Cracked Nipples: Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Scientifically Proven Remedy

Cracked Nipples Remedy

Breastfeeding is painless. If a mother feels pain while breastfeeding, it is very likely that her child is not breastfeeding properly.

Why do cracks appear on nipples?

  • The breast is prepared for the baby to suck. The cracks appear when baby sucks only from the nipple, instead of grabbing a good portion of the breast, including most area of the areola in addition to the nipple.
  • The woman has very dry skin.
  • The baby does not latch on to the breast in the right way. i.e. the baby is not positioned properly.
  • The mother does not use the breast pump properly.
  • Mother does not dry her breasts properly after nursing her child.
  • The appearance of eczema and even the appearance of fungus on the breast or in the child’s mouth.
  • Women is suffering from mastitis

Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Nipple Cracks – Research Study

Medical experts recommend application of extra virgin olive oil which has anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic properties. Olive oil moisturizes the skin. In other words, it will help make those cracks disappear as soon as possible.

As per the study published on Wiley, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) was applied in a study done on breastfeeding mothers. The study was carried out into two groups of 150 women each. In Group 1, EVOO was applied on the nipple after feeding, and in Group 2, drops of breast milk were applied to the nipple after feeding.

Result of the Study

EVOO helped reduce nipple cracking in breastfeeding women, even when feeding position is inadequate. Reduced nipple cracking reduces pain and improves breastfeeding.

When and how much olive oil to apply?

Lactating mother should apply 3 drops of extra virgin olive oil on nipples after each feeding. This will reduce the cracked nipples and the associated pain, improving the health of both mother and baby.

After feeding your baby, wash both breasts with warm water and then dry them with a soft towel to avoid irritating them.

Also read: Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis and more

Any effects of olive oil on nipples or baby?

According to the study, there were no adverse effects seen in mothers and newborns.

Should you apply own milk on nipples?

Maybe you didn’t know, but it is considered that the woman’s own milk can serve to alleviate cracked nipples. You should take some of the aforementioned milk and pour it into a container that should be placed in the refrigerator.

This milk will help you to apply it to your breasts after feeding your baby, especially in the damaged areas. In particular, this should always be done after a feeding.

However, experts suggests that, it is not advisable to apply the milk itself to heal because presence of any bacterial alteration, will worsen the problem for both mother and baby.

Tips for lactating mothers

(1) It is not a good idea to wash your breasts every time. It can make the natural protective layer of the nipple and areola disappear.

(2) When a baby sucks when he or she is well positioned, the mother can hardly see where he or she is breathing. But someone standing next to him or her can see it easily: through the little hole between the upper lip and the nose. If the baby can’t breathe, he or she will pull away from the chest to do so, so it’s important not to hold the baby’s head by pressing your hand against the chest.

(3) The signs that a baby sucks well, apart from it not hurting, are that he or she eats effectively, their weight gain is sufficient, they are less time sucking and they let go of the breast on their own.

(4) If breastfeeding is done correctly, you can do it for as long as you like. This won’t hurt the nipples. And any wounds you may have will heal in a few days, just like a normal wound.

All this is difficult to explain and understand in writing, and it would be ideal to contact a doctor near you, or a trained breastfeeding health professional.


Nilam Mehta - Author

Nilam is the owner and writer of EverydayCares.com. She is an experienced pharmaceutical professional and believes that many of the health problems can be cured naturally at home. She enjoys reading scholarly medical journals and gets inspiration to write up-to-date practical information and resources and makes sure all of the articles are of the highest quality. The best way to reach her is via [email protected]

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