Breast and nipple concerns

Woman lying on her back on a bed with a young naked baby lying face down on her stomach and chest.

Breastfeeding should be a comfortable and pain-free experience for breastfeeding parents. There are many reasons why your breasts may be sore when breastfeeding.

Explore the topics on this page:

Common cause of breast and nipple pain

Breast concerns

Nipple concerns

The most common cause of breast and nipple pain is from feeding your baby in a uncomfortable or a ineffective way. It can cause the breastfeeding parent pain in their breasts and nipples.

Check to make sure your baby is in the right position and latching at the breast correctly.

Breast concerns

Some of the most common causes of breast pain when breastfeeding are:

A blocked duct can happen when a duct has not drained properly during a feed. The common causes of a blocked duct are:
- - your baby has not effectively latched
  - you're producing too much milk
  - a prolonged period of compression of the breast by a seatbelt or tightly fitted clothes
  - attempting to space out feeds
You may feel a small, tender lump in your breast.

It is important to try to deal with a blocked duct as quickly as possible. Without quick treatment, blocked milk ducts can lead to mastitis.

Read more about blocked breast milk ducts.
Engorgement is when your breasts become overly full. They may feel hard, tight and painful.

In the early days, it is common for people who are breastfeeding to experience engorgement. This is because your milk is coming in. You need to feed your baby little and often. It can take a few days for your milk supply to match your baby’s need.

Read more about engorgement.

Nipple concerns

Some of the most common causes of nipple pain when breastfeeding are:

If you are experiencing sore, cracked or bleeding nipples speak to your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter as soon as possible.

Having sore nipples when breastfeeding is usually because your baby is not positioned or latched properly at your breast when they are feeding. Read more about positioning and latching.

It is important to not stop breastfeeding. With help, feeding should quickly become more comfortable.

Read more about sore or cracked nipples.
Tongue tie is when the tongue is restricted. This is caused by the fold under the tongue (also known as the frenulum) being too tight or short. It can make it harder for your baby to breastfeed by preventing them from latching properly. This can lead to sore or crackled nipples.

Signs of tongue tie in infants includes:
- - your baby’s tongue not lifting, sticking out or moving from side to side
  - tongue has a heart shaped appearance
  - difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding
  - refusing to feed
  - frequent, long feeds but your baby is not satisfied or settled
  - a clicking sound when feeding
Read more about tongue tie

Last reviewed: 1 November, 2024

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Breast and nipple concerns

Explore the topics on this page:

Common cause of breast and nipple pain

Breast concerns

Nipple concerns

Experiencing soreness or pain when breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding support helplines

Need more information?

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Breast and nipple concerns

Explore the topics on this page:

Common cause of breast and nipple pain

Breast concerns

Blocked milk ducts

Breast and nipple thrush

Engorgement (hard, tight and painful breasts)

Mastitis (inflamed breasts)

Nipple concerns

Nipple and breast thrush

Sore, cracked or bleeding nipples

Tongue tie in infants

Experiencing soreness or pain when breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding support helplines

Need more information?

Was this page helpful?

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You must log in to save content