For most women, sore nipples are par for the course of motherhood. Whether you're pregnant and dealing with tender breasts that fluctuate in size or are breastfeeding and struggling with the pain of engorgement, chances are your boobs will be sore at some point in your motherhood journey. And, more often than not, your nipples will be more affected than any other part of your breast. Luckily, there are ways to ease the pain and learning how to massage nipples to make them hurt less is a skill that any pregnant or nursing woman should have up her sleeve.
According to Health For All Women, breast massage has been shown to be helpful for women of all ages to help reduce tenderness and pain. Although there aren't many techniques targeting only the nipple, performing an overall breast tissue massage can help ease any pain you're experiencing in your nipple or elsewhere by relaxing the muscles surrounding it.
One article from Well and Good also noted that breast massage has detoxing effects that can help relieve stress as well as pain or tenderness. Massage, coupled with other necessary "treatment" — like correcting improper latch for nursing moms — can be extremely helpful.
To massage your breasts, the aforementioned Health For All Women article suggested starting with an all natural oil like coconut oil or even an balm designed specifically for breast massage like the balm from Wild Thera ($14). Begin in circular motions, at the outer side of your breasts near your ribcage and then work your way in towards your nipple, making sure to be gentle as you approach the area with the most tenderness.
Including your nipples in an all-over breast massage can work wonders for tenderness, but if you're dealing dry or cracked nipples, you may need to go one step further and apply healing oils like coconut oil or aloe vera directly to your nipple (although breastfeeding moms should ok the practice with their doctor first.) According to Health Guidance aloe vera and other natural oils or lotions can safely be used to treat cracked or sore nipples along with your breast massage.
As difficult as sore nipples can be to deal with, helping your breast heal is possible with massage and other techniques meant to stimulate tissue health, boost milk supply (if you're nursing,) and de-stress your entire body.
