Sore Nipples

Hi A.,
My name is T. and i am a new mom to a beautiful five month old. We had some difiiculty breast feeding and i developed dry, cracked, and bleeding nipples. I started using Lansinoh brand lanolin and it made a world of a difference. You may need to wipe the lanolin off before pumping so that it doesn't interfere with the suction. I also used the Lansinoh brand breast pads. The pads kept my bra from rubbing my already very sore nipples. Hope this helps!

i had the same thing with my 2nd son- have you tried Soothies? you can buy them in the drugstore- they are right next to the breast pads. they are made of gel and are very cooling- you can even put them in the fridge- they made a huge difference!

The consultant below had great advice. I couldn't get either of my kids to latch on so I pumped. More work but at least they were getting breast milk. I had to change the size breast pump guards. That helped tremendously. And any of breast creams are great and safe for the baby. I personally used Lanisoh lanolin. I was actually bleeding mine got so bad until I changed the pump guard size. Also try adjusting how hard the pump sucks.

Hi A.,

J. the Lactation Consultant here. :) There are a couple things that may be going on. First - if this is the first time you have been pumping the flanges may be too small. Watch how the nipples come into the flange. Is there plenty of room for the nipple or does the nipple rub on the sides of the tube as it is pulled into the flange? A snug fit is not desireable. If the sides of you nipple are making full contact with the tube of the flange - go get larger flanges. Medela makes 4 diffeent sizes. You are most likely using the 24mm flanges which come standard with all kits. There are also 27, 30 and 36mm. I'd try a 27 or 30...

If this is your problem then rather than using Lanolin (which can cause ssensitivity on its own - many people are allergic and don't' realize it) try Motherlove Nipple Cream. Lanolin doesn't have any healing proerties of any kind. Motherlove nipple cream does. You can also simply use Polysporin antibiotic ointment to help the nipples heal. These two products will actually help heal the nipples - unlike lanolins which only moisturize and if you are sensitive, can make the problem worse. Soothies are fine as long as you don't have thrush.

The other thing you may be dealing with is thrush. Contrary to other advice Lanolin is NOT appropriate to deal with thrush. Also, using soothies if you have thrush just spreads it around more. Not waht you want to do. Getting a prescription for Diflucan should be a last resort not a first. Diflucan is a strong medication and to treat breast thrush you need to be on it for 2-4 weeks. You will also need to have your liver enzymes checked as they can raise in some people taking diflucan - that isn't a good thing.

To figure out if you have thrush a couple things to note: Do you have itching or burning? Does the nipple shine when it is dry> It is red or pink? You may have all these symptoms or just a couple. What about baby? Does he have white patches in his mouth? If you have thrush he will have it too - even if he is not showing symptoms!

Treatment of thrush is as follows: Gentian Violet (GV)- a purple liquid that you paint onto your nipples twice a day. It can be hard to find - check walmart - they can order it for you if they don't have it - costs all of $2-3 bucks. You use a q-tip. Wet one end of the q-tip - using the applicator stick on the end of the cap of the GV purple the wet q-tip. Paint ONE nipple and areola purple and let air dry. Repeat this process with a new q-tip for the other side. Treat twice a day for 4-5 days. Yes, baby will get a purple mouth when he nurses - this is FINE - this way he is treated too. :)

While using the GV you will also want to use an all purpose nipple ointment (APNO) Use equal parts of: Polysporin ointment(NOT neosporin!), hydrocortine ointment and miconozole cream (yes the vaginal yeast cream) (NOT clotrimozole!). Massage these 3 into the nipples and areoals after each pumping/nursing sparingly - just leave a shine. There is no need to wipe off before pumping or feeding unless you really want to. Use this for at least a week after all symptoms have gone away. Keep air exposure on the nipples at all times. Get breast shelss to wear in your bra to keep everything from touching the nipples. It feels better that way and helps to speed the healing.

You can find more information on thrush treatment by typing Jack Newman into your search engine. He has lots of good info out there. Or, if you have other questions or need help determining exactly what the problem is please feel free to call me any time at ###-###-####.

I wish you luck in this! This is a yucky place to be...I've been there myself and I have worked with too many moms in your circumstances over the last 13 yrs...

Take care!

Warmly,

J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
Breastfeeding Network
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

TRY a product called "SOOTHIES"....gel pads you wear in your bra. But, it sounds like you might have a yeast infection on your nipples if they are burning and pink. Have a doctor advise you. Also, it is possible the holes need to be bigger in the breast shield you are using for pumping. Ask a lactation center to help assess.

A.,
I had the same problem when I was pumping, my nipples were so sensative that anything against my skin was painful. I used nipple shells under my nursing bra. I used Medela Thera Shells Breast Shells under my shirts and bras. They worked wonders! Cut and paste this link into your browser bar to find them.
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/breastcare.html#nipple%20s...

It is wonderful that you are continueing to breast feed, even though it can be difficult. GOOD JOB MAMA!

looks like you got some good advice but if you haven't heard, try checking out the message boards about pumping on kellymom.com
when i was pumping, those boards were so helpful to me. Also... LLL is another great source of info! good luck!
I remember for me... in those early days... even though I hadn't started pumping yet... the breasts just HURT like that for awhile. It gets easier. It might just take some time... but it's worth it to stick it out!

FInd out if you have thrush. It is a yeast infection in the breast and can cause extreme sensitivity and soreness. A lactation consultant is the best to ask, but also try your OB, general practitioner, and even your pediatrician. If it is thrush, your baby may have it too. It would show up as white patches on the inside linings of his cheeks. Good Luck!

Hi A.,

You wrote a while ago, so I hope you have found some relief before now! If not, have you tried putting lanolin creams on your nipples? There are some that are specifically formulated for nipples. I used Purelan by Medela, but I'm sure there are other brands. Another thing you can do is wear nipple shields that keep your nipples from touching your clothes. They also keep the nipples aired out so if you have thrush nipples the infection won't get worse.

I have an 8 week old baby girl and had so many problems breastfeeding that I almost gave up. Only about a week or two ago things miraculously got better. I was told that I had thrush nipples (which I guess is a kind of yeast infection) but my baby didn't have thrush in her mouth, thankfully. I was also told I might have Raynaud’s Phenomenon because the pain was so bad between feedings and was worst when the nipples got hard from being cold. Have you looked into those two causes for the pain you are suffering from?

Hang in there. I was so desperate I went to see a midwife, OBGYN, and a lactation consultant. I used to cry while breastfeeding. None of the suggestions they gave seemed to work, but time seems to have cured the problem.

Here's a link to Medela's site for the nipple shields and the cream:
http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/breastcare.html

Good luck!

H.

- - -

Hi again,

I hadn't read all of the other great responses until after writing mine, sorry!

If your nipples turn while or purple, it sounds like Raynaud’s Phenomenon. Keeping the nipples warm really helps me (though I don't know if I had Raynaud’s Phenomenon because mine didn't turn colors). I wore a fleece vest around the house and just put my warm palm over the nipple when it got hard. I've also read that taking fish oil orally helps, but I never tried it.

Again, good luck.

H.

lanolin cream. Lansinoh brand. It comes in a purple bottle. It saved my life. I had the same problem and this along with making sure my nipples stayed dry as much as possible I was better. There is light at the end of the tunnel. good luck

Dear A.,

Try 'Udderly Smooth" Udder cream, it was developed for use on dairy cows, "it moisturizes and smooths roughness and softens skin". I met a lady one time that had beautiful soft hands and she worked on a milking farm, and that is what she put on the cow's teats.

True, C. N.

Dear A.,
I have been pumping for my daughter for 6 months. Good for you for pumping and giving your baby breastmilk! NOTHING IS BETTER!!!! Hang in there. Mine were really sore and it was because I had thrush and didn't know it. If your nipples have white in the cracks or turn purple or white when you pump you might have thrush. Things that help: olive oil on your nipples when you pump. I learned it from a lactation consultant. It really works. It doesnt get rid of thrush but it feels a lot better to pump and works even if you don't have thrush. Keep up the good work!

Have you seen a lactation consultant? A lc can make sure you're using the pump properly, etc. I saw an lc because my first month of nursing was excruciatingly painful. We briefly discussed pumping since I was already there. My lc basically said there were a few good pumps to choose from and others may actually harm breast tissue, and that pumping shouldn't be painful. So it could be possible that you need to change something about the way you're pumping. Obviously though, to have such frequent friction on an already sensitive area will take some getting used to. I'm sure you've heard people say that now their nipples can withstand anything and are almost leathery. Well, mine aren't quite at that point, but the pain did eventually go away. I'm sure this is all stuff you've heard. You're doing the right thing...giving your child the best possible food. good luck!

I have found that wearing nursing pads help when my nipples are sore because they reduce friction against rougher materials. Hope this helps.

I would recommend "Soothies" They are amazing. I have found them at Rite-Aid and I know they can be found online. They are gel pads that go right in your bra and make a world of difference for exactly what you are saying. I used them when I was pumping when my son had to be in the NICU.

I had the exact same problem! Motherhood maternity sells hard shell nipple covers for me that was the best help and they worked wonders for me. With my first child, I also used the product "udder butter" and "Lansinoh". Lansinoh was amazing in the sense that once it was on I could wear clothes again....

Try rubbing breast milk on them and letting them "hang out" without a top on. Or lanolin seemed to help me a lot, nipple shields were also good to keep my bra from rubbing directly on the skin. Medela makes a good one. I found the best thing was to have my son nurse instead of pumping, this made a world of difference for me, and the other thing is time. It will take time for them to get used to the constant pressure, pulling etc. It will happen though, don't give up! It took me six weeks just to get my son to latch on without the use of an artificial nipple cover, and now he is 20 months old and I can't get him off! :) Keep at it, the pain will go away with time.

Hi A.,
It sounds like you might have the suction a bit high on your breastpump machine. if your baby is 6 wks,it might be that you need more time with him on your breast and back off the pumping for a bit. As long as you have a reserve in your freezer you good right now. (Unless you are pumping because you've gone back to work.)Each baby nurses differently. It was a different experience with both of my kids.Best of luck to you and don't give up on breastfeeding!!! I nursed both of mine 3 years each. Not to say you have to, just hat after a while you don't even notice. It just becomes familer.

I used lanolin ointment (Lanisnoh), which helped a lot. You can also try Soothies. The gel patches can be refrigerated for a great cooling effect. I ended up going to a lactation consultant for help since my nipples were bleeding. Once I learned how to get my son to latch on properly there was no more pain. Good luck!

my nipples were sore from pumping do to the dry air sucking away. A consultant told me to put extra vigin olive oil (ok for baby) on my nipples before pumping and this cleared up the chapping!

Hi,

It sounds to me like you might have thrush. My daughter and I got it when she was around 3 weeks old and I had the same symptoms you described. My nipple had stopped hurting from her latching and a week later they got soar again (but weren't cracked or bleeding).

It is very hard to diagnose, but I suggest going to your gymn and you pediatrician so both of you can be treated at the same time.

Good luck!

Lansino breast cream is good and you can get it Target or Longs....it's in a purple tube. Also, there are plastic covers you can put on your nipples to prevent anything from touching them. I got mine from a lactation specialist.

Good Luck, L.

OK, I feel like I have opposite advice from some others, but here's what helped me: I liked lanolin cream whenever my nipples got even a little sensitive. It's soothing & it's safe for the baby to swallow. I pumped daily for my last son because he had special needs & at first it became very painful. I found that using an insert to make the hole that my nipple went through smaller in the pumps helped a lot, even though I have giant nipples (sorry to get so personal, but they are big normally & really freakishly huge when I'm nursing). After a while, with the help of the smaller inserts, I got used to pumping & it didn't hurt at all anymore. Also, I did get thrush at one point during the year I nursed him, and my doctor prescribed Oral Nystatin, which I applied to my nipples with a Q-tip & left to dry. It was extremely soothing during that painful time, did not stain anything (although it did have a slight orange color), and it treated my son's mouth at the same time it treated my nipples, so we didn't have to worry about passing the thrush back & forth.

C. : )

Have you tried Lanolin. It helped me out a lot. Also even if you aren't leaking breast pads can help keep your t-shirt from irritating your nipples. I hope they start feeling better soon...

Hi A.!

I agree w/Denise......buy pure lanolin! Works great and it sooths! =) Hope it helps for you!

\m/

Well first of all congratulations on your new baby! I would talk to your dr. or to a lactation specialist. Mine were very sore when I had my son but they were also cracking so she gave me a cream for it (lansinoh) and it worked great. And it is not harmful to the baby. Well good luck and congratulations again.

Lubricating them with Lansinoh will keep them soft and just more comfortable. Cool compresses after pumping might help with the soreness, and soft breast pads with rubbing on clothing. Pump slowly!! You can increase your flow by drinking herbal teas, gental massage before and during pumping, some simple stretches. Check out the La Leche League website for helpful information. Best wishes!

Hi A., I live in Venice. My son is four monthd old and calendula oil works for me. It is soothing and anti-inflammatory. http://danishwool.com has great all wool pads for leakage which also sooth sore nipples.

Goodluck,

P.

Hi, I also was in a lot of pain and found that Soothies really helped. They are a gel pad that you can cut into fourths and place over your nipples inside your bra. They are especially nice after being in the refrigerator and then applied! You can usually find them at drug stores, in the baby section. Good luck! The good part, is that this doesn't last forever!

your own milk is your best medicine whwn you finish pumping rub some on, make sure the pump is in the midle and par of it is not rubing you nipple and you can wer shell to take away your niples from the bra or clothes. dont use the milk that yo collect in the shells. F. vissuet ###-###-####

There is breast cream you can buy. Put it on immediately before pumping and again right after. Mine were so sore and red. I eventually got a yeast infection on both nipples that took 3 months to completely cure.

Let your nipples dry completely before putting your bra over them. Use pads as little as possible. If you can, leave your blouse and bra off as much as possible to let air to your nipples.

Good luck.

You can buy pure lanolin (Lanisoh brand)at Babies R Us. It's with the breast feeding stuff. You just need to apply a little bit every so often. It goes a long way and it works very well and almost immediately. Unlike some creams and lotions, lanolin is safe for the baby (you don't need to rinse it off before nursing). Good luck!

Hi A.,

You could very well have a yeast infection in your nipples and ducts. I developed this when my son was about the age of your child. It was so painful! Latching on was brutal for the first few minutes. Talk to your docotr about checking you and getting a prescription for a medication called Diflucan. It can take a while for it to completely go away but make sure that your child doesn't have any thrush in the mouth as that could pass it back to you. Good luck and don't give up on the breastfeeding. My son is 2 1/2 now and still nurses at night. It is the one thing that only I can give him and it is comforting to both of us to reconnect at the end of the day. :-)

Hi A.,

I used the Medela lanolin. It is more expensive, but you can leave it on and app0ly it as much as needed/wanted. Use it everytime you pump, before and after. You should start to feel better in about a day (not perfect, but better). Good luck and keep up the great work!

As the others said, the lanolin creams really helps, there are different brands. See what your doctor suggests, or lots of baby stores have them too. It will get better... but I know how painful it can be. Is it just with the pumping that is making it hurt, or are you nursing as well at the same time? What does your doctor suggest? I know when I used to pump... it hurt me more because of the suction. Versus, with nursing, it wasn't as painful. So I just stuck to nursing. However, this is just my experience, and I know each situation is different. It will ease up though. Good luck and take care,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Hi A.,
Wearing a good cotton nursing bra with breast pads (I like Gerber disposables) has helped me. I pumped a lot with my first and found that setting the pump suction on low-med and pumping for 15-18 minutes also helped.

S.-Mother of 2 boys (26 months and 4 months old)

coupla thoughts: I know what you're talking about.
1) Lanisoh is a lanolin product that's widely marketed. It's not as goopy and thick as the other 100% lanolin I found, which I presume is why it's so popular. But goopy may actually be more what you want to coat your nipples and give you some relief. I think you should go to Whole Foods or Rainbow Grocery (or similar) and get a jar of pure lanolin. I found it more than soothing -- it actually blocked some of the sensation because I could goop it on. It won't hurt your baby. However, it will stain your clothes, so wear a bra that you don't care about and maybe even layer another layer that you don't care about between that and the outer layer. Or just gloop it on and run around the house topless.
2) Go online and look up the La Leche League contacts for your area. They'll consult with you for free on the phone and are a tremendous font of good ideas for breastfeeding challenges. Truly, they've seen and heard it all.
3) If you think you have thrush, then it's a whole 'nother thing. You can smear active-cultures yogurt (plain, not sugary) on your nipples and it is incredibly soothing, plus it will counteract a mild case of thrush. Yogurt will not help if you have a major infection, but if it's just the start, or very mild, it's a great household remedy.

I know there are these "nipple shields" that you can get. I got mine from my doctor because I had the same problem. It was really funny though, because my husband would tease me about them and call them my "Madona Cones". lol
But they worked!
They are basically these hard plastic things that cover your nipple to were things can not rub on them while you are wearing clothing. They also have little holes on it so your perspiration does not get trapped.
I do not remember what they are called, but I am sure you can ask your doctor or go to a baby store such as Babies R Us.

M. *~

With my first son I pumped after every feeding and sometimes between feedings so I understand what you mean by sore. One thing that helped was wearing reusable bra pads... they're soft cotton flannel and you just throw them in the wash. For some reason this was more comfortable for me than the bra alone or the disposable pads. I've seen them at Target but here's a link so you know what to look for:

http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/breastcare.html

I also tried their breast shells and found comfort having nothing touching my nipples but that relief was outweighed by the then ultra-shock of the contact of latch-on or pumping.

You may also need a larger-sized "horn" for your pump to minimize friction... Medela's customer service has been a help to me at 1-800-835-5968 and you can read the description at:

http://www.medela.com/NewFiles/brpmpacc.html#personalfit_bs

Hope this helps!