Sore or Cracked Nipples in Breastfeeding Mothers

Many new moms suffer from sore or cracked nipples when breastfeeding their newborns. Read on to learn about the causes, prevention and cure of sore nipples caused due to breastfeeding. Most of the breastfeeding mothers suffer from sore or cracked nipples at some point of time or the other. The best treatment for sore nipples is to prevent it from happening. Even if you are a new mom you should educate yourself about everything so that you do not have to face any practical problems. If you breastfeed your child properly the first time, you will be able to nurse him with pleasure. When mothers start breastfeeding their newborns, some tenderness is quite normal and this is because of the child’s adjustments with breastfeeding as well as some hormonal changes going on inside the body. However, things get normal within one or two weeks after childbirth. In this articleWhat is not Normal?Incorrect Breastfeeding PositionLatching of the BabyThrush InfectionSevere Dry Skin or EczemaStructural Disorder of the NewbornStructural Problem of the MotherVasospasmWhat is not Normal? Although, little bit of sensation is normal, you should get alarmed and see your doctor immediately if you have any of the following observations. Your nipples areCracking Blistering Grazing Compressed or is burning Distortion Throbbing or shooting pain Causes behind Damaged Nipples and Treatment There are many reasons responsible for sore or cracked nipples. Incorrect Breastfeeding Position If the baby is not positioned properly the first time there happens unusually stretching or bending which might cause sore nipples. In fact this is the most common cause behind experiencing sore nipples for new moms and gets improved when the position of the baby during breastfeeding is corrected. Latching of the Baby When you breastfeed your newborn, the right thing is to wait for him to open his mouth to suck milk. You can take the baby to the nipple and gently run him along your nipples. Correcting your nursing position can not only help you cure sore nipples, but also take you long way to breastfeeding without any practical difficulty. Thrush Infection Some newborns develop thrush infection in their mouth which passes on to the nipples of the breastfeeding mother. Signs of this infection are shiny, itchy, red and painful nipples, there is shooting pain experienced by the mother. Severe Dry Skin or Eczema If the mother has severe dry skin or eczema or other skin problems, nipples could crack and even bleed giving immense pain. If you are not aware of this, you can watch out for sings like scaly, red patches on skin that becomes itchy and painful. If you find any of these signs you should immediately see a dermatologist. Structural Disorder of the Newborn If the child is born with unusually shaped palate or with restricted tongue movements, the mother has problems when nursing the child. However, this gets fixed up easily through minor surgery. Your doctor or medical practitioner can examine and find out whether there is any such problem and will also help you cure sore nipples. Structural Problem of the Mother If the nipples of the breastfeeding mother are flat or inverted, she can find problem feeding her child. However, she can avoid damaging her nipples by properly adjusting her child while nursing. Vasospasm When there is improper flow of blood in the nipples, they turn white, then red and after that blue. There is sharp pain experienced. Most of the minor problems get corrected if you pay a little bit of attention and take some precautionary measures. Keep your nipples clean and dry between breastfeeding and try to expose your nipples to air as often as you can. If there is no improvement, you should see a professional.Why do breastfeeding mothers suffer from sore nipples? How to prevent sore nipples caused due to breastfeeding? What are the treatments for sore nipples caused due to breastfeeding? Discuss here.