them, which can be frustrating for mom. If the other things above haven’t worked, it may be worth trying. We recommend only using it when necessary to give your nipples a break.
11. Consult an IBCLC or Lactation Expert
Many people think that it’s normal for breastfeeding to be painful. It can be, but there are steps you can take to avoid it.
If these tips haven’t helped you resolve the problem you are experiencing, I recommend speaking with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC (breastfeeding expert). They can help you with the issues you are experiencing and offer suggestions for resolving them.
When To Call a Lactation Consultant or Provider
If breastfeeding pain is severe, your nipples are bleeding and not healing, or you suspect a clogged duct, mastitis, tongue-tie, or latch issue, reach out for help. Fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, red streaks, pus, or worsening breast pain should be checked by your provider. An IBCLC can also watch a feeding, assess latch, and help you make a plan that protects both your milk supply and your nipples.
Related: How to Increase Milk Supply: 22 Ways to Boost Breast Milk Production
Breastfeeding pain can feel discouraging, especially when you’re tired, healing, and trying to feed your baby around the clock. But sore nipples, engorgement, clogged ducts, and latch struggles are not things you have to figure out alone. Try what brings relief, watch for symptoms that need medical care, and reach out to an IBCLC or provider when something doesn’t feel right. With the right support, breastfeeding can get better.
