Sore Breast Breastfeeding

The number one reason why a woman has sore nipples is poor positioning and latching, not the lack of preparation. Possibly, the baby is not turned toward the mother or the baby’s mouth is not over the nipple but on the tip of it. Some babies go on to the breast with a wide mouth. But, throughout the feed, slides slowly down to the nipple.

Having the right positioning for breastfeeding will play a major role in reducing nipple soreness. Use you hand to support the baby’s neck. The baby’s mouth should be open wide with the lips puckered out like “fish lips”, not folded in. The nipple should go back as far into his or her mouth as possible. If you need help finding the proper positioning, ask a nurse, midwife, or other experienced mother for some help breastfeeding.

If however your nipples are persistently or suddenly sore you might have a thrush infection. Other symptoms of thrush are pink, flaky skin and itchy nipples. Stopping breast-feeding will not help the infection or sore nipples, in fact they are more likely to be helped by frequent nursing.

Thrush is a fungal infection, which begins in the baby’s mouth and can spread to the breast, making your nipples feel sore and itchy. Thrush is present in or on everyone’s body - it’s a normal part of the digestive system and generally bacteria keep it in check. A nursing mother have thrush if she has sore or cracked nipples, have deep, shooting pains after nursing, or have vaginal thrush.

Babies have a natural talent to suckle at the mother’s nipples. They do so by pushing the nipples with the palate of their mouths. For some women, especially who are breastfeeding their babies for the first few times, this could be a very painful process. Babies could sometimes clamp the nipples very hard causing the nipples to become sore and cracked.

It’s also easy for breastfeeding mothers to be active and go out with their babies knowing that they’ll have instant food available whenever their little one is hungry and they don’t have to carry an extra bag of bottle feeding paraphernalia. There will be times when you need to go out on an urgent matter and if there is no-one available, you will have to take baby with you.”

If your baby is latched on and sucking correctly, you should not feel any pain. Sometimes the baby’s initial suck may cause a slight stinging pain which quickly subsides as baby continues sucking. If the pain continues or your baby is not sucking correctly, stop and start over again. Break the suction by putting your finger in the side of the baby’s mouth between the gums.

Purified Lanolin causes an allergic reaction although it gets rid of the soreness and as such it should not be used by mothers who are sensitive. Vitamin E oil is also effective but it can get deposited in the baby’s liver as it is a fat-soluble vitamin. Salves based on Petroleum can clog your skin pores and products containing alcohol can make your skin very dry. Generally, it is advisable to avoid application of ointments on the breast.

Choosing to breastfeed your baby can be a rewarding and healthy experience for both you and your baby, but knowing what to expect and weighing the benefits against the inconveniences will help you decide if breastfeeding your baby is the right choice for you.

Read about breast enlargement. Also read about enhance breast size and reduce breast size

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