Cracked Nipples - Troutdale,OR

This usually happens if your baby is latching on to just your nipple and not the whole areola, which is easier to do when that breast is full of milk. I always had to pinch my breast flat to get enough of it in so that didn't happen, my hand cupped around my breast vertically with my first and middle fingers pinching behind my areola so that all went into my kids mouth. The milk should be squirting into almost the back of their mouth not the front. It would hurt badly if they didn't get it all and the feeding would last forever. I always had a pacifier for them after they got the food so they could still have their suck time which I think most kids need. That way I was done feeding in about 15 minutes. Your nipples will callus over some though but it hurts like nothing else does until then. You could always call a lactation specialist from the hospital you delivered in for help too. Good luck.

3 moms found this helpful

Good morning,

The symptoms you are reporting are most likely from your darling baby repeatedly "pinching" or compressing the nipple. The break in the skin allows bacteria in and causes inflammation. I agree with a previous response, Newman's Nipple cream may resolve the bacterial growth, however you deserve a full consultation to truly see what is happening during your baby's feeding. If you delivered in the Portland area almost all hospitals have a lactation clinic---call and make an appointment. (I would have you see me at St Vincent's if I didn't notice you live in Troutdale-however it may be worth the drive:)
I hope that helps.
D.

2 moms found this helpful

I had the same problem. My nipples were actually split apart and bleeding every time I nursed. There are a few things to try.. First, check to see if your baby's tongue is tied. My son couldn't put his tongue past his lower lip, so while he was able to eat just fine he was riping me apart. I took him to the pediatrician at about 2 weeks old and had his tongue clipped (it's the piece of skin under the tongue that goes vertically). By the time I got his tongue clipped the damage was already done, which is hard to heal.. I used SOOTHIES which are wonderful, however they didn't actually heal my nipples. What worked was to nurse on one side and pump on the other for 2 days and then switch. If you pump at the same time you're breast feeding it's easy to get a lot of milk because it just let down. I really didn't want to give my son a bottle, so I put this off until 5 weeks. I was in so much pain that it just wasn't worth it. You nurse one breast and bottle feed the milk from the other. You have to give the nipple a couple of days to heal, once it does it's fine. Keep it up, breast feeding is best. :)

2 moms found this helpful

i never used that stuff but rubbing some milk on my nipples after each feeding and letting it dry seemed to do the trick. (recommended by the lactation specialist). also check baby's latch. stuff as much of the nipple and areola in her mouth as you can. -hope it helps.

1 mom found this helpful

I had a tough time with this as well and everyone said that it goes with the territory but I still kept searching for relief. I finally had one lactation consultant tell me to take a regular tea bag run it under warm water and hold it to your nipple for 15 min. It draws out anything that is in the wound and draws together the skin for healing. I tried it and it worked wonders. I always like anything that is a much more natural way of fixing things rather than strange creams and such. It doesn't go away the first day but you will definately feel relief, just do it before or right after nursing. I hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

Hello--
have you considered that it is something to do with her latch? Although it may feel normal to you that is a very common cause of chapped nipples. I highly recommend having her professionally evaluated by a pediatric cranial-sacral therapist. I have seen Elise Hewitt (at the Portland Chiropractic Group ###-###-####) do amazing work...not only will it address nursing issues but it will prevent ear infections, sleep, headaches, and tummy aches. Well worth a few visits! Amy Watson at Whole Mama, Whole Baby is also very highly respected and people love her. I would say the sooner, the better.

Hope that helps,
S. S

1 mom found this helpful

Hi there S.. Cracked nipples can be just awful! How is your baby latching? Is it painful at all? It shouldn't be; just a tugging sensation. Usually cracked nipples are a sign of the baby latching too close to the end of the nipple. I agree with the suggestion to call a lactation specialist. Your hospital should have one, or if you have Kaiser insurance they have a lactation program there. Sometimes cracked nipples happen even when your baby latches well (I know you said your baby breastfeeds great)...try the tea bags (steeping a regular black tea bag in hot water, then let it cool and squeeze over nipples, let dry) or putting some of your breast milk on your nipples. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi S.,
I don't know if/think you can get this stuff in a store, but maybe ask your doctor or a lactation consultant for some second (2nd) skin. It's typically used on burn patients. They gave it to me in the hospital and it works wonders! Far better than any gel pad. You can cut a triangular shape out of the sheet and then just wrap it around the nipple. Good Luck!
M.

1 mom found this helpful

S.,

Congatulations on your new baby! You have cracked nipples because your baby is not latched on correctly and you need some help for that right away. No product will fix the root cause of your sore nipples.

La Leche League leaders are really helpful. http://www.llli.org/Web/Oregon.html
Use the above site to get the phone number of a LLL leader, call her up and talk over what is going on the phone.

For 3 weeks my sister-in-law had cracked and painful nipples. She's seen a lactation consultant, even, but in one phone conversation with a LLL leader she was nursing with no pain at all. The leader suggested that she squeeze her breast at the top and bottom like a sandwich to help her baby get more of her breast into her mouth.

There is a good book, also, called the Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Dr. Jack Newman.

The sooner you help her get a good latch, the sooner you will get some relief and also the better she will learn. She'll most likely get more milk, too.

Good luck!!!

1 mom found this helpful

I feel for you. I had the same problem when my first was born and had tried the same things. I finally bought an inexpensive breast pump. Hospitals will often rent them, which is better if you don't know what you want or just need it short term. I did have to do a little supplementing with Enfamil at first, but soon pumped enough to feed my little one. It gave my breasts time to heal and before long I was able to put aside the pump and enjoy breast feeding again.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

So...my youngest is 9 so it has been a while, but i nursed both of my children and i found that bag balm works pretty great. They may have come out with other products since then, but bag balm worked great for me! It's in a green tin (should be by the baby products at the store). It also works great on diaper rash (my boys were allergic to the typical remedies for diaper rash)! Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Oh, I remember I remember! It's awful and I agree with the first mom. After all was said and done, it just came down to toughening up. Not that I don't sympathize because I do! I couldn't wear a shirt for two months, but enough about that. I remember also squeezing a little breast milk on each nipple and rubbing it in before they air dried. I don't want to talk out of school, but thrush can also be a deal right now, so be on the lookout for the signs! I really loved and was helped by the Nursing Mother's Companion Guide to Breastfeeding", I think that's what it's called. Anyway, I read that book constantly. I did get a bit paranoid when they talked about: "is your baby getting enough?" but what mother doesn't freak out about that? We all do.
The best advice was from my Ped., who breastfed twins. When I called her, crying, asking about formula amounts because I had given up, she said, You can do this. You can do this. She was right. I never would have guessed, but I nursed my son WELL after 1 year because we got so good at it. But the rocky start almost ENDED me, believe it, but you can do it!

I got some cream that was recommended by the lactation nurse at the hospital I delivered at. It's the lanolin cream that you can buy at Target or Wal-mart. It comes in a purple box and a purple tube. This will give your breasts a few days to heal.

The best way to start is feed the baby. Then, once she goes to sleep, you take a shower and air dry your breasts. Put the cream on your nipples and then put your bra on with cloth pads. This will hold in the moisture.

Your breasts will get sore and calloused some from feeding the kiddo, but keep the cream on your breasts after every feeding and you should be safe.

Plus, it is safe if the baby gets it in her mouth, so don't worry about the cream hurting your little one. I used it with both of my kids and they are just fine.

Best wishes.

Kim B.

Just had this happen to me, and my daughter is 14 months. Also, had it happen to me w/in the first week. I had thrush. It is a form of a yeast infection. I had to recently get what is called "the all purpose nipple cream" which I got from the doctor. It comes in a seringe. when I had thrush, when my daughter was a few weeks old, I used gentian violet, also I had to go to the doctor that time, because I also had mastitus. It got so bad that I got a fever over 102...so you may just need to go to the doc. Also, I put yogert on them because the acidophalous helps with yeast. I also took acidophalous, which comes in tablets over-the-counter. I also ate a bunch of yogert and stopped eating sugar, because yeast thrives on sugar. With the all purpose nipple cream, it has a steroid in it, so whenever your baby nurses, you need to remember to wash it off. Most of it gets absorbed into your body, but take all procautions to be safe for her. Good luck! It stinks, I know!

It sounds odd but the tip passed onto me that worked was wetting green tea bags, and then putting them in your bra. If you wear a pad in there, it won't soak through. It worked well for me and quite a few family members!

a nipple shield will help along with the lanolin cream

I used a really high quality olive oil frequently, which is what a friend told me they have done in the Mediterranean for a long time with success. It helped me.

S., I am a mom to a one year old boy and about a year ago I was suffering from the same thing with my 2 week old. There were a few things that I did to help to heal them. First I told my doctor about them and she perscribed me an onitment called Newman's Nipple Ointment. It is a compounded ointment so you can only get it from your dr. I was wonderful, and even the lactation consutant recomended it. Also I started using a pump every once to a while, my son had a strong suck and with the pump I was able to not have it suck so hard. I hope thins helps I feel your pain and wish you luck. And if nothing else contact a lactation Consultant, southern oregon pediactrict has a great one or you can go to one at the hospitals and they are free.

Try Vitamin E. Take a Vitamin E capsule and poke a hole in it with a pin/needle. Then squeeze the Vitamin E directly on your nipple and leave it there. You can wash your nipple off with a washcloth before your baby nurses again. Do this every time you nurse and your nipples will heal and you shouldn't have any more problems. With my first son I listened to the nurses and used lanolin at first. My nipples cracked and bled and were so painful. Finally I listened to my mom about the Vitamin E and I never had any more problems. I have had two babies since then, and used Vitamin E while nursing both of them without any cracking or bleeding at all. After a few weeks your nipples will toughen up and you won't need the Vitamin E, but it sure works great until then.

I always used Vitamin E. A nurse in the hospital told me to use it after the birth of my first child. You buy the gel kind, pop it with a pin, and squeeze it onto your nipples after nursing. The best thing about it is you don't have to wash it off and it won't hurt the baby. It takes a couple of days to get them completely healed, but you notice they are better very quickly.

You could try changing breast pads. Mine improved tremendously after switching to a different pad. (I was running out and just happened to buy a different kind.)

However, put the lanolin stuff on after EVERY nursing. That is the only thing that helped. You just have to do it until your little girl's mouth grows enough so she can get your nipple farther in. I had one BIG nipple and I had to doctor it for about 6 weeks until my son's mouth grew. :)

Here's what I did:
Air dry after breast feeding (even if it means walking around with your boobs sticking out)
Apply Earth Mama Angel Baby brand Nipple Butter
http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/organic_nipple_butter.html
It is olive oil based and safe for baby and kept my nipples lubricated and crack-free and helped a little with the soreness. It took me 2 months to stop being sore.
Good luck and stick with it!

Hi S.,
Babyworks in Portland (or by mail-order) has wool nursing pads that really helped me. Also, I let a little bit of breast milk dry on my nipples, before applying lanolin. Rinse your baby's saliva off first. Good luck, hope this or something else helps.
-Colleen

S.-
I had a similar problem and had been seeing an Acupunturist/Chinese Herbalist for thumb pain. I happened to mention my sore nipples and she suggested using 'Ching Wan Hung Soothing Herbal Balm.' It was fantastic, better than anything the Breastfeeding Clinic suggested, and I tried everything else, first. Using the balm with the LilyPadz shields eased my nipple pain in just a couple of days and cleared it up within a week. The balm is perfectly safe for your baby since it is all natural, but I would try a little dab on your baby's wrist for any allergy reaction. If no reaction, then keep reapplying it generously to your nipples after each nursing during the day. Use the LilyPadz so the balm doesn't soak into a breast pad or clothing. Clean the LilyPadz at night and let your nipples get some air. I didn't worry about my pjs staining with the oil as much as my day clothes, so I used the oil at night without pads.

The Balm is made with sesame oil, beeswax and herbs. As I said before, it is perfectly SAFE for your baby. I didn't even wipe it off before nursing. It didn't seem to bother my daughter any, so I just let her nurse with it. It has a pretty mild taste.

Just find a Chinese Herbalist in your area and get a little tube of balm, I only used about half of it and it was about 3 bucks. It is a very inexpensive remedy and worked very well. The LilyPadz can be purchased in most places that carry nursing accessories.

Good luck to you!
D.

Congratulations on your new baby girl! And good job on breastfeeding! I agree that a lactation consult is a great idea. In addition ask your Dr. for prescription nipple cream - this is a compound. It worked wonders for me. I still use it and my youngest is 5.5 months. Feel free to contact me if you need more information.
N.

get your doctor to perscribe some 'triple niple cream'- it's a blend of three ingredients and it worked wonders for me!!

Not sure if this was already suggested, but put some expressed breast milk on them and air dry. I have heard that is works.

Good luck!

It might seem weird, but breastmilk is one of the best things you can put on them. Just hand express a drop or two and spread it around with your clean finger. Lanolin is great as well as lots of "air" time. Good luck, and it'll pass! :)

Mother Love Nipple Cream is the best ever! Don't give up you'll get through it and nothing beats breastmilk. I also have a 2 year old boy and am expecting a girl in 3 weeks. I will be joining you in the new challenge of juggling 2! Good luck.

I went through this with both of my children. It peaked around 2 weeks I think. Anyway, it goes away after that. It is just your nipples getting used to all the trauma associated with being used that often. Try your best to just grin and bear it and you will be rewarded.

Good luck and congrats

hey S.! YOU NEED FAST ACTING RELIEF!!!
My son is 27 months and I am still breastfeeding. Over the summer my nipples started to CRACK! Curious. Never happened before. Went to see a dermotologist because nothing was helping even the ALL-PURPOSE NIPPLE CREAM. The only thing that healed them QUICKLY was a combo of
NEOSPORIN AND A TOPICAL STERIOD called Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment horrible sounding name but MY NIPPLES FELT BETTER AFTER ONE APPLICATION. TRY NEOSPORIN FIRST. Then hit the doc. I have felt your pain.

Just wanted to know how often you are applying the Lansinoh Lanolin. That product is supposed to be applied liberally after every feeding. It won't harm your child in any way. When my son was born, I would use it on his hands, diaper rash, cheeks...in the winter it was a great help. Sorry if I seemed as though I'm giving unwanted advice. *hug*

Apply Vaseline on nipples than wash out, clean well before you feed baby . after nursing ,clean well again than apply Vaseline or A&D Oilment repeat many times until healing. Vaseline will help.

Just another voice to cheer you on and tell you to hang in there! My son was a great nurser too and I remember sitting on the couch and crying as he latched on. After a little bit the pain would ease up (during the nursing session). That phase of things only lasted a little while and then things got much better; he nursed for a year. I also remember that I took Tylenol sometimes and that helped.

hi S.- I had problems with cracked nipples for 2-3 months. I tried everything (lanolin, tea bags, soothies, cabbage leaves, breast milk on the nipples, air, etc), and had multiple consultations with lactation nurses. We used a nipple shield when the baby was 1-2 weeks old, and I think that negatively affected his latch. I definitely recommend going to see a lactation consultant to have them watch you feed and see if they can suggest any changes. And the prescription nipple cream that a few people mentioned was what finally helped me - I wish I had known about it at 2 weeks instead of 10 weeks! (fyi, despite the pain and cracking, I did keep breastfeeding until my little one quit at 9 months.) Best of luck...

My husband told me when I was nursing, that I had so much "boob lube" it wasn't funny! I used polysporin, breast therapy, and lanolin as well, those worked, then it went away.

My nurses told me to make a strong black tea solution - 3 tea bags and just enough hot water to cover them. Let the solution cool and apply to the nipples. It must have worked because I did that and never got cracked nipples!

Best of luck,
S.

I dont know if its been said yet, but I found that not using soap on my nipple area when bathing just letting the water wash the areola area kept it from drying out as well as using breat milk during the day. but the soap was a major help.
Happy Nursing!

That is not a good feeling. The best thing for your niples is a lanolin (sp?) You can get it at Target or probably even rite aid or Fred Meyers. If there is a mother baby store in your town they would have it as well. You should put it on your nipples several times a day and it will stop them from cracking and it is 100% safe for the baby.

S.

I second the all purpose nipple cream. I had this with my daughter and none of the regular things work. Fungal infections of the nipple are really common and are so incredibly painful. Hang in there with the breast feeding.
Best wishes.

Nipple Cream made by Mother's Love works wonders! We got it at Whole Foods. It is all natural and not only helps to lubricate but has an herb that helps with the pain. Love the stuff!!!

Hi S.,

I second the advice of getting help with the latch. It's best to get help as soon as you can so that you can have relief, prevent damage, and so that you know that she's getting what she needs from breastfeeding. La Leche League is a wonderful resource, and a lactation consultant is a goo thing too. We took a breastfeeding class as Zenana (http://www.zenana-spa.com/) that was great, and they have lactation consultants there too.

Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!
L.

Cracked, sore nipples just happen. There is no escaping it. They are what makes most mommy's turn to formula. I cried. BUT! They only last a couple weeks! If your baby is latched on well, and you are putting plenty of LANSINOH on your nipples after each feeding then your nipples will toughen and pretty soon you will say "craked sore nipples? what are those?" I'm serious. Be strong, right now is THE HARDEST PART!!! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)

I had the same problem and it was PAINFUL!!! but, it will go away in time. Be patient. One thing I did was put regular tea bags on my nipples while wearing a bra and a nursing pad. This seemed to speed up the healing process. I have had three babies and nursed them all and everyone of them I had to use tea bags. Get them moist first then just keep them on your nipples. It wont hurt the baby either. Regular Lipton teabags. Sounds crazy I know but it works and is cheaper than nipple cream.
Good luck

When I had my first baby I had cracked nipples and my lactation specialist had me buy burn relief bandages to put on my nipples in between feedings. It's been seven years since then, so I can't remember the brand name, but I found them in the pharmacy in the first aid aisle. They have a medicated gel on each bandage, so they're different than regular bandages. I would also gently wash them with a warm wash cloth before each feeding to rinse off any residue from the medicated strips.

Prevention is definitely the best solution to these sorts of problems, so getting a proper latch with baby is very important as is letting your nipples be exposed to the air in between feedings while your body is adjusting to breastfeeding. I have found that if I just go braless under my shirt for the first week after having my kids, my nipples adjust really quickly and there isn't nearly as much pain involved. Its not too late for you to do this, but you should treat the cracking and definitely go see a lac. specialist if you have a problem you can't resolve quickly on your own. It brings so much relief to have someone help you who is trained and has seen it all.

Blessings,
J.

Hey S. S.,

Your not alone!!! That is the worst pain ever!!

I don't know if you have a babies r us near you, but I think Target might also have something like it. Here is a link of something that's like what I used 13 years ago and it's amazing how fast it works!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403244

read the reviews too!

Good luck and don't give up!

Congratulation,
J.

I highly recommend "all purpose nipple ointment". It has to be prescribed by your doctor, but it really is a cure all and beats lanolin hands down! It includes an anti-inflammatory, an anti-bacterial and an anti-fungal component and is safe for baby to eat (no need to wash off). This stuff saved my life I swear! I'd found it on-line but my doctor already knew about it.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/03b-treatments_sore_nipple...

N.

Hi, someone else has already said this, but just incase not, try using some of your own breast milk smeared on the nipples after feeding and let air dry. Make sure she is latching right. I found that the lanoish (sp?) nipple cream worked well for me. Good luck!

contrary to what you think, nipples need to stay as moist as possible to heal. If they are cracked or bleeding you can clean them with mild soap and water and use a little Neosporin under Lanolin. Usually it is not recommended to wash nipples. Also the antibiotic ointment doesn't need to be washed off, but put it on after nursing. The lanolin should keep them moist. Make sure you put enough lanolin on.

Also, most cases of cracked nipples are due to poor positioning or latch-on. Hand-express some milk before feeding to help.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplehealing.html
or callvwww.nursingmotherscounsel.org ###-###-####

I suggest EarthMamaAngelBaby Nipple Butter. It's not as gooey as lanolin and it is plant-based so it doesn't have to be wiped off before baby nurses.