Breastfeeding Tips: Help for Sore Nipples

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Here are breastfeeding tips for coping with sore nipples. Remember that a little soreness is normal during the early days of breastfeeding (especially for first time Moms). However, extremely sore nipples beyond that time is a sign of a problem, and one that can likely be solved with minor changes. You can prevent and treat sore nipples with these breastfeeding tips.

Preventing Your Nipples From Needing Band-Aids

By Julie Johnson

In the olden days, mothers were told to toughen their nipples to avoid pain when the baby started breastfeeding. Rubbing with a wash cloth, pumping and even alcohol was once used to toughen the nipples.

The number one reason a new mother 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. Some babies go onto the breast with a wide mouth, yet slide down to the tip of the nipple.

Another reason for sore nipples may be that the mom is feeling exhausted and doesn’t think she can deal with one more demand, including sore nipples. Some women are so happy that the baby is sucking, and accept the pain. Pain with latching is not normal and needs to be addressed. The sooner the mother fixes the problem, the sooner she will have pain-free breastfeeding.

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Breastfeeding Tips: The Best Advice

Image by Daquella manera via Flickr

A new breastfeeding Mom hears a lot of breastfeeding tips and advice from health care givers to family, friends and even complete strangers. Below, a breastfeeding educator shares the best breastfeeding advice she has ever received.

The Best Breastfeeding Advice I Ever Got

by Carrie Lauth

Recently I was with a group of mothers who were discussing the breastfeeding advice they had received as brand new Moms. I realized quickly how fortunate I was to have been given the best advice I ever got on breastfeeding by my own mother.

The two things she told me prevented countless challenges in my early breastfeeding experience, which I didn’t fully appreciate at the time.

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Breastfeeding Tips: Latching On

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The Proper Way to Latch Baby on for Breastfeeding

by Dr. Jack Newman

Cross Cradle Position for Left Breast:

• Align baby’s nose so that it does not go past your nipple, or go to the left of your nipple, in other words, your nipple should not be aligned with his chin
• Place your right hand under baby’s face so your four fingers make a pillow for baby’s cheek (keep your four fingers tightly together as if the were stuck together with glue)
• You are now supporting the weight of baby’s head with your hand
• You may want to sit baby’s bottom on you arm as though it were a shelf (this will work in the beginning with a newborn)
• Or you may want to let baby’s bottom fall diagonally a bit and squeeze it against your rib cage with your elbow

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