Were you told nipple pain and damage were normal while breastfeeding and your nipples just needed to “toughen up”? Whoever told you that does not understand basic anatomy. Nipples, are made from elastic, erectile tissue (the same tissue from a cellular level as the penis!) They are designed to erect and evert with stimulation and shrink back down after feeding. They physically CANNOT callous. They can crack and bleed and blister. They can have skin slough off. They can get infected. Some can become desensitized or used to stimulation with time. But they can NEVER “toughen up”. If you have a calloused nipple, I would see a dermatologist or breast specialist ASAP.
Babies mouths have two areas: the hard, bony palate up front (including where the teeth will go), a.k.a. the danger zone, and the soft palate at the back of the mouth just in front of where that little hangy downy thing is, a.k.a. the safe zone. One of the reasons a nipple erects, everts, and stretches is to help to get it in the safe zone.
When a baby is latched correctly, the nipple tip stretches back to where the palate is soft, this the tongue massages the nipple to express milk. If baby has a shallow latch, the tongue pinches the nipple tip against the hard roof of the mouth and the friction causes damage. This also happens when there is a tongue tie. Instead of the middle of the tongue massaging the nipple, the middle of the tongue is anchored to the floor of the mouth and the tongue tip flicks the nipple, or the middle of the tongue where the restriction is pinches the nipple against the bony palate.
Nipples are perfectly designed to withstand breastfeeding because of their anatomical design Other than temporary tenderness in the first few days, there should be no pain. Except when your baby shark is teething and bites you. But that’s a totally different post. Need to heal your nipples fast? Watch my YouTube video on the best strategies Need to heal your nipples fast? Watch my YouTube video on the best strategies
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