Red Light Therapy for Breastfeeding
Red Light Therapy for Breastfeeding: My Conversation with Gabi Eckerealtogether. der
If you’ve ever supported a mom with cracked, bleeding nipples who is moments away from giving up breastfeeding, you know the look in her eyes: exhausted, defeated, and scared that the only way to stop the pain is to stop breastfeeding altogether. It’s not what she wants but feels it’s her only option.
In a recent interview on my podcast, I sat down with IBCLC Gabi Ecker‑Eder, a global pioneer in the use of red light therapy (low level laser therapy) for lactation and postpartum care. Our conversation and my own experiences using my Solasta laser with my postpartum clients left me even more convinced that light needs to become a standard part of modern breastfeeding support.
Why red light therapy for lactation?
Gabi has been using low-level laser therapy in lactation and maternity care for decades. In Germany and Austria, where she trained, lasers are available on most maternity wards and midwives routinely use them for:
· Nipple trauma and severe nipple pain
· Blocked ducts and mastitis
· Perineal tears and episiotomy healing
· Cesarean wound healing
What struck me most is how gentle this therapy is. When mothers hear the word “laser,” they think of hair removal and pain. But low-level laser is nothing like that; it’s a soft, non‑thermal light that does not burn or damage tissue. Mothers usually feel nothing more than a gentle warmth, if anything at all - while underneath the surface, circulation is improved, inflammation is modulated and tissue repair is accelerated.
Purchase your home laser and receive a tailored protocol for your postpartum recovery.
“We’ve been waiting for this tool”
Gabi shared case after case of women who had tried everything - creams, shields, rest, different positions - yet their nipples were still raw, infected or not healing. Some had been struggling for weeks. With correct laser dosing and frequency, we both routinely see:
· Fresh grazes forming a new layer of skin after a single day
· Older, severe wounds healing within days instead of weeks
· Mastitis resolving without antibiotics in many cases when treated intensively over 24 hours
· Mothers regaining confidence to put their baby back to the breast and enjoying breastfeeding - as it was designed to be!
It’s not magic – the latch still matters
Both of us emphasized that while red light therapy can feel almost “magic” in how quickly it helps, it is not a magic wand. If the underlying issue, usually a poor latch or ineffective milk removal is not corrected, the nipple will continue to be damaged.
The ideal approach is:
1. Thorough lactation assessment.
2. Correcting positioning, attachment and feeding plan.
3. Using light as a powerful adjunct to speed up healing and reduce pain.
Without this combination, you may get temporary relief but not long‑term success.
Why protocol and quality devices matter
We also talked about the elephant in the room: not all devices are created equal, and not all “it didn’t work” studies (or anecdotes) are truly about photobiomodulation failing.
Outcomes depend on:
· Choosing an appropriate wavelength.
· Delivering the right dose (joules).
· Treating often enough, especially in the first 24–48 hours. One treatment is rarely enough so having your own device at home makes sense - some moms will find it helpful to self treat 3-4 times a day as we get a handle on inflammation, wound healing and latch.
Some research concludes “no benefit” after a single brief treatment with sub‑therapeutic settings, or with devices that were never designed for this application. It’s a bit like giving one under‑dosed antibiotic tablet and declaring antibiotics don’t work.
This is one reason I focus so heavily on individualized protocols - the details really matter.
Beyond nipples: whole‑body postpartum support
What I love about this conversation with Gabi is that it reminds us light isn’t just a “nipple tool.” Once a family has access to an appropriate device and good guidance, it can be used for:
· Perineal swelling and sutured tears
· Cesarean scar healing
· Persistent nappy rash or slow‑healing umbilical stumps in babies
· General aches, pains and soft‑tissue injuries in the whole family
In many ways, it becomes a small, drug‑free “first aid kit” for tissues under stress, especially in the intense early postpartum weeks.
Why this matters for the future of breastfeeding care
Breastfeeding drop‑out rates due to pain and trauma remain stubbornly high worldwide. For decades, our options have been limited: positioning, creams, shields, analgesia, sometimes antibiotics and time. Red light therapy gives us a way to actively accelerate the body’s own healing while we fix the root cause.
As more midwives, IBCLCs and doulas learn how to use light safely and correctly, I believe we’ll look back and wonder how we ever managed without it.
If you work with breastfeeding families - or you’re a mother navigating those vulnerable early weeks - I hope this conversation encourages you to explore red light therapy as a serious, evidence‑informed option rather than woo.
Enjoy the interview.
The postpartum season is often described as “the fourth trimester” for good reason: your body, brain and identity are all healing and reshaping at once. In this space you’ll find practical, evidence‑informed support for mood, pain and recovery after birth - from mindfulness and meditation tools to photobiomodulation (red and blue light therapy) protocols for perineal trauma, coccydynia, hair loss, breastfeeding challenges and more. Whether you’re days, months or even years postpartum, start with what hurts most (body, mind or both) and use these articles as a gentle roadmap back to feeling like yourself again.
Resources:
https://mumsmilk.com.au/ for more information on training with Gabi.
The Swiss Army Knife of Postpartum Healing (Red & Blue Light):
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/red-and-blue-light-therapy-for-postpartum-healingRed Light Therapy for Postpartum Mood:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/red-light-therapy-for-postpartum-moodRed Light Therapy and Postpartum PTSD:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/red-light-therapy-and-postpartum-ptsdPostpartum Coccydynia and Red Light Therapy:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/coccydynia-and-red-light-therapyExpert Doula Services in Postpartum Wound Healing and Pain:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/expert-doula-services-in-postpartum-wound-healing-and-pain-discover-the-power-of-red-light-therapyLight vs. Ice for Perineal Pain and Healing:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/light-vs-ice-the-best-relief-for-perineal-pain-and-healing-after-birthRed Light Therapy for Postpartum Hair Loss:
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/red-light-therapy-and-postpartum-hair-lossBooby Traps – Breastfeeding in a Busy Hospital (postpartum hospital experience):
https://blog.tracydonegan.org/blog/booby-traps-breastfeeding-in-a-busy-hospital
