The most common cause of nipple pain is improper latching when the baby is sucking. The baby does not take the entire nipple and most of the areola into the mouth, only sucking on the nipple. This results in the mother feeling pain as the baby only sucks on the nipple forcefully.
This causes the mother to worry about breastfeeding and may lead to a decrease in the number of feedings and shorter breastfeeding sessions. The mother's negative emotions also affect milk production. Due to improper latching, the baby is unable to get enough milk, causing the breast to not empty properly and leading to a decrease in milk supply, ultimately resulting in breastfeeding failure.
Therefore, once a mother feels nipple pain, she should seek help from a doctor or an experienced breastfeeding mother to improve the baby's latching position. In most cases, the pain will immediately disappear after correction.
If the pain persists even after correcting the latching position, or if nipple pain occurs after initially painless feedings, it is important to check the baby's oral condition. Sometimes, the baby may have thrush, which can be transmitted to the nipples and cause nipple pain. In this case, both the baby's oral thrush and the mother's nipples need to be treated with antifungal medication. To prevent mothers from suffering from nipple pain, they should learn and master breast care methods during pregnancy.
It is important to know not to wash the nipples with soap or alcohol because there are glands in the nipple or areola that secrete oil to protect the nipples from drying and cracking. Washing the nipples with soap will remove this natural protective barrier. In addition, after the baby finishes feeding, wait for them to release the nipple themselves before removing the baby from the breast. Do not forcefully pull the nipple out of the baby's mouth.
If a mother needs to interrupt breastfeeding in certain situations, gently place a finger between the baby's lips to stop their sucking before removing the nipple. Most importantly, mothers should learn how to properly latch the baby onto the nipple before giving birth.
