Understanding the Causes of Nipple Pain While Breastfeeding
If you’re experiencing sore nipples during breastfeeding—you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. Nipple pain is one of the most common reasons parents seek lactation support, especially in the early weeks postpartum. The good news? With the right help, it’s often a fixable issue.
Let’s explore a few reasons why your nipples might be sore—and what can help.
A New Experience for Your Body
For many first-time parents, breastfeeding is a completely new experience. Even when everything is going "right," your nipples may need time to adjust to this new role. Some tenderness early on can be normal—but ongoing pain is not.
Poor Latch or Positioning
One of the most common culprits of nipple pain is an improper latch or awkward positioning during feeds. A shallow latch can lead to friction and compression, resulting in pain or even nipple damage. The good news? A few adjustments in how you and your baby are positioned can make a big difference.
Anatomy Matters
Sometimes, it’s less about what you’re doing and more about physical mismatches. For example:
- A baby with a smaller mouth trying to latch onto larger nipples
- A high palate
- Oral restrictions like tongue or lip ties
These issues can make it difficult for your baby to latch deeply and comfortably.
Feeding Style & Delivery History
If your baby had a difficult delivery, prefers bottle feeding, or shows signs of disorganized sucking, that can affect how they latch and feed at the breast. This can lead to nipple soreness or inefficient milk transfer—both of which deserve attention and support.
Possible Medical Causes
Sometimes nipple pain isn’t about latch at all. You might be dealing with:
- Thrush (yeast infection)
- Clogged ducts or mastitis
- Vasospasm or Raynaud’s syndrome
- Skin sensitivity or other underlying conditions
These situations often require more specific care—but an IBCLC can help identify and guide you through them.
What Can Help?
A lactation consultant (IBCLC) can observe a feeding session, assess your baby’s latch, and ask detailed questions to identify the root cause of your discomfort.
If you’re pumping, your flange size might be off—which can cause pain, pinching, or even nipple trauma. While there are sizing tools online, nothing beats an in-person evaluation to make sure your setup is working for your body.
When to Reach Out
Many parents try creams, cooling pads, or silverettes to manage pain—and those can bring short-term relief. But if you're still experiencing pain after a couple of days, or if it hurts even when you’re not breastfeeding, it's time to reach out for support.
Persistent nipple pain is a signal that something isn’t quite right—and you deserve help.
You Don’t Have to Tough It Out
Pain shouldn’t be part of your daily breastfeeding routine. At Peaceful Beginnings, we’re here to help you breastfeed with more confidence and less pain. You don’t have to suffer through sore nipples—support is just a phone call away.
Ready for gentle, effective lactation support?
Schedule a consultation and let’s figure it out together.