With my first child, I was prepared for pregnancy to be uncomfortable at times. I expected labor and delivery to be intense. I figured I’d be emotional after having a baby. What I didn’t expect or really prepare for is that breastfeeding can be difficult the first few days as well!
Don’t get me wrong. It is worth it. The pain isn’t that bad and a lot can be helped by making sure baby has a good latch from the very beginning (though this certainly didn’t make it completely painless for me as many claim). Instead, I find that for the first week or so of nursing a baby I have to take a deep breath and mentally prepare for the first minute or so of each nursing session because it is quite uncomfortable.
Perhaps you can empathize if you’ve also breastfed a baby (and my apologies to anyone who hasn’t yet but plans to- I wish someone had warned me!).
Nipple Cream
A few days after I had my first baby when I was in the trenches of learning to breastfeed correctly, the lactation consultant suggested using a lanolin cream. I tried it and proceeded to get much, much worse (turns out I was allergic to lanolin!).
Needless to say, I didn’t use it again after that, but it did make me wonder if there was any type of cream or remedy that I could use that might offer some relief.
Why Not Lanolin?
For me, the answer was because I was allergic, but as I started researching to make my own nipple balm nursing cream, I realized that lanolin was not an ingredient I would want to use, even if I could without a reaction.
What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is essentially an oil obtained from Sheep’s wool. The sebum (oil) is extracted from the wool and it undergoes another process to create the finished lanolin. This is obviously problematic for anyone allergic to wool (raises hand), but there are also concerns about pesticide residue found in wool and the potential for this to build up in fatty tissue or in breastmilk.
From the research I’ve conducted thus far, there is no organic source of lanolin, as many sheep are actually sprayed with pesticides to treat against various mites and pests. Additionally, most sheep are fed non-organic and genetically-modified feed and traces of this can be found in the wool as well.
Sources disagree about the safety of lanolin and some claim it is perfectly safe, but it wasn’t a risk I wanted to take with my new born babies just in case. Most popular brands of nipple cream contain concentrated lanolin and while these may help mom heal more quickly, this is also becoming part of baby’s first food and more natural options can be effective as well.
A Natural Nipple Cream
Determined to have a little bit easier of a time with those first days of nursing with my last two babies, I started experimenting with making a natural nipple cream or nursing balm that would help ease the discomfort in those first days.
I also discovered that there are now some pre-made natural options available to purchase, but I still opted to make my own since I had the supplies on hand. If I was going to purchase a pre-made option, I’d choose Motherlove Nipple Cream or Earth Mama Organics Nipple Butter.
Choosing Safe Ingredients
Since this cream is essentially ingested by a nursing baby, I made sure to use ingredients that are safe, natural, and have a low chance of allergic reaction. For this reason, I decided not to use almond oil, beeswax, or coconut oil (as much as I love it) because these all have a small chance of allergic reaction. I also didn’t use any essential oils in this recipe as I have concerns about ingesting them even as an adult and never use them on babies.
Nipple Cream Ingredients
Instead of using any ingredients that could potentially cause an allergic reaction or be harmful to baby, I used the following:
- Olive Oil– the main ingredient in both store-bought natural options I found and considered a safe, food-grade oil. (I just made sure I got it from a good source)
- Cocoa Butter– Another food-safe ingredients (I use it to make chocolate) that helps thicken the balm and protect the skin. Other butters like Shea Butter or Mango Butter could also be used.
- Calendula Flowers– Soothing to skin and said to promote faster healing of skin problems.
- Chamomile Flowers– Also soothing to skin as well as being calming and relaxing.
- Marshmallow Root– Cooling, soothing and slippery. This helped offer relief to sore and red skin. This was also used in the Motherlove Nipple Balm and it has many positive reviews.
Nipple Cream Instructions
The first step in this recipe is to infuse the herbs into the olive oil. This helps maintain their beneficial properties and impart them into the balm without leaving any kind of residue or grittiness. This can be done in three ways:
- Solar infusion– If you have the time, you can let the oils infuse in the sun. Here is the method, but in short, I would put 1/4 cup each of chamomile and calendula flowers, 2 tablespoons marshmallow root and 1 cup olive oil in a pint size or larger mason jar. This would be left in the sun and shaken daily to infuse. Note that this only works well in warm weather.
- Time Infusion-Similar to the solar infusion but without the sun. The same ratios of herbs and oil are put in a jar and left for at least 6 weeks, shaking daily.
- Heat infusion– The one I did this time because I was out of time! Place the same ratios (1/4 cup each of chamomile and calendula flowers, 2 tablespoons marshmallow root and 1 cup olive oil) in a double boiler and heat over low heat for several house until the oil takes on the scent of the herbs and changes color slightly.
No matter which method you use, at the end of the process, carefully strain out the herbs and keep the finished oil. I do this with a metal strainer lined with cheesecloth. Note that when infusing the oils, it will make more than is needed for this recipe but the remaining infused oils can be used in lotions and other recipes.
How to Make the Nursing Balm Nipple Cream
Pour the following ingredients into a double boiler:
- 1/4 cup infused oil
- 1/4 cup cocoa butter
Stir until jut melted and pour into a jar or tin to store. Note that this balm will be somewhat soft and not ever get completely firm. This was the best texture to actually use it from my experimentation. If you prefer a harder balm, add more cocoa butter. Alternately, the liquid oil could be used alone or in a higher ratio for a more smooth balm. Mine had been in my car in the cold before taking the picture above so it was slightly more solid that it would have been normally.
Homemade Nursing Balm Recipe
Ingredients
Infused Oil for Nursing Balm
- 1 cup olive oil
- ¼ cup chamomile flowers
- ¼ cup calendula flowers
- 2 TBSP marshmallow root
Nursing Balm
- ¼ cup infused oil
- ¼ cup cocoa butter
Instructions
Making the Infused Oil: Three Methods
- There are three options detailed below for making the infused oil for the nursing balm: Solar infusion, time infusion, and heat infusion.
Infused Oil, Solar Method
- In a clean pint size mason jar combine the ingredients listed above for the infused oil.
- Place in the sun and shake daily for 2-4 weeks.
- After infusion is complete, use a metal strainer lined with a cheesecloth to carefully strain out the herbs.
Infused Oil, Time Method
- In a clean pint size mason jar combine the ingredients listed above for the infused oil.
- Place in a convenient location and shake daily for 6 weeks.
- After infusion is complete, use a metal strainer lined with a cheesecloth to carefully strain out the herbs.
Infused Oil, Heat Method
- Place water in the bottom portion of a double boiler so that the water does not touch the bottom of the top portion.
- In the top portion, combine the ingredients listed above for the infused oil.
- Heat over low heat for several hours until the oil takes on the scent of the herbs and changes color slightly.
- After infusion is complete, use a metal strainer lined with a cheesecloth to carefully strain out the herbs.
Making the Nursing Balm
- After the oil is infused and strained, add ¼ cup of the infused oil and the ¼ cup of cocoa butter to the top portion of a double boiler.
- Place water in the bottom portion of a double boiler so that the water does not touch the bottom of the top portion.
- Heat over low heat, stirring, just until the cocoa butter is melted.
- Pour into a jar or tin to store.
Notes
Ever used a nipple cream or lanolin? Did it work for you?
Hi Katie, could I use a few drops of marshmallow tincture instead of the actual herb? Not sure how the alcohol would affect the rest of the mixture.
Thanks!
Typically alcohol doesn’t mix well with oils. I’d probably just use a drop of the marshmallow tincture directly on the nipple and then apply the balm.
The recipes should be in grams, it’s inaccurate to measure by volume, lots of room for error.
Well, it’s been a long time, but I used lanolin and it worked well for me. I only needed it for a few days to a week until the baby got the hang of nursing so for me, even if I knew about the downside of lanolin, I think it wasn’t much of a risk in my case.
This sounds weird, but an old fashioned remedy for sore nipples is cabbage leaves. Just stick a head of cabbage in the fridge and peel off a whole leaf and stick it in your bra when you need it. It feels nice and cool. That alone is worth it but supposedly something in the cabbage helps with healing. I have no idea if it helps heal or not but it feels great if you are really sore. I thought the person who told me this was crazy but it worked for me and a head of cabbage is dirt cheap.
Also, a few drops of breast milk applied to the nipple can help heal and prevent irritation.
Breastfeeding my third child was extremely (EXTREMELY!!!!!!) painful at first but it is only temporary and this too shall pass. It was a bit of a rude awakening since I had done this with my older two and had a little difficulty but not much. I recommend hanging in there. Most people can nurse problem free once they get the hang of it.
Cabbage leaves do help soreness, but look out because they also reduce breastmilk volume!
I’m looking forward to trying these new options for nipple cream. I used a purpportedly super refined lanolin cream with my first baby. I have no way to know if the purification process removed any pesticides.
Thank you for the recipe!
I have never heard that about cabbage leaves affecting volume. I was lucky that enough volume wasn’t a problem for me with any of my kids but that is good to know for those who have had an issue with it. I still think it is a good option because it is cheap and easy but it may be a good idea for someone trying it out to drink more fluids to compensate. I noticed no difference at all back in the dark ages but it is good to know.
I used lettuce leaves (a firmer type such as Boston green or romaine) as a barrier between my bra and nipples. The nipple pads were too scratchy at the time. I microwaved two small pieces of the greener part for maybe 3 seconds to soften them and then let them cool. The nurse recommended this because the leaves were able to cling to the sore nipple and to the balm. It is a difficult initial period of time, but it will pass and then nursing is so easy and convenient.
Congratulations! I highly recommend the nipple balm. The first few weeks of nursing can be painful. A nurse at the doctor’s office suggested I heat up romaine lettuce in the microwave to soften the leaves. I put them on my nipples as a barrier between my clothes. Nursing pads were too scratchy. It really helped.
Congratulations on your latest creation, Katie!
When I gave birth 26 years ago the hospital sent all the moms home with an assortment of baby-related items including a jar of lanolin for nipple care. By day 3 post-partum I was pretty sore and having a little trouble with latching on. I called the La Leche League and was advised to throw out the lanolin because of the “sheep dip” pesticides that were sure to be in it and to use vitamin e instead: a 100 I.U. capsule pricked with a sterile pin and a drop applied to each nipple after each feeding giving it time to soak in and begin healing before the next feeding, using a fresh capsule each time. In less than 24 hours I was all healed and pain-free. After that, I applied it once a day for a week or so, then didn’t need it again and continued to happily breastfeed for the next six months–until I put my back out and baby was weaned overnight, but that’s another story!
I also did the vitamin E capsule and it worked great. I didn’t need it for long and toughened up pretty quickly. I don’t even remember using it for #2…. but that was a long time ago. They are 28 & 30 now! But I am going to make the nipple cream for a friend who is having her first. Already made baby powder and diaper cream.
I have a friend who is about to give birth to her first baby. I would like to make this for her – but I don’t know how to tell her to use it. What instructions are there for applying it, and when? Thanks!
I prefer to use immediately after nursing…
Hi Katie, congratulations on your new baby! I hope you and the baby are doing great! I was wondering how old are you? I am 39 and have 4 kids. Some times I think about having another one, but then I get worried about being too old or something happening to me and leaving all my kids without a mama…
Kamila, I just want to be an encouragement to you. I am 46 years old (tomorrow!), and I am expecting baby number twelve on March 27th. I have had the same fears as you, and while no one has any certainty of how young they are going to die, we need to trust God with our lives and our families. He knows what is best, and He works all things out for our good. Enjoy your precious children, and don’t worry about what could happen in the future. Welcome each pregnancy without fear, and trust God. The most important thing you can give your children is a mother who loves them, prays for their salvation, and loves God with her whole heart.
AMEN!! I think all of us have fears during pregnancy no matter our age and its so freeing to be able to give it all over to God!
Jeanetta – I needed to read this today (although not meant initially for me?) thank you! I started everything a little behind the age “power curve”. I am 40 and just lost identical twins and suddenly am having fears I never had to face with my first child (at 38). But your word are encouragement to my heart right now, and especially to read you are 46 and pregnant! God is good, and he is faithful.
(And thanks Katie for an awesome sounding nipple cream recipe!!)
Thank you so much for this! I’m pregnant with #2. I used lanolin the first time, but would definitely prefer something more natural and safe this time around. I love the earth mama angel baby bottom balm, so am certain i would love their nipple cream as well! Without your article, I didn’t even know it existed! Thank you!
Why don’t you sell these products on your website? I don’t have the time to make it, but would gladly buy your recipes for myself/friends over & over! Do you have any plans to do this??? *Fingers crossed* Please say yes;)!
I don’t have any plans to make and sell products at this time. I enjoy experimenting and creating healthy recipes for my family, but the idea of mass producing, shipping, and handling customer service issues is not something I want (or have time) to do. That’s why I also link to products which are of good quality which you can purchase pre-made if you don’t want to make my creations yourself.
Hi wellness mama instead of using marshmallow root can i try another ingredient
Would this still be effective without the flowers? Simply the olive oil and cocoa butter?
I’m newly pregnant with baby #2 and almost immediately thought “I hope Wellness Mama has a nipple cream recipe”. I used a store bought version last time, but I enjoy making my own stuff. And I’ve made a few of your healthy and beauty recipes.
I’ll be making a batch of this soon!