Is it OK to nurse with cracked nipples? (2024)

Is it OK to nurse with cracked nipples?

If your nipples are cracked or bleeding, it's okay to continue breastfeeding your baby. To help relieve your discomfort, use the care tips given above.

If your nipples are cracked or bleeding, it's okay to keep breastfeeding your baby. After each feeding, apply an antibiotic ointment and a nonstick first-aid pad. Gently wipe off the ointment before the next feeding.

How long does healing take. The duration of the healing will vary. Superficial and recent soreness may clear in a matter of hours or days. However, long-established and profound wounds may require a up to 2 or 3 weeks to be entirely resolved even after the cause of the soreness has been eliminated.

Milk duct blockages cause milk to pool in the breast and inflammation (pain and swelling). A cracked nipple can allow bacteria to enter the breast and cause an infection.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, “warm, moist heat is soothing for sore nipples and can help your skin heal faster.” You can use a warm, wet cloth on your nipples for a few minutes before nursing, or try taking a shower. You can also apply a cream, such as Mustela Nursing Comfort Balm, to your nipples.

Nipple fissures affect up to 90 percent of breastfeeding moms. They can be incredibly painful, lead to complications like engorgement and mastitis, and cause moms to stop breastfeeding before they're ready.

Pump Breastmilk for a While

This will give your nipples a rest, while allowing you to continue to give your baby all the benefits breastmilk can provide. Remember what we said about how breastmilk can help heal your nipples? That's right!

Mastitis causes breast pain and redness. It can also cause flu-like symptoms such as body aches and fever. Mastitis may develop because of sore, cracked nipples, latch problems, plugged ducts, yeast infection, or inadequate drainage of milk.

Use a natural nipple cream, coconut or extra virgin olive oil on the nipple area after each feeding or pumping session. You do not need to wipe this off before feeding. You might need to apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment to begin the healing process (bacitracin or polysporin).

Helping your nipples to heal

Gently smear a little breastmilk onto your nipples and let it dry. Keep nipples dry between feeds. Change breast pads regularly if you're using them. Avoid those that hold moisture against the skin.

When should I be concerned about cracked nipples?

See your doctor if you see yellow fluid coming from your nipple, or if a crack is taking a long time to clear up. These can be signs of infection, and you might need medicine to treat it.

Keep baby's body tucked in close to yours. You may use your hand to reach over and move the breast to line up with baby's mouth or press gently on the top side of your breast so that baby's chin can easily get underneath the breast for a deep latch.

Try using a warm compress, which helps soften the areola and encourages letdown, before nursing and using a cold compress afterwards. You can also place chilled cabbage leaves on each breast or try some cooling bra inserts. Use your hand or a pump to express a little milk and relieve some pressure.

Breast engorgement is swelling, tightness, and an increase in size of the breasts. It usually occurs in the early days of breastfeeding, between day 3 and 5, but may occur as late as day 9-10. Moderately severe breast engorgement results in hard, full, tense, warm and tender breasts with throbbing and aching pain.

Nipple pain is common in the early days of breastfeeding. This is because your nipples are not used to breastfeeding. The pain lasts for a short time, usually around 1 week. Soreness that continues throughout the breastfeed, or lasts for more than 1 week of breastfeeding, is not normal.

Mastitis usually only affects 1 breast, and symptoms often come on quickly. They include: a swollen area on your breast that may feel hot and painful to touch – the area may become red but this can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin. a wedge-shaped breast lump or a hard area on your breast.

What color is mastitis milk? Mastitis, an inflammation of the breast tissue, can cause white or yellow discharge from the nipple which is sometimes streaked with blood. It can look a little like colostrum, but it is not breast milk. Not all cases of mastitis cause this.

How can I prepare my breasts for nursing? Keep the skin around your nipples healthy. Avoid excess rubbing or stimulation since this might damage the skin. Your body will prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.

What is rusty pipe syndrome?

The phenomenon described in the literature as rusty pipe syndrome is a rare condition where the prenatal milk and the colostrum are rust- or blood-colored and the presence of erythrocytes in the discharge of one or both breasts is not connected with any mechanical damage of the nipple or with the presence of ...

Soreness normally settles down after a few days as your body gets used to breastfeeding and your baby's sucking becomes more efficient. Consult a healthcare professional, lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist if the pain while breastfeeding doesn't subside after a few days.

Sore nipples can develop for many reasons including a poor breastfeeding latch, not using a breast pump correctly, or an infection. Then, once you have them, sore nipples can lead to a difficult let-down, a low breast milk supply, or early weaning.

Occasionally a damaged nipple can become infected, resulting in inflammation, redness, swelling and oozing pus. A cracked nipple increases the risk of mastitis (breast infection) developing.

The First Week: Positioning and Latch-On

Crying is a very late hunger cue. Adjusting the position can improve breastfeeding pain. If you have pain, try different positions such as laid-back, football or cradle position.