One of the things I hear the most during my antenatal consultations is that mothers assume that breastfeeding (especially during the first few days) is going to be painful. To be honest I have goosebumps every time, because having nipple cracks should not be something normal during your breastfeeding journey. Let me tech you what causes nipple cracks and how to prevent them…
What is a nipple crack?
A nipple crack is a condition that can occur in breastfeeding women with a number of causes. They can appear as a cut across the tip of the nipple, on the edges, or may extend to its base. Not all of them have the same presentation and depending on the damage they cause on the skin they will need to be treated in different ways.
Cracks don’t appear naturally, but because something is not quite right. Some studies indicate that cracked nipples are caused by poor latch, yet other causes could be poor positioning of the baby on the breast, or even that your baby could possibly have a tongue-tie.
My TOP 5 tips to prevent cracks
- Make sure your baby is latching well.
- Breastfeed in a good position.
- Avoid using pacifiers and teats.
- Do not apply any creams or lotions to your nipples.
- Use the correct flange size when you are pumping.
In summary, if you would like to prevent your nipples cracking, I would recommend getting in touch during your pregnancy, or to book my antenatal consultation to observe the most effective way to breastfeed your baby. You can check out the detailshere:
