Sore nipples from breastfeeding? Expert tips for relief

It’s common to experience some nipple soreness as your body adjusts to the routine of breastfeeding. This is a brand-new skill for both you and your baby. Know that it may take time to feel like you’re getting the hang of it; that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong! The good news is that nipple pain or sensitivity shouldn’t last beyond the first week or two. 

However, if you continue to experience nipple discomfort or a sudden onset of new nipple pain, it may indicate an underlying issue. Either way, there are things you can try to soothe stinging nipples — and help improve what’s causing the pain in the first place.

Nipple challenges explained

While breastfeeding can feel new and unfamiliar, it shouldn’t be painful. It’s common to notice some mild tenderness or sensitivity in the first couple of weeks as your body adjusts, but this typically improves with time (after the first two weeks) []. The skin of the nipple is resilient and shouldn’t break down more easily than other areas of your body.

With a well-established latch, feeding should feel comfortable. When pain is present, it’s often a sign that something needs adjusting. Below, we’ll walk through some of the most common nipple challenges that can contribute to discomfort.

Sore nipples

It’s common to experience nipple sensitivity when you first start nursing after your baby is born. At times, your nipples may feel irritated or inflamed during your breastfeeding journey, which can happen for various reasons. If there’s any damage to the nipple tissue, you may feel nipple soreness during or after nursing. 

Cracked nipples (fissure)

Some breastfeeding parents develop painful cracks, also known as nipple fissures, on one or both nipples. With a fissure, your nipple may feel raw, chafed, dry, irritated, itchy, or sore. Although nipple fissures are most common when someone is , they can also happen with friction during exercise or skin conditions (even if you aren’t lactating). If left untreated, cracked nipples can bleed, become infected, and lead to an abscess or mastitis. 

Milk bleb or blister

A milk bleb looks like a small dot or pimple on the surface of your nipple or areola. These little bumps can be white, yellow, or clear, and it’s possible to have multiple milk blebs on one or both of your nipples. Milk blebs aren’t dangerous but are often painful (especially while nursing) []. They indicate inflammation in your milk ducts and may cause sharp nipple discomfort as well as shooting pain deep in your breast.

Nipple vasospasm

A nipple vasospasm occurs when the blood vessels in your nipple temporarily constrict, reducing blood flow. This can cause the nipple to change color — turning white, then blue, then red — before returning to normal as circulation resumes. These episodes can be quite painful and often happen during or after breastfeeding.

Factors such as cold temperatures or a poor latch that compresses the nipple (you may notice the nipple looks creased or misshapen after feeding) can make vasospasms more likely. Not everyone who experiences nipple vasospasms will have the more frequent or severe episodes seen in Raynaud’s syndrome [].

Raynaud’s syndrome itself is not harmful to parent or baby and usually resolves once triggers are addressed. To help reduce episodes, try keeping nipples warm after feeding, avoiding sudden temperature changes, and adjusting the latch to decrease tissue compression.

Thrush

Thrush is a fungal yeast infection that can affect both breastfeeding parents and babies. Signs in parents may include itching, burning, flaking, or bright pink/red cracked nipples, and sometimes a shooting pain in the breast. Babies may show white patches inside the mouth.

The fungus, Candida albicans, is naturally present in the body but can grow excessively in warm, moist environments, especially if nipples are cracked or damaged. Factors like antibiotic use, hormonal changes from contraceptives, or stress can contribute to an overgrowth.

It’s important to know that thrush can occur in only the parent, only the baby, or both, and it can be passed back and forth during breastfeeding. If you suspect thrush, reaching out to your healthcare provider or lactation consultant for evaluation and treatment is recommended.

Mastitis

Nipple discomfort or deep breast pain can sometimes signal mastitis, which is an infection or inflammation of breast tissue. Other signs to watch for include fever, chills, a breast lump or swelling, warm areas on the breast, or redness (often appearing as a wedge shape or patch).

What causes sore nipples with breastfeeding?

Once you’ve moved through those first couple of weeks of adjustment, breastfeeding shouldn’t feel painful. If soreness lingers, it’s often a sign that something beneath the surface needs a closer look. Both physical factors (like latch or positioning) and behavioral patterns (like feeding frequency or habits) can play a role in ongoing nipple discomfort. The encouraging part is that persistent pain is something you can troubleshoot rather than pushing through. Some common causes of sore nipples include:

• Improper latch or position (e.g. too shallow or baby is clamping the nipple) 

• Structural variation in baby’s mouth (e.g. lip or tongue tie)

• Pumping problems (e.g. incorrect setting or technique)

• Pump flange issues (e.g. wrong size or placement)

• Skin sensitivity (e.g. dry, irritated, chaffed skin) 

• Bacterial overgrowth

• Removing baby from the breast without breaking the suction first

• Using harsh or drying products on your nipples

• Clogged ducts (leading to milk blebs or mastitis)

• Breastfeeding baby with thrush without treatment

Self-care tips to heal sore nipples

If you experience nipple discomfort at any point during your breastfeeding journey, there are some at-home tips to help soothe irritation and encourage healing. What works best can depend on the underlying cause, so you may find that some approaches feel more helpful than others. It’s okay to adjust as you go.

Dos

To help soothe sore nipples [] and encourage healing, consider:

• Keeping your nipples hydrated with lanolin cream or your own breast milk unless you are experiencing thrush (you can express a little onto your nipples after feedings or pumping)

• Only using mild soap and water to clean your breasts 

• Wearing a loose-fitting bra and clothes

• Change out nursing pads often with fresh, clean ones   

• Changing nursing positions each time you breastfeed (e.g. cradle, football, cross-cradle)

Other things to try include:

• Putting coconut oil on your nipples

• Getting help early if your nipples are cracked or bleeding (this increases your risk of getting an infection) []

• Start nursing on the more comfortable side [] until your letdown and then immediately switch to the other breast (babies suck most aggressively before milk begins to flow)

• Using ice to help with any inflammation

• Taking ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen to help with swelling

• Consider taking sunflower lecithin [] (which reduces the risk of clogged ducts); consult with your healthcare provider regarding proper dosage

• Try silver nursing cups, breast shells, or nipple shields (we'll explain more below)

• Reach out to your doctor or lactation consultant with any questions

The effectiveness of these tips depends on the cause of your nipple pain. For example, these suggestions won’t fix latch problems or treat an infection, and you should always speak to a medical provider or lactation consultant about any questions or prolonged pain.  

Don’ts

To start feeling better as soon as possible, there are certain things you may want to avoid. While dealing with nipple pain, don’t:  

• Wait too long to seek help

• Try to pick or pop milk blebs [](consult with a lactation consultant)

• Continue pumping through pain without checking pump settings and flange size/placement

• Use heat (it may make things worse by increasing blood flow and inflammation) []

• Use harsh soaps or chemicals that could dry out your nipples (and lead to cracking)

• Put lanolin or expressed breast milk on your nipples if you have a yeast infection []

• Limit the length of nursing sessions as a way of trying to avoid sore nipples 

Is it safe to continue breastfeeding if my nipples are bleeding?

If your nipples are cracked or bleeding, it’s important to determine what’s causing it so that you can fix it and reduce your risk of infection []. While you figure out the source of the nipple damage (e.g. harsh products, tongue tie, pump friction), continue to breastfeed as normal. Not only is it safe to breastfeed if your nipples are bleeding, it’s encouraged in order to maintain your supply. However, if breastfeeding becomes too painful while your nipples are damaged, reach out to your doctor or lactation consultant for advice on preserving your supply and ensuring your baby’s feeding needs are met.

If you’re pumping, you might notice a light pinkish tint in your milk []. While this can feel surprising, small amounts of blood in breast milk are generally safe for babies []. Cracked nipples are one possible cause, but not the only one. For example, a rare and harmless condition called Rusty Pipe Syndrome [] can also lead to this temporary change in color.

No matter the cause, it’s helpful to identify what’s behind the bleeding so you can address it. In the meantime, you can usually continue pumping or feeding as tolerated. If you have questions or concerns, your healthcare provider or lactation consultant can help you sort through what’s going on and offer treatment options.

Can nipple pain affect my milk supply?

Can nipple pain affect my milk supply?

Nipple pain doesn’t directly cause an immediate drop in a breastfeeding parent’s supply. However, prolonged nipple discomfort may indirectly affect your milk supply by:

• Causing you to limit the length of nursing sessions 

• Leading to you avoiding nursing sessions altogether 

• Making breastfeeding stressful as the stress hormone, cortisol, can interfere with your milk supply []

How long does it take for sore nipples to heal?

How long it takes for a sore nipple to heal depends on the cause and severity of the issue. For example, an infected milk bleb will likely take longer to heal than irritated skin that started chaffing from a misplaced pump flange.  

Some nipple pain may resolve shortly after a breastfeeding or pumping session, while others might find relief only after discovering the cause of their discomfort and treating it. For more serious causes, including infection or latch difficulties, it may take days or weeks to resolve the problem and then physically recover from it. Hydrogel pads and silver nursing cups can speed along healing for many types of nipple damage. However, at any point, if you’re experiencing nipple pain and are concerned, contact your doctor or a lactation consultant.

Nipple shields: Are they helpful for sore nipples?

For some parents, nipple shields can make the difference between stopping breastfeeding earlier than desired and being able to continue nursing in a way that works for them. Nipple shields are useful tools when babies are born premature, have tongue restrictions, difficulty maintaining a deep latch and/or have restricted tongue movement or strength. They are also useful for parents that have severely damaged nipples.

For many breastfeeding parents, the goal is to use the nipple shield as a temporary tool and work towards latching without, however the length of time the shield is used varies. Working with a lactation consultant is useful to ensure you are using it correctly, and your baby is able to pull enough milk through the shield. They will also help you evaluate your goals and wean off the shield as desired.

Breast shells

Nipple shields can be misunderstood or confused with other breastfeeding gear: breast shells. Like nipple shields, breast shells are another tool that can be used if experiencing nipple pain. They are intended to aid nursing parents to help protect sore nipples between nursing sessions by reducing friction from clothing.

There are three main types of breast shells: 

For sore or cracked nipples

These breast shells are protective domes that sit in your bra and encourage airflow while preventing anything from touching the face of your nipple. This type of breast cover aids in healing because it helps protect sore or cracked nipples from material rubbing against them and promotes air circulation. 

For inverted nipples

This style of breast shell is designed specifically for parents with flat or inverted nipples, not for healing cracked or damaged skin. Unlike standard shells that sit around the areola and allow for airflow, these are smaller and feature an opening just large enough for the nipple. 

They work by putting pressure directly at the nipple and encouraging the tissue to point outwards. This can help create more shape and length, making it easier for babies to latch. For some parents, these shells can be a helpful tool in the early days while both you and your baby are learning to breastfeed.

For collecting milk

These breast shells or “collection cups” are designed to catch breast milk. While breastfeeding, the collection cup can be placed over the breast you are not feeding from to passively collect milk from the other side. You can also wear one on each breast throughout the day to help with spontaneous leaking. 

How can I prevent nipple soreness and bleeding while breastfeeding?

From the beginning, you can watch to make sure your baby is latching deeply. This will help with soreness or cracked nipples. If you are having difficulty achieving a deep latch, reach out for assistance from the nurses if you’re in the hospital or a lactation consultant for guidance. But there are some ways to help minimize the risk:  

When pumping:

• Get fitted for the correct flange size and shape

• Check your flange placement during every pumping session

• Be mindful of pump settings (vacuum setting too high etc.)

• Try lubricating pumping oil or spray 

When breastfeeding:

• Be mindful when removing baby from your breast. Gently break the suction [] first by slipping your finger into the side of your baby's mouth

• Alternate breastfeeding positions to check that milk is thoroughly draining

• Check with a lactation consultant if you have any questions about your baby’s latch

No matter your feeding style, you can:

• Try silver nursing cups to help prevent friction or chaffing

• Keep your skin well hydrated and your nipples clean

• Always listen to your body

When to seek professional advice

Breast soreness and nipple sensitivity are common as your nipples adjust to your newborn’s sucking in the early days. However, breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful after your baby is well-latched []. If you’re experiencing cracked or damaged skin, ongoing pain that isn’t improving, or you’re unsure how things are progressing with breastfeeding or pumping, it’s a good idea to check in with a lactation consultant.

Nipple discomfort can happen at any point in your breastfeeding journey and may indicate an underlying issue, including a clogged milk duct, an improper latch, an infection (bacterial or fungal). Always mention any concerns to your medical provider, especially if you experience nipple pain with:

• Fever

• Chills or flu-like symptoms

• ​​Red streaks or patches on your breast

• Shooting or burning breast pain during or after feedings

• Deep breast pain or pain that doesn’t get better after your baby is properly latched

• Previously pain-free nipples are now cracked, itchy, burning, red, shiny, flaky, rashy, or blistery (this may indicate a thrush infection) []

Takeaway

• It’s common to experience some nipple tenderness and sensitivity when you first start breastfeeding or pumping as you and your baby are working on new skills. However, the pain should improve within the first 1 - 2 weeks if your baby is well-latched. Prolonged nipple pain or discomfort beyond these first initial days, without improvement, or the sudden onset of pain, may be a sign of an underlying problem. 

• Nipple discomfort can result from a range of factors, including an improper latch, tongue or lip tie in the baby, pumping difficulties, skin sensitivity, clogged ducts, or infections such as thrush or mastitis. Even behavioral patterns, like limiting feeding times or removing the baby too quickly, can contribute to soreness. Understanding the root cause is key to addressing the issue effectively. 

• Hydrating your nipples with lanolin or breast milk, changing nursing positions, using warm compresses, wearing loose clothing, and ensuring proper pump fit can help soothe irritation and support healing. Tools like nipple shields, breast shells, or silver nursing cups may also provide temporary relief.

• Depending on what’s causing the nipple damage, it may take a couple of days or weeks for sore nipples to heal once you identify the problem and correct it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider or lactation consultant for help. 

• If nipple pain is accompanied by cracked or bleeding skin, fever, chills, redness, swelling, or shooting breast pain, it’s important to consult a lactation consultant or healthcare provider. Issues like thrush, mastitis, or sudden inversion of nipples require professional evaluation.