Nipple tear/infection...HELP

Go to the Doctor! Yes, it is inconvenient I understand; but how many inconveniences do you endure for other people. Now do the right thing for yourself and follow up. The infection is probably not clearing up because your baby has bacteria in her mouth so the antibiotics cannot keep up. You might pump some breast milk and give it to her in a bottle until you can get rid of whatever it is that happened to your precious nipple. Sorry to hear about the pain you are in. Hope this helped.

I feel your pain, I just had a very similar situation when my son scratched my nipple and it took about a week to heal. I found some good suggestions at this website http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplehealing.html.

For me the key was letting my nipple get some air so that it was able to heal. I know it's winter and it's cold, so you can't exactly walk around topless, but in the evenings I would go bra-less in a loose fitting t-shirt. I also found that the hardest part for me was that when he latched on and broke the skin all over again. I found that I could put a bandaid on it and he still nursed fine and it was a little less painful for me. I also used antibiotic ointment to help prevent it from getting any worse.

I hope this helps, good luck!

Have you contacted either a local La Leche League leader or visited the website www.llli.org ? You can find someone local thru it to call and get advice or also post this problem on their Mother-to Mother forums. Sorry I can't give you any specific advice, but I feel for you! I had a similar situation with my daughter but didn't end up with an infection....I know how painful an open wound on a nipple is! Also you could try calling a lactation consultant in your area. All 3 options may be able to give you advice for healing while still continuing nursing....a majority of the time it is possible, but may just be a bit of work on your part.

I had a nipple tear early on in nursing, so a different experience, but getting a prescription for APNO (all purpose nipple ointment) was a real help with pain & inflammation. You do have to get it made up at a compounding pharmacy, though. But it's worth it! See more info here: http://www.pregnancy.org/article/all-purpose-nipple-ointm...

Also, you might consider talking to a lactation consultant who may have better info than a doc on this subject.

Good luck!

Try what Megan said, Lansinoh. It actually is just pure lanolin. I got a sample tube from the docs office when I was pregnant and I still have some left (10 months ago). Fortunately, I only had to use it maybe twice for bf soreness. So now I use it for cracked knuckles, chapped lips, and to lanolize my wool diaper covers! A little goes a long way!

Hi S.,
I swore by lanisoh nursing cream when I had problems such as these when nursing. They sell it with baby supplies in the grocery store. It's a bit pricey but provides very much relief for a very sore mommy. It also has lanolin in it which is a natural healer and may help with the infection.
Good luck and hang in there...this too shall pass!

If it's infected, lanolin won't cure that. Jack Newman is the Dr. Sears of Breastfeeding in Canada. He knows what he's talking about.

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

Your doc writes a scrip and you take it to an apothecary or natural pharmacy. You'll have to find out if you have one around. It has to be someplace that does compounds in house. They compound it and you keep it in the fridge. It's amazing to healing the breasts and you don't have to worry about anything with the baby. Just follow the directions:)

I had a small pimple type thing on my nipple for about a week or so and it was very painful when my son would nurse. I tried a nipple shield and it felt a little better. It was a bit of a pain to use so eventually I chucked it and just grimaced through the pain. You could try that, they sell them everywhere they sell baby items. I got mine at Target and it was pretty cheap. I hope your infecting clears up soon!
Good luck

S.

If its infected I am sure it is very sore. Did the doc suggest Lansinoh ointment? With boys of my boys my nipples cracked after a few weeks of nursing and Lansinoh was the only thing that got me through until they "toughened" up. It is safe for the baby. Like the others suggested try to let your nipple on that side dry out/air out as much as possible and use the lansinoh cream. Do you have a pump? You could try to pump that side and give it in a bottle for a couple days too. Also definitely contact a lactation consultant. In my area that was a free service and they'll answer your questions over the phone. It was very helpful. Good Luck!

I would use gentian violet (sp?) on my breast if I were you, it can color the healed area purple, but it will get ride of any infection and it wont harm your little one. Another thought is that when she gets distracted and stops nursing, put your breast away. Nursing is not play time and as soon as she understands that you will not be played with she will most likely take nursing more serisly. Hope this helps!

Oh this really sucks. Antibiotics should clear up any sort of deep infection and really any systemic infection. If its mastitis they usually give dicloxycillin (sp?). Are you running a fever? Do you have body aches? If not, it may just be that the sore throat is unrelated. I would try putting some antibiotic cream (bacitracine or whatever) on your nipple after your baby finishes nursing. If your breast is getting engorged because she's not draining it effectively then definitely spend some time in the shower massaging and expressing some milk manually. In the mean time, I guess just try and find a quiet dark place to nurse her to avoid too much on/off.

Anyway, antibiotics generally work FAST. Like you should be feeling much better by now. I'd get a second opinion if you doctor is stumped.

Straight Vitamin E oil. I bought the capsules and then just punctured the end and squeezed the oil onto the nipple. It's perfectly safe for baby so you don't have to wash it off before nursing.
I was severely burned when I was a year old and had scars which covered one breast as well. The scarring was never an issue till I started breast feeding, then I realized there was damage to the nipple! I breastfed 5 babies successfully in spite of that with the help of Vitamin E. I hope you get relief - I understand breast pain!

Are you sure it isn't just dry chapped skin? It is so dry this winter and if you aren't putting Lansinoh on it lots it could just be chapped. I had this once a month or so ago and both nipples were chapped and bleeding they were so painful! LOTS and LOTS of lansinoh. I also had a little bit of thrush/yeast infection too I think b/c rotating between the nystatin and lansinoh eventually fixed it.

Yikes, I am so sorry! Breastfeeding is still important at one year- way to go with sticking with it!
Have you tried any topical ointment for it? Perhaps get neosporin- make sure its the kind with pain killing stuff in it and rub it on after she nurses so it can stay on as long as possible.
If that doesn't work, try a good 'ol salt water mix- you can use it for your sore throat AND make sure you softly scrub it on your nipple. It's safe, natural and won't bother your little one if there is a little bit left.
And what about nursing more from the unsore side until it clears up?
Good luck, S.. I know it's rough but again, AWESOME job w/ the breastfeeding :)
-V