10 Breastfeeding Pain Relief Ideas

Breastfeeding (or chestfeeding) is a natural, convenient way to feed your baby, but it's not always intuitive—or comfortable. While breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, it sometimes does, especially while you're still getting the hang of it.

Breastfeeding pain may first strike when you're on your own, overtired, and just days into breastfeeding. You may have painfully engorged breasts, tender lumps, cracked nipples, or inflamed areolas.

Thankfully, small adjustments can bring big relief. Try these expert-approved tips to make breastfeeding more enjoyable for both you and your baby.

Help Your Baby Latch Properly

More often than not, breastfeeding or chestfeeding pain—whether it's engorged breasts, sore nipples, or something else—stems from a baby's poor latch.

You can help your newborn establish a proper latch by taking the following steps:

• Make a "C" with your hand to grasp the outside of one breast: This allows you to direct your breast toward your baby's mouth easily.
  
• Tickle your baby's lips with your nipple: This prompts them to open their mouth wide.
• Quickly (but gently) move your baby's head closer while guiding your breast into their mouth: When your baby has properly latched on, their lips should create a seal over much of your areola, not just your nipple.
  

Try a New Breastfeeding Position

Simply changing positions can help with breastfeeding pain. It may help your baby latch on differently, giving any sore spots on your nipples a break and potentially allowing your baby to drain your breast more effectively.

Here are some common breastfeeding and chestfeeding positions that parents find comfortable:

• Cradle hold: Position your baby in your lap with their head in the crook of your arm. Keep their chest against yours so they do not have to turn their head toward your breast. If necessary, use nursing pillows to support your arm and your baby’s head.
• Cross-cradle hold: Position your baby in the opposite direction of the cradle hold with their head in your hand rather than the crook of your arm, keeping their chest facing yours.
• Football hold: Many parents find this position helps their baby latch on more fully. Hold your baby like a football along your forearm, laying their body along your arm and holding their head in your hand. Draw their head toward your breast with one hand and support your breast with your other hand.
• Side-lying position: Lay on your side and place your baby on their side, facing you, with their head at your breast. Make sure your baby’s nose isn’t obstructed.
• Laid-back position (biological breastfeeding): Support yourself with pillows and lie back in a reclined (but not flat) position. Lay your baby prone on your chest with their head aligned with your breast.
  

Apply a Baby-Safe Nipple Ointment

Even if your baby is establishing a good latch, you may have sore nipples when beginning breastfeeding. The skin on that area of your breast is tender and may be sensitive at first.

In between feedings, apply an over-the-counter (OTC) breastfeeding ointment that's labeled "baby-safe." These ointments are nice because you don't have to wipe them off your nipples when it's time to breastfeed. They have ingredients that are safe for your baby.

Use Cold Compresses

Sleepy newborns who have trouble draining your breast can cause engorgement problems. When your breasts are engorged, you may feel an uncomfortable pressure and heaviness.

Applying cold compresses in between feedings can help with soreness from engorged breasts. Use a simple OTC rectangular ice pack or a round-shaped one designed specifically for breastfeeding parents.

Give Your Nipples Some Air

It may seem strange, but just leaving your nipples exposed for a few minutes after a feeding can help ease the pain of cracked or bleeding nipples. Also, trapped moisture inside a bra can lead to thrush, a painful fungal infection that you can spread to your child's mouth.

Pro tip: Don't wipe your nipples off before you let them air dry them. Breast milk acts as a protectant and a moisturizer, so let any excess soak in before putting your clothes on.

Take Pain Medication

If the pain and discomfort are constant, you can take OTC pain relievers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen). Both are safe to take as directed while breastfeeding.

Check with your doctor to determine which type and dose of pain reliever will work best for you.

Try Relaxation Techniques

Try deep, controlled breathing—in through your nose and out through your mouth. You can listen to relaxing nature sounds or guided meditation on an app like Calm while breastfeeding.

Of course, getting enough rest can help you deal with discomfort, too. Take naps when you can, and if you have a partner, enlist them to help with nighttime diaper changes and put-downs after feedings.

Use Breast Compression

If dealing with engorgement, breast compressions may help your baby get milk more easily. Compressions may also reduce the amount of time your baby is on your breast during a sore stint.

For breast compressions, you gently squeeze your breast—almost in a pumping fashion—while your baby nurses to help eject the breast milk faster.

Check for an Infection

When is breastfeeding pain serious? If you're experiencing other symptoms like fever, reddened lumps, or pain throughout your breast, you may have mastitis.

Mastitis is an infection in the milk ducts that needs to be evaluated by a medical professional. It's usually treated with antibiotics and continued breastfeeding (yes, it is safe and even helpful to keep nursing with mastitis).

Talk To a Lactation Consultant

Breastfeeding can be a rewarding, special bond between parent and child—as well as a convenient, inexpensive food choice for your baby. However, it's not always intuitive. You may need some expert help, especially at the beginning.

A lactation consultant is trained to help you correct any latch problems, develop optimal feeding positioning, and figure out if there are any other underlying causes of your breastfeeding pain. Reach out to friends, your hospital labor and delivery nurses, or your pediatrician for references.

Breastfeeding pain is common—and almost always short-lived—but you do not need to figure out (or suffer through) your breastfeeding issues alone.