Sore nipples postpartum: Important reasons Indian mothers must know!

Verified by Dr. Vaishali Sakpal Rane (MBBS, DGO Obstetrics and Gynaecology, DNB Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Sore nipples postpartum are common when you give birth to and start breastfeeding. When your infant latches on or your breast milk begins to come down, you could experience some little pain. This moderate soreness is typical, and after few days you breastfeed your infant, it should go away or settle.

Breastfeeding should get easier over the course of the weeks. That said, it's not always the case. Sore nipples postpartum may occasionally turn extremely uncomfortably sensitive as the discomfort worsens. Unfortunately, one of the major issues with nursing is uncomfortable nipples. Women who are breast-feeding frequently have sore nipples. Treatment is dependent on the cause and can be prevented. The most frequent reasons are:

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An infant having trouble latching

During breastfeeding, if your infant isn't correctly latching on to your nipple, it might make your nipple painful from friction as your baby's mouth rubs against the skin.

Thrush

Every time you nurse, milk gets on your nipples. Thrush, a nipple-specific yeast infection, can result from it. Breastfeeding exposes mothers and babies to thrush. A doctor needs to treat it.

Adjusting to this new skill 

As your breasts and nipples adjust to nursing, it's common for you to experience sore nipple postpartum, and this commonly happens in the first few weeks of breastfeeding.

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Milk blister

On or around the nipple, there is a painful white patch like this. It is either milk that has been thickened or skin that has grown into a milk duct and obstructed it, resulting in the milk blister.

Soaps or fragrances

These might sting, itch, and dry up your nipples. Using harsh soaps might cause this. 

There may possibly be several causes of sore nipples. Once developed, painful nipples might cause a challenging let-down, a limited milk production, or an early weaning. Therefore, you should aim to prevent painful nipples before they ever begin, if at all feasible. Remember that you should not ignore and visit a doctor in case of any discomfort to address the issue and get the right guidance.