If your nipples do get sore, don’t quit! They’ll get better. Try nursing your baby more frequently, so that he won’t have such a big appetite and won’t have to nurse as long at each feeding. Start the feeding on the least sore side, because babies tend to suck more vigorously at the first breast. It may also be helpful to limit your baby’s time on the sore breast.

It’s okay for your baby to continue to nurse if you have a cracked nipple, even if it bleeds. If it becomes too painful to nurse you can give that side a rest for a few days to allow it to heal. Let your baby nurse on the breast that isn’t as sore, and pump or express your breast milk from the affected side. Gradually resume nursing on the affected side for short periods of time until your baby is nursing from both sides equally. Make sure that your baby is latched on properly.

After each feeding, express a small amount of your breast milk and rub it around the nipple and areola because this has natural lubricants and healing properties. Many women like to use a lanolin application on their nipples in the first few weeks of breastfeeding to prevent their nipples from irritation.