Breastfeeding, if you are choosing that for your baby, is not always simple. In fact, one of the challenges that new mums face can be painful, cracked, and sore nipples – and it can make you want to give up completely if the problem is not dealt with effectively.
What Causes Sore Nipples?
In most cases, the reason that nipples become sore usually comes down to a poor latch. Achieving the optimal latch can take time for mum and bub to master, especially for first time mums. When the baby is not positioned well at the breast, the nipple can become squashed, resulting in painful, cracked, sore, and even bleeding nipples.
Although feeding might be painful, it is important that you continue to feed as normal even if you do have pain otherwise your milk supply might be affected – and finding the right way to improve the situation and make sure that you can do so comfortably is important.
In some cases, sore nipples can be caused by something medical, like thrush. This might need medical intervention, so if you are concerned, make sure you contact your local GP for advice.
How to Deal with Sore Nipples
There are a few things that you can do to deal with sore nipples. The first is working to protect the nipples before they become sore. You can do this with our GAIA Nipple Balm, which can be used through pregnancy to get your nipples ready for the work they are about to do.
If your nipples are starting to become sore, you might want to consider visiting a breastfeeding specialist to make sure that your latch is efficient as this is most often the cause of sore nipples.
If you use breast pads, make sure to change them regularly, and avoid plastic-backed ones as these don’t allow nipples to breathe. If you can allow the air to get to the nipples and keep them moisturised this can help to make sure that they dry naturally.
Some people swear by using a little bit of expressed breast milk to help heal sore and cracked nipples!
Our Nipple Balm can be used on sore, dry, and cracked nipples after each feed to help moisturise and protect them. Containing all-natural ingredients, including beeswax, organic avocado oil, chamomile oil and calendula extract, it is gentle and soothing. As with all our products, we are proud to use the very best quality Australian ingredients where possible, and there are no petrochemicals, mineral oil, or lanolin so it doesn’t need to be rinsed off before the next feed.
Getting started early with our Nipple Balm is a great idea to get nipples ready for what is to come – we advise starting during pregnancy to make sure that they are fully hydrated and able to deal with the feeding that is to come.
Our Nipple Balm is also a versatile way to moisturise dry heels and lips, too – so it is as hardworking as our mums are. All-natural ingredients chosen specifically to soothe and moisturise delicate skin – while providing good protection against further problems.
You can rely on all our products to offer the very best in ingredients, made to be gentle and effective for our hero mums and their precious babies.
