Sore and sometimes painful nipples are so common at the start of breastfeeding that you can almost expect some level of discomfort. That said, the pain can be a sign of other conditions, and can worsen if not addressed. It’s important to pay attention to your symptoms and figure out what may be causing them.

What it is

At any point during your breastfeeding journey, but especially at its beginning, it is common to feel tender and sore on and around your nipples. Regardless of when the soreness occurs, there are a few things you can do to relieve it. Track your symptoms closely, as more serious conditions can quickly develop.

When it can occur

While your nipples can become sore at any point during your breastfeeding (and/or pumping) journey, they typically are most vulnerable to soreness in the first days and weeks following delivery.

What causes it

There are a few situations that can lead to sore nipples: frequent feeding with a poor latch, frequent pumping with an ill-fitting flange, or a combination of both can all lead to sore nipples.

What to do

In the first couple of weeks, it’s totally common for your nipples to feel tender or uncomfortable when you begin pumping or feeding. This pain should resolve within a minute.

If your nipples feel tender and painful when your baby latches on for a feed, and they don’t feel better after about 10 seconds into a feeding session, try to reset the latch by gently inserting a clean finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth to break the suction, and look at your nipple. A round and long nipple indicates a proper latch; a flattened or compressed nipple (like the angle of a lipstick tube) indicates an improper latch.

You can relieve symptoms by working on improving your baby’s latch, trying different breastfeeding positions, and/or pumping.

If you’re pumping, this is the time to measure your nipples and check that you’re using a flange that fits. Sizing up or down (for Go or 3.0), or adding an insert, is one of the easiest ways to relieve this discomfort. Also related to pumping, you can try to decrease your suction level and see if that helps.

For extra relief after you nurse or pump, you can express some of your breast milk and gently rub it on your nipples. You can also try Willow’s nipple balm to help soothe tired and sore nipples.

When to get help

Contact your provider or a lactation consultant, if you’re in too much pain to continue breastfeeding or pumping, or if you suddenly have new pain or changes in breast shape or skin texture. These could be signs of an infection or hormonal-influenced skin conditions. Specifically, look out for:

• cold or wet nipples that change from white to pink
• a burning pain during or after nursing with shiny, flaky red skin
• white patches on your baby’s tongue and inside cheeks that indicate thrush