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Expert Q&A
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| By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn. | ||
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My wife and I have four children, and my wife breastfed all four. It has been a year since she weaned our youngest. Her nipples are still sore to the touch. Her breasts are not sore. She has tried vitamin supplements and the problem still persists. Can you provide any information or guidance?
Nipple tenderness can be attributed to a number of things, not necessarily related to breastfeeding. Some women have more sensitive nipples than others. Depending on the severity of the soreness, she might want to check with either her OB/GYN or a dermatologist for some help. Some possibly relevant questions for her to consider:
- Have the nipples always been sore or did this just start recently? If they were always sore, she may just be one of those women who have very sensitive nipples.
- Is there any chance she could be pregnant again? Tender nipples can be an early sign of pregnancy.
- Is she prone to yeast infections? Yeast on the nipple can cause pain -- typically a burning, itching pain -- and it can require diligence to get rid of.
- Is she wearing some kind of bra with a seam across the nipples that might be irritating? If her nipples are naturally sensitive, a seam across them could be rubbing them ""the wrong way.""
- Is she sensitive to dyes and perfumes in soaps and laundry detergents? If this is the case, you would expect to see some kind of irritation elsewhere as well.
- Does she still have milk? Some women continue to produce small amounts of milk long after the baby weans (even a year!). One explanation is that for these women, even mild stimulation of the nipples (such as clothing rubbing against them) can be enough stimulation to keep producing milk.
- Is nipple stimulation a routine part of foreplay? This could account for nipple tenderness as well.
- If she is using some kind of cream on her nipples, it is possible that is the cause. She could try using an ultra pure lanolin, such as Lansinoh, and see if that helps.
- I'm breastfeeding, and got a fissure from bad positioning. How long until it's healed?
- Is it normal to have sore nipples when breastfeeding?
- Can a 7-month-old be taught to latch on and nurse?
- I am having a difficult time breastfeeding. Can you help?
- I really have tried everything to nurse my daughter, but I'm having severe problems. Do you have any ideas for my situation?
- Should I massage my breasts to prepare for breastfeeding? Can that cause premature labor?
- Do I need to do anything to prepare my nipples for breastfeeding?
- I'm flat-chested -- will I be able to breastfeed?
- Will it be hard to position my baby for nursing if my breasts are large?
- Can you tell me about the AAP breastfeeding guidelines?
I hope this helps!