How Do You Treat Sore Nipples
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to a multitude of changes in the body. From weight gain and back pain, to bruising and sore nipples, many women around the world go through similar experiences. Did you know that as many as 90% of new moms have dealt with some form of nipple soreness? The pain can range from slight tenderness to significant discomfort.
Some women experience so much nipple pain after breastfeeding that they have to use nipple shields. Of course, nipple pain can stem from several sources (even if you are not pregnant). And, how you deal with it will depend on the cause of your nipple pain. Here are a few common causes of nipple pain and what you can do about it.
Are Your Hormones Acting up?
Hormones, more often than not, are the cause for nipple soreness and discomfort. During your period, your hormones fluctuate and one of the side effects can be nipple pain. Both estrogen and progesterone levels increase just before your period starts. This process draws fluid into the breasts, making them feel swollen and tender. Estrogen causes breast ducts to enlarge and progesterone causes milk glands to swell.
Are You Pregnant?
Pregnancy will send your hormones into overdrive. It’s often accompanied by physiological changes that can result in nipple soreness. As your breasts prepare for lactation, you may notice that your nipples are more sensitive. This is because the milk ducts are growing and being stretched as they fill with milk during pregnancy.
Are Your Clothes to Blame?
If you’re feeling tenderness on the surface of your nipples, it could be because your clothing is too rough, or doesn’t fit quite right. Friction, even if painless in the beginning, can cause serious discomfort if you let it go untreated too long.
Sometimes, it is not your clothes that are causing discomfort, but the detergent you use to wash them. Many people have reactions when sensitive skin comes into contact with certain chemicals, and it isn’t uncommon to discover you’re allergic to your laundry detergent.
How Can You Find Relief?
If you’re experiencing unnatural pain, the first thing you should do is consult your doctor. Sometimes pain stems from benign sources and sometimes it’s serious. If pain persists more than a few days, give your doctor a call.
If you’re nursing and experiencing nipple pain, try Punkin Butt’s Nipple Butter Soothing Balm. Our balm is formulated to be creamy and moisturizing. It is free of preservatives, parabens, phthalates, lanolin, and petroleum. Filled with only skin-loving ingredients that rub on easily, you will instantly feel relief after using this soothing balm!
It was specifically developed to help soothe tender, sore, or nursing nipples. There is no stickiness, and no waiting for it to melt — Just apply often to keep your skin soft and comfortable during nursing.
Here at Punkin Butt, we make all our products with ingredients that you feel comfortable having in your baby’s mouth and soaking into your skin. The last thing you want to worry about is any chemical or residue in your precious baby.
P.S. — Our balm also works well on dry, chapped skin, lips, cuticles, and even the roughest spots like your feet and elbows. Shop the rest of our homeopathic products now!