The market is awash with "must-have" products for breastfeeding mothers, especially when it comes to nipple care. With so many balms, butters, creams, and salves to choose from, how do you know which is the right product for you? Read on to learn more.
What the heck is lanolin anyway?
Lanolin is a very common ingredient in nipple cream, and has historically been recommended to treat sore, raw, chapped, or cracked nipples. Lanolin is a moisturizing wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep and collected from wool.
Although lanolin is strongly associated with breastfeeding and widely used, current evidence does not support that it is helpful for healing or preventing nipple damage. In fact, many people are allergic to lanolin and some researchers have found that it may increase risk of breast infection or exacerbate dermatological symptoms.
What is APNO?
Sometimes referred to as "triple nipple cream", all purpose nipple ointment (or APNO) is a compound cream containing an antibiotic, antifungal, and corticosteroid. Typically available only via prescription, it is widely used to treat a wide spectrum of nipple pain and damage in breastfeeding mothers.
The problem with APNO is that it can be expensive, must be acquired from a pharmacy, can cause nipple irritation or allergic reactions, and is sort of like throwing a lot of things at a wall just to see what sticks.
Is there a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment? In many cases, no. So why apply an antibiotic?
Is there a fungal infection requiring an antifungal agent? There is currently no scientific evidence to support that yeast infections cause nipple pain/damage breastfeeding mothers, so an antifungal cream may actually do more harm than good.
Nipple butters, balms, and salves
Even if we agree to avoid lanolin and APNO, there are still a lot of nipple creams available on the market. These creams, butters, balms, and salves often come in cute containers and promise to protect your nipples with all natural blends of oil and herbs. The problem with these products is that they contain multiple ingredients, which increases your risk of allergic reaction or irritation. In other words, they might just make things worse.
Furthermore, these products are often very expensive! Anything with the words "breastfeeding", "mother", or "baby" on it tends to sell for a very high price tag, making many of these products impractical for long-term use by many families.
Virgin Coconut Oil + Medihoney
So if lanolin, APNO, and nipple butters are out - what is a breastfeeding mama to do?
As a lactation consultant, I have seen very good results with virgin coconut oil. I like virgin coconut oil for the following reasons:
It is relatively inexpensive for the volume you receive
It is easy to find in almost any grocery store or online
It is safe for baby
It is unlikely to cause reaction or irritation (unless you have a coconut allergy)
It has antimicrobial properties
It has anti-inflammatory properties
It can also be used for lubricating breast pump flanges
Medihoney is another product which is popular with lactation consultants. Medihoney is medical grade irradiated manuka honey, which is often used topically to treat nipple cracks and prevent infection due to its antimicrobial properties. Because it has been irradiated it is considered safe for breastfeeding, and can be used in conjunction with virgin coconut oil for moist wound healing.
The take away
Think twice before using lanolin, APNO, and nipple butters/balms/creams while breastfeeding. For nipple pain or damage, consider virgin coconut oil and/or Medihoney instead.
If you would like more information about when and how to use these products, contact an IBCLC for a telephone consultation. We can discuss your personal needs and how to best care for your nipples at any stage of your breastfeeding journey.
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