Managing common concerns

Sore or cracked are common for women who are starting . This fact sheet has some tips to help stop or manage this problem.

Sore nipples

Some pain is normal at the start of feeds in the first 1 to 2 weeks. If it continues longer, it could be a sign that your baby is not attached to the breast correctly.

Here are some tips that may help to prevent pain:

Wash your hands well before feeding. If you are using breast pads, change them often when they are damp. Soaps, lotions and shampoos can cause skin to dry out. Avoid using them on the nipples. To take your baby off your breast, carefully break the suction with your little finger in the corner of your baby's mouth. Let your nipples air dry after each feed. Try gently hand expressing if your nipples are too sore to breastfeed.

Cracked nipples

Cracked nipples can be painful but they often heal quickly. Cracked nipples are often caused by the baby not being attached to the breast right. If you have cracked nipples, it is best to get help from an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or a breastfeeding-trained health professional.

Here are some tips:

Follow the nipple care tips for sore nipples on this page. It is okay to not feed on the sore breast (for 12 to 24 hours) if it is too painful. You can express by hand during this time to feed your baby in a bottle or cup. If you use breast pads, remove them gently. If the pad sticks to the breast, express a little breastmilk to moisten it before trying again. Swollen

In the first week when your milk comes in, your breasts can feel hard or swollen. This can also happen if you have been separated from your baby or have stopped breastfeeding suddenly. This will usually go away within a couple of days. Here are some tips to help reduce the fullness:

Demand feed your baby (8 to 10 times or more in 24 hours). If you are separated from your baby, try expressing milk as often as your baby would breastfeed. Try hand expressing a small amount of milk for your comfort before or after a feed. This will help to make the breast soft enough for your baby to attach. Message your breasts gently during feeds. Allow your baby to completely empty the first breast before offering the other. Next time start on the other breast. You might try applying some warmth (e.g. heat packs or a warm shower) to your breasts before you feed.

Blocked milk ducts

A blocked milk duct can cause a painful, swollen mass in the breast. The skin may even be red. If this is left untreated it can lead to . Seek help from a breastfeeding-trained professional if a blocked duct continues for more than 24 hours. Here are some tips to help you manage a blocked duct early:

Feed your baby as often as possible. Try starting with the breast with the blocked duct. Continue to start on this breast for the next few feeds to help drain the breast. Gently massage the lump towards the nipple while your baby is feeding. This can help clear the blockage. If your baby’s feeding has not reduced the lump, try to gently massage toward the nipple while hand expressing. Apply warmth before and during a feed (e.g. a warm shower). Try applying coldness to the area after a feed. Check your bra is not too tight. You can remove it during feeds if you prefer. Try sleeping without a bra as much as you can. Check that your baby is positioned and attached right.

Mastitis (inflammation of the breast)

URL: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/599/managing-common-breast-concerns Version number: 6 Date published: 18/09/2017 Date generated: 26/09/2021 Mastitis occurs when blocked milk ducts in your breast become inflamed or infected. Signs of mastitis can include swollen, hot and red breasts, and have flu-like symptoms. It is recommended that you see your doctor straight away. You may need antibiotics or pain relief to help manage mastitis. If you do not get medical help mastitis can lead to an abscess in your breast.

It is important that milk is removed from the breast during this time. It is safe to continue to breastfeed your baby when you have mastitis. If it is too painful, you might try expressing breastmilk until the pain lessens. Follow the tips listed under ‘blocked milk ducts’ above.

For more information or assistance

In hospital

Talk to a midwife or lactation consultant about any concerns you have.

At home

Talk to your local child health nurse, a lactation consultant, an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or doctor.

Telephone

Call your local child health nurse (see Queensland Health, Community Child Health service in the White Pages). Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)—ask to speak to a child health nurse for 24-hour child health information and advice. Contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association: call the 24-hour / 7-day free breastfeeding helpline from anywhere in Queensland on 1800-mum-2-mum (1800 686 2 686). call the Queensland branch on (07) 3254 2233.

Websites

Australian Breastfeeding Association (http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au) Lactation Consultants of Australia & New Zealand (http://www.lcanz.org/)

Resources for , families and carers

Booklet: Child health information (https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/child-health-information-book.pdf) (PDF, 1.34MB), Queensland Government (given to parents of every baby born in Queensland with the Personal Health Record)

Breastfeeding and your baby (https://www.qld.gov.au/health/children/babies/breastfeeding/), Queensland Government

Healthdirect Australia—Breastfeeding (http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/breastfeeding), Australian Government

Raising Children Network—Grown-ups (http://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/grown-ups.html), Australian Government

Raising Children Network—Newborns nutrition (http://raisingchildren.net.au/nutrition/newborns_nutrition.html), Australian Government

Raising Children Network—Breastfeeding videos (http://raisingchildren.net.au/breastfeeding/breastfeeding_videos.html), Australian Government

Booklet: Breastfeeding and postnatal care (http://www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcht.nsf/PresentDetail?Open&s=Breast_Feeding_and_Postnatal_Care), New South Wales Government—available in English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi and Tamil languages

Booklet: Breastfeeding your baby (http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/Publications/breastfeeding-your-baby.pdf) (PDF, 3.6MB), New South Wales Government

Fact sheet: Breastfeeding tips for new (http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Planning_and_Population_Health/Health_Promotion/Healthy_Weight/docs/breastfeeding/Breastfeeding_NewMothers_SESLHD.pdf) (PDF, 111kB), New South Wales Government

Breastfeeding your baby (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breastfeeding), Victoria Government

Brochure: Breastfeeding (http://www.rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/Main/Content/nutrition/2013NutritionBreastfeedingDEECD.pdf) (PDF, 1.35MB), Victoria Government

Baby care—weaning (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/baby-care-weaning), Victoria Government

Breastfeeding (http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicCategories.aspx?p=302), South Australia Government

URL: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/599/managing-common-breast-concerns Version number: 6 Date published: 18/09/2017 Date generated: 26/09/2021 Breastfeeding—Weaning from the breast (http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=302&id=1941), South Australia Government

Related content

Is my baby getting enough milk? (http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/421/is-my-baby-getting-enough-milk)

Common breastfeeding concerns: When do I stop breastfeeding? (http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/268/common-breastfeeding-concerns-when-do-i-stop)

Breastfeeding and drugs (http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/217/breastfeeding-and-drugs)

Breastfeeding if you are away from your baby (http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/220/breastfeeding-if-you-are-away-from-your-baby)

Acknowledgements

This fact sheet is consistent with the National breastfeeding strategy 2010–2015.

Information is drawn from:

Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service 2015, Child health information: Your guide to the first 12 months. National Health and Medical Research Council 2012, feeding guidelines. Preventative Health 2008, Growing Strong: Feeding you and your baby, Queensland Health. Preventative Health 2010, Breastfeeding and your baby, Queensland Health. Queensland Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Guidelines Program 2010, Breastfeeding initiation.

This fact sheet is also the result of input and effort from many health professionals in Queensland. Their assistance with the content is greatly appreciated.

This information is provided as general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or medical advice. Professional and medical advice should be sought for particular health concerns or events. Best efforts have been used to develop this information, which is considered correct and current in accordance with accepted best practice in Queensland as at the date of production. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not accept liability to any person for the information provided in this fact sheet nor does it warrant that the information will remain correct and current. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not promote, endorse or create any association with any third party by publication or use of any references or terminology in this fact sheet.

URL: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/8/31/599/managing-common-breast-concerns Version number: 6 Date published: 18/09/2017 Date generated: 26/09/2021