Julia asks about treatment of sore nipples. Nikki replied about prevention as the best treatment. I agree, but I also have some additional thoughts.


First, it's important to define terms. 


Sore, used as an adjective, means tender, painful, etc.


Sore, used as a noun means an open wound.


The grammatical distinction gets lost in everyday use. I have heard so many times over the phone of mothers with "sore" (tender, undamaged skin) nipples using creams, EBM, etc. expecting this to help. So, the first thing I like to do with moms on the phone is to ask them, "Are you seeing any redness or skin damage, or are you referring just to tenderness?? When do you experience that tenderness? At latching, and then it subsides?? All the way through the feeding?" "After the feeding, such as when cold air hits them?" etc. 

Cotterman KJ, “Zone Model” Tool for Assessing Early Nipple Discomfort: Part 2: The Assessment Process, Lactation Currents, Florida Lactation Consultant Association Newsletter, September, 2002, p. 5-9.

I will be glad to send this article to anyone who asks for it. (Truth in advertising: I do believe in lactiferous sinuses as demonstrated by histological and surgical literature.)

Jean

K. Jean Cotterman RNC-E, IBCLC
WIC Volunteer
Dayton, OH

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