Breastfeeding is a magical moment, a time of complete dedication that requires a lot of determination and desire from women to succeed. Especially in the first few days, it isn’t easy at all: first, the milk doesn’t come quickly or in a sufficient amount; second, there is pain, especially when the nipple isn’t well formed; and third, you may face cracked and sore nipples from so many attempts and persistence to feed your baby.
But contrary to what most women think, cracked nipples are not a common symptom of breastfeeding; instead, they are a sign that the latch is not being done correctly. In some cases, there may even be bleeding in the area due to open cracks, but bleeding can also occur even when the area isn’t sore1. So if your baby spits up milk with a little blood, don’t be alarmed—he or she may have nursed some blood, and there’s no harm in that since it came from your breast. The best way to prevent cracked nipples is by ensuring that the baby nurses and latches on correctly. The nipple should touch the baby’s soft palate, which is the softest part of the roof of the mouth. If this doesn’t happen, cracks can start to appear. Another common reason for these painful wounds on the breast is when the baby sucks instead of breastfeeding or starts “chewing” the nipple; this, combined with saliva, causes the skin to break and wounds to form.
In isolated cases, the breast skin can dry out for various reasons and end up causing discomfort during breastfeeding. Also known as eczema or dermatitis, this area with such delicate, thin skin may suffer from contact with soap residue from washing clothes, perfumes, or even develop an allergy to moisturizer or deodorant2. In this case, the best course of action is to discover what’s causing the allergy and stop using it, and to speed up the healing process—so that breastfeeding isn’t interrupted—appropriate ointments for use during breastfeeding may be used.
If there is constant pain that is interfering with breastfeeding, you should see a doctor to check for a possible candida infection on the nipple. The baby can develop a mouth infection called oral thrush, and pass it to the mother’s nipple. The pain is very distinctive: the mother feels stabbing pain that radiates from the back and a very strong burning sensation during and after nursing. The problem requires proper treatment, and sometimes both mother and baby need to take antifungal medication.
How to Treat Cracked Nipples?
The first step to solving this issue is not to panic and not to give up breastfeeding right away—there is a solution for this situation. Initially, the best thing to do is see a doctor to examine your breasts, whether it’s your obstetrician, your baby’s pediatrician, or even the maternity ward where your baby was born. There, the way you are breastfeeding will be analyzed, so bring your baby with you to the appointment. As mentioned earlier, incorrect breastfeeding technique can cause cracks, so good medical advice and learning to breastfeed correctly may be just what you need. Another very important recommendation is not to use hygiene products on your nipples during this breastfeeding stage; cleansing with water only is sufficient3.
The best remedy to heal the area and to help during this breastfeeding adaptation period is sun exposure on the breasts. At least 15 minutes of exposure greatly aids healing, along with breast milk itself. Applying breast milk to the nipple before and after each breastfeeding helps keep the skin firm and free of cracks, and if cracks are already present, it serves as a great healing remedy. Analgesic medication should only be used with a doctor’s recommendation, as any medication during this time will be passed to the baby through breast milk. If you are unsure what to do, seek medical help.
See also: How to Increase Breast Milk – Starting Breastfeeding
