New mothers are faced with cases of sore nipples which can be very painful, making it hard for most of them to breastfeed their young ones. The soreness can be serious when the nipples become cracked, causing a lot of pain. Even though most of the cases are short-lived, it is important to get help if you are to manage feeding the newborn well and correctly without exposing the baby and yourself to more serious conditions.

In the first stages of this soreness, itching and intense pain are the symptoms most women experience. Bumps and lumps may also be felt within the areola. Other symptoms that appear later include chapped or cracked nipples and discharge that is clearly not milk. This condition needs the right kind of treatment since it could become more serious, with the nipples even bleeding.

The main causes of sore nipples are improper positioning of the baby during breastfeeding and the baby not suckling well, therefore leading to tears in the nipples. The two go hand in hand because when a baby is placed well on the nipple, she or he will end up suckling without causing any damage to this essential organ. Another aspect known to cause sore nipples is fungal infections which are generated by candida albicans fungus. This kind of soreness can be easily treated to eliminate the pain within a short period of time. Yeast infections can also lead to soreness, especially when cracking is present.

New mothers often find it hard to come to terms with the pain, with most new mothers being afraid to ask for help. This should not be the case since the condition could get serious if the right precautions are not taken. There are simple ways of taking care of sore nipples to eliminate the pain such that no woman should be left to suffer. Simple home remedies for the condition are available and are very easy to use, besides being very effective. They are natural remedies for dealing with the pain and are composed of herbs and simple home products

1. Home Remedies
2. Other Remedies
3. Diet

Home Remedies for Sore Nipples

Olive Oil as a Home Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Olive oil has soothing properties which work well in getting rid of the soreness that comes with breastfeeding. This remedy has proven to be very effective in reducing the pain and heals the cracks present on the nipples within a short period of time, making it one of the most useful home remedies for this condition.

Use of Olive Oil as a Treatment for Sore Nipples:

The simplest way of using the remedy is by applying it directly on the nipples. This should be done after the baby has fed and the breast has been washed off before the next feeding session. This should be repeated until the soreness has subsided.

Sweet Almond Oil as a Natural Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Sweet almond oil has antiseptic and soothing properties, making it one of the most helpful natural remedies for sore nipples. It easily eliminates swelling and pain associated with the painful condition, bringing fast relief to mothers and allowing them to enjoy the bonding sessions with their little ones instead of dreading those feeding moments.

Use of Sweet Almond Oil as a Cure for Sore Nipples:

The oil should be applied to the nipples a few weeks before giving birth and continued during the initial stages of breastfeeding. This prevents the soreness and cracking of the nipples, taking care of the situation with ease. Although there is no proper diet for sore nipples, almonds can be added to meals as part of a diet for promoting good health.

Lanolin as a Home Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Lanolin contains nutrients which help in nourishing the nipples and the breasts, keeping cases of soreness and cracks at bay. The remedy also speeds up the healing process of any cracks that are present on the nipples and helps in proper circulation of blood, making milk expressing easy.

Use of Lanolin as a Treatment for Sore Nipples:

Lanolin oil should be applied onto the nipples gently and left for half an hour before washing off. The application is best started during the last weeks of pregnancy and continued during the initial stages of breastfeeding.

Comfrey as a Natural Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Comfrey is considered to be among the finest home remedies for sore nipples as it contains healing properties, making it effective in dealing with tears and cracks on the nipples. Apart from speeding up the healing process, the remedy soothes away the pain and soreness of the nipples within a very short period of time.

Use of Comfrey as a Cure for Sore Nipples:

The remedy can be obtained in the form of an ointment which should be applied directly onto the nipples. The leaves of comfrey can also be used as treatment by grinding them into a paste and then applying the paste to the nipples. It should be left on for around 20 minutes before washing off and the process repeated until the soreness is eliminated. It is also a simple way of strengthening and softening the nipples.

Yarrow Leaves as a Home Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Yarrow contains anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties which makes it among the best natural remedies for treating breast soreness. It is an especially good remedy for soreness that is a result of fungal and bacterial infections of the nipples. It is widely used to give instant pain relief from chapped, sore and cracked nipples, making it a favorite of most mothers.

Use of Yarrow as a Treatment for Sore Nipples:

A yarrow poultice should be made by mashing the leaves in a small amount of water. It should then be applied to the sore nipples to give fast relief from the symptoms of the condition. It can also be used once in a while as a preventative measure to eliminate recurrence of the condition.

Calendula as a Natural Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Calendula herb contains healing properties and works by speeding up the healing process for cracks and tears found on the nipples. It also reduces the soreness and pain experienced by most young mothers that are a result of the condition.

Use of Calendula as a Cure for Sore Nipples:

The remedy can be found in cream form which should be applied regularly to the nipples until the condition is gotten rid of. The leaves of the herb can also be crushed to make a poultice which is then applied to the nipples as treatment for the condition. It is an especially good remedy for cracked nipples.

Aloe Vera as a Home Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Aloe Vera is one of the rare herbs which contain almost all the properties needed in taking care of common diseases and infections attacking the human body. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties of the herb are what make it one of the very best natural remedies for sore nipples. It easily treats the tears and cracks on the nipples, taking away the swelling and pain within a short period of time.

Use of Aloe Vera as a Treatment for Sore Nipples:

The gel of the herb should be applied to the nipples and left to dry before washing off. The fresh leaves should be cut in half and the gel smeared onto the nipples. It should, however, be washed off very well as it is very bitter and will not be pleasant for the baby if traces are left behind.

Elderberry Blossoms as a Natural Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: This remedy has essential minerals and compounds which assist in eliminating pain through healing the cracks and tears resulting from sore nipples. It is among the most helpful home remedies for sore nipples, although not many people know much about its medicinal benefits.

Use of Elderberry Blossoms as a Cure for Sore Nipples:

Add a handful of the blossoms to oil and simmer for 20 minutes. The oil should then be applied to the nipples and breasts after being strained as a simple way of dealing with the pain and cracks.

Basil as a Home Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Basil is widely used as treatment for common conditions and has proven to be very helpful in dealing with cases of sore nipples. It treats the tears and cracks and also reduces the pain within a very short period of time. The remedy acts as nourishment for the breasts as well as keeping instances of cracks in the nipple at bay.

Use of Basil as a Treatment for Sore Nipples:

Crush the leaves of basil into a paste and apply the paste onto the sore nipples. This should be done several times a day and washed off before the next feeding session to easily get rid of the condition.

Glycerin as a Natural Remedy for Sore Nipples

Properties: Glycerin has soothing and healing minerals which work well in cases of sore nipples. It is one of the simplest home remedies for the condition and is readily available to most people around the house. It also speeds up the healing process and keeps the nipples and breasts well hydrated and free from cracks.

Use of Glycerin as a Cure for Sore Nipples:

The oil should be applied directly to the nipples to give fast pain relief. The application is best started during the last few weeks of pregnancy and continued into the initial stages of breastfeeding to prevent the occurrence of the cracks and soreness. This is a simple way of taking care of the nipples and breasts in general.

Other Home Remedies for Sore Nipples

Wrap ice cubes in a piece of cloth and then place onto the nipples to help in relieving the pain and soreness of the nipples. This is one of the simplest ways of taking care of nipples, reducing the agony that should be happiness with the coming of a new baby.

Express a small amount of milk while the baby is feeding and apply to the nipple experiencing the pain. This should be repeated several times during the session and alternated between the breasts to ease the soreness within a few days. Breast milk is effective in dealing with sore and cracked nipples as it has minerals which help in the healing process.

Express milk by hand or use a breast pump when suffering from sore nipples until you are sure that the milk is freely flowing. This makes it easy for the baby to suckle without causing too much pain to the already sore breast as it won’t be hard to get the milk.

Prepare a paste using marshmallows and generously apply onto the nipples to sooth the pain away. This also gets rid of the soreness of the nipples, assisting in the healing of the cracks and tears present on the nipples.

Another remedy that has proven to be very effective when dealing with cases of sore nipples is slippery elm. A paste should be made by crushing the herb and then the paste should be applied to the sore nipples. This should be repeated until the soreness has subsided and the pain is gone.

Expose the nipples to sunlight for a few minutes every day as a simple way of treating the condition. The nipples can also be brought near a light bulb, after ensuring that they are not close enough to cause burns, as a way of relieving the soreness.

Dip a tissue or piece of cloth in tea that contains tannic acid and then lay on this for half an hour with the nipple on it. The nipples should then be dried and exposed to fresh air for several minutes before rinsing the tea off. This is a good way of quickly healing the cracks and tears as tannic acid is very effective in achieving this.

Diet for Sore Nipples and other Precautions

To keep the breast healthy and less prone to infection and other painful conditions, increase your intake of foods rich in vitamin C. Citrus fruits, for instance, are rich in the essential vitamin and can be used as part of the diet for treatment of the soreness.

Eat lots of oranges, kiwi, limes and Indian gooseberry as a diet for the condition as they are rich in vitamin C, which is essential in speeding the healing process.

Sensitive nipples can be taken care of by taking vitamin E. This vitamin also helps in keeping the nipples strong and less prone to the infections.

Ensure that you position the baby well to keep the jaws off the delicate parts of the nipple. Pulling the baby away from the breast should also be avoided as it could easily lead to injuries.

The baby should be fed on a regular basis to avoid hunger pangs which could make him or her bite roughly onto the nipples when you begin feeding.

Ensure that the breasts are clean and dry to keep infections at bay. It also helps to get some fresh air by staying without a bra for a certain period of time. Bras that are too tight should be avoided.

Avoid washing the nipples using alcohol and strong soaps. It is best to use warm water on the breasts and dry them thoroughly.