Prepare for a confident birth – The Birth Class
What is infertility?
The Two Week Wait
What is Pre-eclampsia?
Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
Managing Labour Pain
Breech Birth
Cracked Nipples: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
5 Tips for Travelling With Kids
Breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt and if it is hurting, we highly recommend you seek guidance from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) either through the hospital you birthed in, your local community health centre or privately. Alternatively, if you feel like you need immediate help, the Australian Breastfeeding Association hotline – open 24/7 – is a great place to start. Phone: 1800 686 268
If your baby doesn’t latch well onto your breast, you will feel it. Even though data shows us that up to 80% of mothers experience pain in the early days and weeks of breastfeeding, pain also signifies that your baby isn’t latched correctly. When your baby constantly feeds and isn’t latched well (also known as a ‘shallow’ latch) your nipples will naturally become tender, sore and may crack, which can lead to bleeding and infection. This can complicate every feed because when you experience pain, your body will be tense and you’ll soon come to resent every feed.
As soon as you experience pain and that pain increases with each feed, you should seek help. In early postpartum this can be tricky, for the simple fact that you’re still in the intense birth recovery stage and likely sleep-deprived. However, the answer to any breastfeeding issues, including sore nipples and incorrect latch, is a lactation consultant. They are professionally trained and can educate you on how best to latch your baby and how to navigate discomfort and prevent pain.
There is a lot of information out there regarding how to best treat sore nipples. There’s also an overwhelming number of ointments and creams that promise to fix the problem. However, lactation consultants generally advise keeping your nipples dry between feeds (moisture doesn’t allow healing to occur) and use the best antibacterial treatment there is: breastmilk. Ideally you should care for your nipples by:
A good latch! Many mothers believe they need to lead the baby to the breast but given the opportunity, your baby (if full-term and healthy) will latch by themselves. This is called ‘baby-led attachment’. It’s best achieved if you’re in a semi-reclined position and your baby feels really supported; you’re arms are around your baby so they feel secure and won’t ‘fall-away’ from the breast.
A good latch means your baby is connected to your breast at three points of contact:
Your baby will stay connected to the breast if they’re supported so make sure you hold their body snug against yours.
Aligning your baby’s mouth over your nipple allows them to instinctively suction the nipple into their mouth; with each suck, your baby will vacuum the nipple deeper into their mouth. The deeper the nipple, the more comfortable the latch.
Your comfort is a priority and will ultimately influence your baby’s comfort, too. Before a breastfeed make sure you’ve gone to the toilet, you feel comfortable and physically supported and you’ve got a bottle of water and a snack within reach. It can be helpful to roll your shoulders down a few times and take a few deep breaths, so you’re letting go of any obvious tension.
It’s really important to observe your baby and respond to their ‘feeding cues’ because it’s much easier to latch a baby if they’re not ravenous and upset.
Feeding cues are separated into three categories (ideally you want to latch your baby when they start displaying ‘early’ cues):
Cracked nipples can quickly lead to mastitis which is inflammation of the breast tissue. It presents as a red, hot lump in the breast and is accompanied by severe flu-like symptoms (and the feeling that you’ve been hit by a truck). Early treatment is essential so if you think you may be developing mastitis, present to the emergency department of your local hospital or call your local GP immediately (and tell the receptionist you’ve got mastitis).
Access the FREE Mastitis information sheet, HERE
We think you might enjoy these articles
postpartum
Sore, cracked and irritated nipples are a common symptom in the early days of breastfeeding. However, cracked nipples are usually a sign that your baby isn’t latching correctly. Because your baby will feed frequently in the first few days and weeks (expect to feed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period), sore nipples will get progressively worse unless you seek expert advice and guidance. This is vital as nipple pain is one of the reasons why new mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they intended.
Travel is a priority for my Australian/Fijian family. We try to get back to Fiji once a year so the boys can better understand and have a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage. I’m also partial to a margarita by the pool.
If you’re recovering from a caesarean birth (c-section) it’s helpful to remember that your body needs to heal after major abdominal surgery. Caesarean births are common (roughly one in three in Australia) but significant surgery requires adequate recovery time. Here's what you can expect in your caesarean recovery.
There is so much talk about baby sleep - ‘is he a good sleeper?’ ‘How many naps does he have during the day?’ ‘Is she sleeping through the night?’ but we’re missing the conversations about maternal sleep.
If you had a caesarean birth and you’ve noticed an overhang or a bulge over your scar, we want you to know that it’s completely normal and a natural part of birth recovery. It’s not dependent on whether you had a planned or emergency caesarean nor is it a result of a bad incision or hindered healing process; it’s simply a common side-effect of wound healing.
If you’re in the third trimester you’re no doubt thinking about all that’s to come; labour, birth, and a precious newborn baby. There is so much to look forward to and prepare for. But often, we spend so much time thinking of what our baby needs that we rarely think about ourselves. So, we’re here to gently encourage you (read: implore you!) to start thinking about your post-birth recovery. It’s generally quite a slow process and for many women, especially first-time mothers, it can be quite confronting. We don’t want to scare you but research shows that realistic expectations pave the way for a positive postpartum experience
Engorged breasts are normal and expected in early postpartum. If you’ve just birthed your first baby and you're shocked at the firmness and fullness of your breasts, don’t be alarmed. This is your body doing its job; making and storing breastmilk after birth.
You may have heard some nightmarish stories about mastitis and frankly, it’s not something you want to contend with at any stage of your breastfeeding journey. It’s most common in the first three months postpartum but it can strike at any time, particularly if your baby has reduced their feeds, is starting to sleep for longer periods at night or you’re weaning.