Cracked Nipple Cream

Breastfeeding Advice

When you start to learn to breastfeed you usually experience nipple tenderness. Many first-time mothers find the early weeks difficult and painful. This is caused by incorrect POSTURE, POSITION, APPROACH and ATTACHMENT. That is why you could be experiencing sore and cracked nipples. Other reasons could be your baby is not suckling properly or expressing milk by using a breast pump incorrectly.

Your nipples are unlike teats on a bottle, the milk is stored behind your nipple and areola (the darker area around the nipple).

For correct posture make yourself comfortable, support your back all the way down, try different positions and different chairs or lying down.

Now to position your baby correctly, bring your baby up to your breast. Your baby’s head and shoulders should be directly opposite your breast, their nose opposite your nipple. Their back should be in a straight line, support your baby with a hand across their shoulders.

Gently run your nipple along your baby’s upper lip or move your baby’s head so their lips brush your nipple. They will start to open their mouth. Wait until their mouth is opened wide, as if yawning. You now bring them towards your breast.

For perfect attachment they should have taken in all of your nipple to the roof of their mouth. Your baby’s lower lip should be turned out. Your areola will be covered by their lower lip.

If this does not feel comfortable or you are in any pain use your index finger to pull down their chin to bring their lower lip out. If it still hurts place a clean finger into your baby’s mouth to break the suction and try again. Try not to get frustrated it can take weeks to obtain correct attachment.

As our nipple cream is easy to wipe off, you can carry on breastfeeding.  Apply immediately after each feed covering your nipple to give immediate relief.

If you are unable to breastfeed your baby because of extreme pain you could temporarily express (to avoid engorgement) whilst applying our Cracked Nipple Cream and fully allow your nipples to heal. If using a breast pump still causes you pain you could try to gently hand express and feed your baby with the finger feeding technique.

Do NOT feel alone, you can easily phone a Breastfeeding Counsellor in confidential, contact your Health Visitor or GP and don’t forget to do more searching on the internet! Just remember not to leave it too late or you might need to be forced to stop breastfeeding which is upsetting to hear. There is no need to suffer in today’s world of pain relief.