Nursing mother query – breastfeeding?
My wife is breastfeeding 5 month old baby. She gets her nipples sore and sometimes painful as the baby doesnt handle well or the baby extends sucking. This is tricky as we can’t go for any treatment for sore nipples since it may affect the baby’s feeding. How can we get rid of this problem? Are there any ointments/medicines that doesnt affect the baby but relieves the sore/painful nipples? Please advise.
As others have said, lanolin is perfectly safe. She can also try expressing some milk and letting it dry on her nipples, and walking around topless, or at least without a bra and a loose top. If her nipples are always in a tight bra (especially if it’s not all cotton), they can get irritated.
She might also want to speak with a lactation consultant (I think they may be called something different in Australia? Her midwife or doctor can direct her.) Baby may be latching poorly (sometimes as baby gets older both mom and baby get lazy about a good latch), which is what’s making her sore.
EDIT: Do not use a nipple shield unless the lactation consultant specifically recommends it, and supervises its use. Nipple shields usually just make things worse, and don’t solve the underlying problem.
Breastfeeding – remedies for sore nipples