Lactation Consultant Tips: Taking Care of Your Nipples
Much-needed tips for nipple first aid from a lactation counselor. Keep reading to learn more!
Nipple tenderness is common in the first few weeks of breastfeeding, nipple pain, and damage however is not normal and is often a sign that an adjustment to your positioning or latch needs to be made!
So what do you do if you’ve got some nipple damage and it’s painful to nurse?
Here are my go-to nipple first aid tips as a lactation consultant:
Get a good quality nipple cream- motherlove is my favorite
Allow the nipples to air out after each feeding and then apply a liberal amount of nipple cream. We want nipples to heal wet, don’t allow them to dry out and create hard scabs.
Use silverettes to protect the nipples, help them heal, and keep your nipple cream sealed in.
Lansinoh soothie pads are hydrogel and can be stored in the freezer between uses and feel amazing on ouchie nipples.
Coat your breastpads with a layer of nipple cream so they aren’t wicking moisture from them.
Alternate sides at each feeding so nipples get a longer break
Consider pumping or using a haaka if it’s too painful to latch
Consider a nipple shield while you are healing
Have your latch assessed by a lactation consultant
If pain and damage continues after adjusting the latch ask your lactation consultant to assess for oral ties.
If you have open sores and bleeding ask your primary care doctor for an all-purpose nipple ointment prescription. This will have an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal ingredients which are helpful if you have a lot of damage! Just remember to wash your nipples off before feeding baby!
Remember, breastfeeding should never be to- curling and painful. If it hurts there's something wrong! Contact us today to schedule your lactation visit.
