This is a soothing, lanolin-free nipple cream that you don’t have to wash off before nursing. But its gritty texture might be off-putting to some.
I’ve used Earth Mama’s Organic Nipple Butter before and after the births of all three of my kids. It was one of the suggested items that Target prompted me to add to my first baby registry. I wasn’t experiencing nipple pain then, but I figured that tacking it onto my list couldn’t hurt. That was a good call—it’s something you should have on deck before you actually need it.
The ingredients consist of natural elements you’re likely to recognize: olive oil, mango-seed butter, shea butter, and beeswax. Its “organic” moniker is further solidified by the USDA seal, which is granted only to businesses and farms that are formally certified. It’s also lanolin-free for anyone allergic to sheep wool, so you can choose something that’s safe for you and your baby while making your breastfeeding journey a tiny bit smoother.
My youngest did the most damage to my breasts. Thus far, she has been unrelenting. When she was 2 days old, I was bleeding and had a scab that she had nearly sucked out of place. I would wince and say “tssst” as she fit her gums around my nipple. (Yes, she was latched properly, and it was still uncomfortable.) After one feeding, I noticed how visibly dry my nipples were. That dryness came with even more pain. In those first few days, Nipple Butter came to my rescue.
In my case, the butter was most helpful when my nipples were cracked or in between feedings. I think of it as a concurrent warm-up and cool-down for feeding a child. Although it isn’t medicinal and doesn’t have any sort of cooling effect, the moisturizing properties are soothing. I also use it on other small to medium-size body parts that dry out quickly, such as my hands and lips, and I love its warm, familiar cocoa butter scent.
The best attribute is that it’s safe for my baby, so I don’t have to wipe it off before breastfeeding. Plus, if you use a breast pump, you can lubricate the flange with the butter. Newborn life is going to be hard on your breasts, so why not pour a little fresh concrete into the holes? It is not, however, a magic cure-all—in this world, there is no forever fix for aching breasts. (It’s not fair!)
Admittedly, I use the Nipple Butter less now than I did in the last few months leading up to birth and in the first two months after. Maybe I’ve become more used to the feeling. It’s still nice to have through the entirety of the nursing process, as each day is different. I used a dab last week, and if I have another particularly painful letdown, I’ll use it then, too, only just on the lower half of my breast instead of on the nipple and areola.
Some parents may be put off by the fact that it isn’t a silky-smooth cream. It is more of a gritty, dense product like shea butter rather than a lotion or body butter. It’s a bit pricey, as well: A 1-ounce container costs $9, and a 2-ounce jar is nearly $15. But although the container seems tiny, a little goes a long way. Also, since you have to do some rubbing, you may feel like you’re further irritating your tender breasts instead of relieving them. I like to drag out the application for a more full-massage experience.
People are still a bit precious when talking about pregnancy and the postpartum period. During my first pregnancy, the state of nips came up only once with a friend, though I had family, friends, and peers who were already parents.
Maintaining that mystique does everyone a disservice. Why should so much come as a surprise when there’s a large population of people who’ve gone through something that’s brand-new to us? Let’s drop the veil, friends. All of our nipples are ablaze. But they don’t have to be.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Catherine Kast.
