A quick guide to breast care when breastfeeding

4 min read

Your breastfeeding journey will be full of precious moments and sometimes there might be a few challenging ones too. Discomfort such as sore nipples and tenderness are common challenges many breastfeeding mums experience. This breast care guide will teach you how to take care of your breasts if you’re experiencing discomfort so you can get back on track.

Is breast pain normal during breastfeeding?

Every woman experiences breastfeeding a little differently and you might find yourself wondering what kind of breast pain in breasts is normal, and what’s not.

Know that it’s normal to feel a little pain or tenderness in your breasts when your baby first latches on, and while you’re trying to establish breastfeeding. That said, if you’re feeling nipple pain or tenderness for all or most of a feed it’s best to ask for help from a lactation consultant.

Professional tip

There’s no need to feel like you need to bear any pain in your breasts during breastfeeding. In fact, the sooner you ask for help, the likelier it is that you’ll be able to breastfeed comfortably in the long-term. So be sure to ask for help as soon as you feel discomfort.

Common reasons for breast discomfort

Before we go into how to take care of your breasts, let’s look at the main causes behind breast pain and sore nipples.

Shallow latch

Sometimes, your baby might not have enough breast tissue in their mouth as they feed. This means that they’re sucking on your nipple and causing pain.

Inverted nipples

Up to 10% of women have inverted or protractile nipples, which can make initiating and establishing breastfeeding a little more difficult than usual.

Mastitis and thrush

Some mums also experience infections such as mastitis or thrush when they breastfeed.

Tongue-tie

Tongue-tie is where the strip of skin connecting your baby’s tongue to the floor of their mouth is shorter than usual. This can make latching more difficult.

How to take care of your breasts

If you’re experiencing sore nipples, rest assured that you can usually still continue to breastfeed. Here are some of the best ways to soothe and protect your nipples so you’re able to comfortably breastfeed.

Ask for help with positioning and latching.
Soothe your nipples after feeds with nipple cream.
Prevent chafing in between feeds with breast shells.
Keep your nipples dry by using breast pads.
Heal particularly sore nipples with nipple protectors.
Encourage milk flow before your baby begins feeding, or if your nipples are sore, by expressing milk.
If you have inverted nipples, try using a niplette to help correct them.

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If you need help with your breast care support is always there

As you know, a little pain in your breasts is normal, but there’s no need to feel like you need to bear any pain. If the pain continues, you notice cracks or blisters, or you simply have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare professional or lactation consultant for breast care advice.

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