I know this is very painful — cracked nipples almost always mean shallow latch. Baby is taking only nipple, not enough areola. Don’t worry — this is common in first 2–3 weeks and fixable. You don’t need formula if latch improves.
Next Steps
• Try tummy-to-tummy, wait for baby’s wide open mouth, then bring baby to breast (not breast to baby). Chin should touch breast first.
• After every feed, apply expressed breast milk + lanolin nipple cream (no need to wash before next feed).
• If pain is severe, express once or twice and feed with spoon/palada to allow healing.
Health Tips
Avoid soap on nipples. Air-dry after feeds. If cracks don’t improve in 48 hrs or you see redness/fever — consult urgently (could be infection).
You’re doing great — reach out for consultation and we’ll fix this together.