Tips for Cracked & Bleeding Nipples While Breastfeeding

Has the intimate, powerful experience of breastfeeding been compromised for you by the pain of cracked and bleeding nipples?

You are not alone. We’ve been there too, and it’s far more common than we once thought. In one study, researchers found that over 30% of women experienced cracked nipples within the first 30 days of giving birth ⁽¹⁾.

For many women, the pain caused by this condition leads them to stop breastfeeding altogether.

If you need help and want to know how you can overcome this common breastfeeding hurdle, keep reading! Together, we’ll explore what causes cracked nipples and what you can do about it so you can start enjoying the breastfeeding experience.

What Causes Cracked Nipples?

Cracked nipples are classified as a breast disorder and can result from many factors. You are more likely to experience nipple pain in your early postpartum days as your body grows accustomed to the process of breastfeeding, but cracked skin is a sign that something is not right with feedings.

The ten most common causes of cracked nipples are:

1. Improper Latch

The term “latching” describes how your baby’s mouth connects to your breast as they feed. A poor or improper latch means your baby is not placing their mouth on your breast correctly. Generally, an improper latch occurs when a baby’s latch is too shallow and does not get enough of the breast tissue in their mouth.

With an improper latch, the sensitive nipple area remains in the front of the baby’s mouth. The hard gums and the tongue create friction on the nipple (rather than massaging the areola as it should). This friction causes the nipples to become irritated, leading to cracking and bleeding.

2. Thrush

Thrush is a painful infection caused by the overgrowth of the candida fungus ⁽²⁾. Babies and moms can contract thrush for several reasons. Improper hygiene, certain medications, and stress are all factors that can cause thrush.

If your baby has thrush, they can pass it on to you as they breastfeed. One of the symptoms of thrush is cracked and bleeding nipples.

3. Breast Pumping

Expressing your breast milk with a breast pump can be hard on your sensitive breast skin. Breast pumps act as an artificial latch, using mechanical suction to pump your breast milk into a container.

Breast pumping may lead to cracked nipples if you use your pump incorrectly, have a poor quality pump, have the pump suction turned too high, or use pump shields that are too small or too large.

4. Skin Conditions

Are you already prone to dry skin? Cracked nipples may be the result of changing hormones exacerbating an existing condition. This is especially true if you have a history of more severe skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis.

5. Bottle Feeding

If you are using a bottle to supplement your baby’s feedings, your baby may be learning to use their tongue, gums, and jaw in a way that is negatively affecting your nipples.

It takes a different technique to suck milk out of a baby bottle than from your breast. If your baby gets accustomed to these motions, then uses them when breastfeeding, the extra friction can lead to cracked nipples.

6. Tight Clothing

Your nursing bras and breastfeeding pads can lead to cracked nipples if they are too tight. When clothes are too tight, they consistently rub against your skin, causing irritation and redness.

You may also want to check the fabric of your bra. If it’s rough or made of low-quality material, it may also be affecting your nipples.

7. Breast Engorgement

If your breasts are engorged and swollen, it will be harder for your baby to get a proper latch. When your breasts are engorged, the nipple and areola become a lot flatter. The struggle to latch can lead to biting, friction, and damage to your sensitive breast skin.

8. Leaking

While leaking itself will not cause damage, if your wet bra or breast pads sit against your skin for prolonged periods, this can lead to bacterial growth and worsen chapped or painful breasts, contributing to cracked nipples while breastfeeding.

9. Overfeeding

Are you possibly overfeeding your little one? Or are you feeding more frequently on one breast than the other?

If your answer is yes, this may indicate the cause of such extreme pain in your nipples. If your nipples are extra sensitive, constant feedings can quickly lead to problems.

10. Tongue Tied

Some babies experience a medical condition known as ankyloglossia, more commonly known as tongue-tie ⁽³⁾. More than just an improper latch, this condition means your baby has a band of tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of their mouth.

This prevents your baby from nursing properly, as they cannot extend their tongue past their gums. Often mom’s nipples are misshapen after feedings from this improper latch.

Mothers with tongue-tied children often experience increased nipple trauma and difficulty breastfeeding.

11. Harsh Soaps

Do you use soaps or other bathing products with heavy scents or harsh chemicals? These products can dry out your already sensitive skin, especially if you use them daily.

Symptoms of Cracked Nipples

At first glance, you may think the symptoms of cracked nipples would be obvious — they’ll be cracked!

However, new mothers experience many different changes to their bodies during the postpartum period. It can be hard to know what’s a normal change and what isn’t. Cracked nipples are definitely not a normal condition during the breastfeeding period, and it’s important to know how to identify them.

These are the most common symptoms of cracked nipples ⁽⁴⁾:

• Open cracks on the nipple and areola.
• Bleeding nipples.
• Redness and soreness in the entire breast.
• Crusting and scabbing.
• Any oozing of discolored fluids.

Most women can diagnose themselves at home. If you’re concerned about extreme pain in your nipples and breasts and aren’t confident about the cause, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your health care provider or a lactation consultant.

If your nipples are cracked and bleeding, you may be worried about your baby ingesting blood when feeding. This will not harm your baby, though if they spit up, it may look pink or red. Also, if you are pumping with cracked, bleeding nipples, it takes only a few drops of blood to make the pumped milk look pretty red. You can still safely feed this milk to your baby.

Editor's Note:

Michelle Roth, BA, IBCLC

How to Treat Cracked Nipples

The best treatment options for cracked nipples will depend on the cause.

Thankfully, most of the remedies are simple, cost-effective, and can be implemented without a visit to the doctor.

Use these twelve remedies to begin the healing process and bring you some relief:

1. Create a Breastfeeding Plan

Your first step to treating cracked nipples is to create a breastfeeding plan. Depending on the severity of your case, you may still be able to breastfeed, or you may need to supplement with a bottle until you’re fully healed.

Factors you should consider when making this decision include how painful it is to breastfeed, how long the pain lasts, and if both of your breasts are affected. In extreme cases, it’s possible to just feed on the less sore side and pump the more sore side until it’s healed.

2. Use Nipple Creams

Mothers with cracked nipples find great relief from using nipple creams designed for breastfeeding mothers. These creams often use the ingredient lanolin, which is a type of wax secreted by sheep.

Lanolin has deep soothing and nourishing properties to heal your damaged skin. In one study, mothers with nipple trauma found lanolin to be therapeutic ⁽⁵⁾.

3. Apply Warm and Cool Compresses

Between feedings, alternate between warm and cool compresses for relief. While you may have heard the advice to place warm tea bags directly on the nipple, the tannins in tea are astringent and can cause additional drying and cracking, so you may want to avoid this remedy.

4. Go Without a Bra

Does your pain remain after nursing? Take the opportunity to remove your bra around the house and wear a soft, flowing T-shirt instead. The free-flowing air will aid in your recovery, and the lack of restriction provides comfort and prevents further irritation that may be caused by your bra.

5. Evaluate Your Breast Pump

The improper use or size of a breast pump is one of the leading causes of cracked nipples. Most importantly, you want to ensure you have the right breast shield size. Breast shields are more commonly referred to as flanges.

Flanges look like small cooking funnels. The circular cup fits over your nipple and areola. When you turn on the breast pump, the flange acts as a vacuum and expresses your breast milk into the provided container.

The flange size will determine how much of the areola and nipple are in the smaller end of the funnel. If your flange is too small, your nipple has a higher chance of becoming irritated.

6. Switch Nursing Positions

To help your baby latch correctly and to find a more comfortable nursing position for you, try experimenting with different nursing positions. One may be more comfortable for you than another, especially if you hope to continue breastfeeding as you recover from nipple pain.

Sometimes, having your baby’s mouth in a different position on the breast makes feedings more bearable — even with nipple pain. For instance, if you always use the cradle hold, consider lying on your side or using the football hold instead.

Editor's Note:

Michelle Roth, BA, IBCLC

7. Take Mild Pain Relievers

Many new mothers are nervous about taking medication when they breastfeed. However, many over-the-counter pain medicines are safe for nursing mothers to use.

These include the following ⁽⁶⁾:

• Tylenol.
• Motrin.
• Advil.
• Off-brand versions of acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Take medicine to reduce breast pain and inflammation. If you’re worried about breastfeeding, take medicine at least an hour before feeding.

8. Avoid Plastic Nursing Pads

Nursing pads prevent breast milk from leaking through your shirt as it lets down during unexpected moments. Unfortunately, the plastic liners used to catch milk can cause moisture to be trapped against your skin, increasing the irritation.

Look for reusable nursing pads made of soft, absorbent materials (such as wool or organic cotton) if you experience nipple pain. You also need to make sure you change your nursing pads as soon as possible after they are soaked.

9. Apply Breast Milk

Did you know your nutrient-rich breast milk has nourishing properties for your skin?

In a study comparing the effects of both breast milk and lanolin, those applying their own breast milk directly to their own nipples improved more quickly and did not experience any adverse side effects ⁽⁷⁾.

After breastfeeding, use clean hands to rub some breast milk over your nipples. Allow the breast milk to dry. If you cannot breastfeed, use a pump or hand express a little bit of milk to use.

10. Try a Saline Rinse

Combine half a teaspoon of table salt or Epsom salt with a cup of warm water, and stir to dissolve. Dab this onto the nipple with a clean cloth or cotton ball several times per day.

11. Consider Hydrogel Pads

Hydrogel pads are thin gel-filled discs, like bandages for your nipples. When you place them over your nipple, they stick to your skin. You can remove them before breastfeeding and replace them afterward. They allow air in to help with healing but keep clothes from rubbing against the sore skin.

12. Find a Lactation Consultant

If your baby constantly has trouble latching, it may be time to find a lactation consultant. A lactation consultant is a person who has been professionally trained and certified to teach women how to breastfeed.

A good lactation consultant will assess both you and your baby and provide a one-on-one consultation as you feed.

When to Visit a Doctor

Mastitis is a breast infection that causes your breast tissue and milk ducts to become inflamed and clogged ⁽⁸⁾.

You should schedule a visit with your doctor if your symptoms persist for weeks or if you start to experience any of the following symptoms:

• Fever.
• Chills.
• Spreading rash.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Any abnormally colored discharge from the broken skin.

Trust your intuition. If you feel something is wrong or that your cracked nipples may signify something more serious, pay a visit to your doctor for some peace of mind.

Breast and Nipple Hygiene

Hygiene plays a vital role in keeping your breasts and nipples healthy as you breastfeed. Clean your breasts and nipples with water and gentle soap. Some moms find a massage benefits milk flow and can relieve tension in sore breasts.

Avoid any products with heavy perfumes or chemicals. They can dry out your skin and contribute to cracked nipples. You’ll also want to avoid anything that will linger on your skin and come into contact with your baby as you breastfeed.

FAQs

How Long Do Cracked Nipples Take to Heal When Breastfeeding?

It can take cracked nipples hours to three weeks to heal while you’re breastfeeding. If you’re suffering from sore nipples with a few small cracks, the pain might resolve itself in hours to a day.

If your nipples are cracked to the point of bleeding, it’s a good idea to feed your baby expressed breast milk for a day or two. Allow your nipples time to heal, and talk to your doctor about why this might be happening.

Can Cracked Nipples Cause Low Milk Supply?

Yes, cracked nipples can cause a low milk supply. It’s a good idea to take care of nipple soreness as soon as you feel it.

Using a cold compress on your nipples after breastfeeding can help. Natural balms for sore nipples can bring relief, too.

Is It Ok to Put Vaseline on Cracked Nipples?

It’s ok to put Vaseline on cracked nipples, but make sure the Vaseline is completely washed off before feeding your baby.

Vaseline is toxic to ingest. Gently cleaning the Vaseline off your nipples before each feeding will help keep your baby safe.

Is It Better to Pump or Breastfeed With Cracked Nipples?

It’s better to pump if you have cracked nipples. Sometimes, babies latch incorrectly, which is why your nipples are feeling sore.

Pump until your nipples heal, and then you can see if your baby is having problems latching when you try breastfeeding again.