“Sore nips but my latch looks fine… what’s going on?”

Why does it still hurt?

This is one of the most searched and most misunderstood breastfeeding problems, because nipple pain does not always come from a single bad latch.

When nipples stay sore even though the latch looks good, it is a sign that something has been missed.

Do not let anyone convince you that this is normal, expected, or something that will just fix itself. If pain keeps returning, your instincts are telling you that something is off and it deserves proper attention.

Sore nipples cause so many problems because there is rarely just one factor involved.

When latch looks fine but pain keeps coming back

Even when a latch appears good, feeding patterns can still be contributing to ongoing damage, especially if your baby pulls on and off the breast or struggles to stay settled during the feed.

What is talked about far less is anatomical compatibility. Sometimes you and your baby simply do not fit together easily, like two puzzle pieces that do not quite lock in.

“I know my nipples are too big for his mouth but the midwives say his latch looks great… I don’t know.”

Yes, you do.
And you are right.

The parts you have less control over

There are also internal factors that are harder to see and harder to influence on your own.

If feeds are rushed, if your baby is working hard to manage very fast or very slow flow, or if they flick, clamp, or grip during the feed, nipple damage can keep happening even when everything looks correct from the outside.

“She just seems so impatient. They say she is greedy, but my flow is so fast… I don’t think she has a choice.”

You are right.
She is responding to your flow, not being greedy.

Why symptom based advice does not solve this

This is why advice like nipple creams, resting feeds, or pushing through can bring short term relief, but the soreness keeps coming back.

Because the pattern underneath has not changed.

When nipple pain returns despite a good looking latch, the issue is usually how feeding mechanics play out during the feed, not how it starts.

Persistent nipple pain is often the first sign that the feeding system is not working as smoothly as it could.

Left unaddressed, the same pattern that damages nipples often shows up later as unsettled feeds, cluster feeding, blocked ducts, or mastitis.

Not because you are doing anything wrong, but because strain tends to spread when comfort and confidence wear down.

When this needs understanding, not more advice

When nipple pain keeps returning even though everything looks fine, it is usually a sign that something in the feeding pattern is being missed.

That does not mean you need more tips.
And it does not mean you have done anything wrong.

It usually means the issue is not how the feed starts, but how feeding plays out over time. Small mechanics, repeated strain, or subtle mismatches that are easy to overlook when you are tired and sore.

This is where many mums feel stuck. They keep being told everything looks fine, while their body is telling them it does not feel fine.

In my work, this is often the point where things need slowing down and making sense of, rather than trying something new. Looking at how your body, your baby, and your feeding dynamics are interacting as a whole, not in isolation.

This is the kind of thinking I explore inside The Messy Breastfeed Reset. Not quick fixes, but support to help you understand why pain keeps returning, so you are not left going round in circles.

Because clarity often brings relief before anything else changes.

If this was helpful, I share more feeding pattern insights over on Instagram at @GeraldineMiskin.