For many years, lanolin cream was the only option for breastfeeding moms to help soothe and moisturize raw and cracked nipples.
What most moms don’t know is that lanolin is an animal product whose oil is extracted from the sheared wool of lambs. It has to be soaked in pesticides to remove any parasites.
Many women have unknown wool allergies and may find out only after applying lanolin cream to their already sore nipples.
Because of these factors, moms and breastfeeding professionals started looking for other nipple cream to replace lanolin creams and balms.
Nipple Cream Considerations
While there are many products available, not all nipple creams are suitable for your nursing nipples, or for your baby to ingest.
According to lactation consultants moms should not use a nipple cream that:
- needs to be washed off, or removed, before every feeding (not ingestible for baby),
- contains alcohol (too drying for the nipples),
- contains anesthetics (numbing agents which could numb baby’s lips or throat),
- contains petroleum or parabens (preservatives),
- or is with a flavor or scent (may cause baby to reject nipple).
Air Drying After Breastfeeding
Gone are the days when new moms are told to allow their cracked nipples to air dry after breastfeeding.
Research has proven that wounds not only heal faster, but are more tolerable, when a moisture barrier is used over the wound, thus preventing a scab from forming.
Nursing scabs can be extremely painful for moms and many turn to nursing shields which can make breastfeeding more difficult in some situations.
What Should Mom Look For in a Nursing Nipple Cream
If you’re a nursing mom and experiencing pain with breastfeeding, look for a nursing nipple cream with these considerations in mind.
Look for a nipple cream or balm that is natural and okay for baby to ingest. Also look for a nipple cream that does not contain lanolin, petroleum, parabens, alcohol, GMO, gluten or scents.
Coconut oil has been used as natural nipple creams for breastfeeding moms. Coconut oil helps to naturally moisturize but also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties.
These properties will allow your nipples to heal while keeping them safe from infection.
Calendula oil can also be helpful. Calendula oil is a great moisturizer for severely chapped or cracked nipples. It helps soothes and reduces the pain of breastfeeding.
UpSpring Organic Nipple Cream
Breastfeeding moms looking for a nipple cream that is 100% organic and free of lanolin, petroleum, parabens, alcohol, GMO, gluten and fragrance, can look at UpSpring’s Nipple Balm.
UpSpring created Nipple Balm as a soothing, grease-less, lightweight alternative to nipple creams available today.
Nipple Balm is made with natural ingredients including coconut oil to moisturize along with calendula oil to help decrease pain.
Together with the other blended organic certified ingredients including beeswax, shea butter, sunflower, cocoa and rosemary seed, UpSpring Nipple Balm is sure to keep your nipples supple and healthy.