Cracked Nipples Breastfeeding

I found calendula in a vaseline base totally saved my nipples. You might want to give it a try. Also, it is not harmful for the baby.

yes you can but heed Val's warning about plugged ducts there is no better un-plugger than a baby. As for supply, it's all about frequency, so long as you really pump as often as you would have fed supply will remain (or you could even goose it.)

i nursed and pumped exclusively on 1 side for a year( baby was 1 yesterday)beacause i never made enough milk on one side and it was actually more comfortable nursing on right side. so, other than being lopsided, which no one could tell but me, i made plenty of milk to feed baby throught the year....i would try nipple cream though for cracked nipple.

get some Lansono (not sure of swpelling). it is for breastfeeding and works great. I even use it as lip balm on the kids for their chaped lips. Works great for dry cracked hands too! It's the duck tape of creams!!!!! A.

I'm thirding the lanolin/Lansinoh. There's nothing wrong with wool-based unless you're vegan/activist-minded. I'd urge you not to try to supplement with stored milk or formula. You'll make enough, as breast milk is pretty much supply & demand, even when using just one breast. By all means, pump the other. Good luck healing :)

See if your OBGYN or pediatrician has a lactation consultant you can talk to.

Otherwise, when I got a cracked nipple, mine told me to forget the creams and lanolin and to use the nipple shield while I nursed. They started me with one size, but i ended up needing a smaller one, so you may want to buy a couple. The consultant also gave me soothing pads to apply between feedings. After I ran out, I used some I bought at Target, which I didn't like as well. So see if you can get ones from the lactation consultant if possible.

Either way, the shield was best for me!

I was there too! My lactation consultant recommended applying a TINY and thin amount of Neosporin ointment mixed with a drop of breastmilk just on the cracked area AFTER each feeding for 24 hours...that way the ointment would be absorbed into the skin by the time of the next feeding. Also, provide lots of air circulation to the area, so don't wear a bra for the next day or so and just wear an oversized shirt (I wore my husband's old button down shirt). If you are worried that your baby doesn't get enough milk just on one side, then you can try to cup feed or spoon feed the pumped milk. Or, you can direct feed with the baby every other or every third feeding (still pumping when not direct-feeding), so at least that side get a big break for several hours. Perhaps your latch is not ideal....? Good luck!

lanolin/Lansinoh all the way! you dont even have to wash it off to breast feed or pump. by all means pump the sore side so you dont become uneven in apperance with one breast having more milk then the other.

Hi K.,

You absolutely can. I had two cracked nipples after the first week of nursing my son. My doctor advised me to pump the side that was most severely cracked and nurse my son from the less cracked side until the first side healed. It took about a week or so for the more severely cracked side to heal. I then switched to pumping the other side while nursing from the newly healed side for about a week. It was really time consuming to do so and I had to miss a lot of sleep for those two weeks but it was so worth it. I was no longer in pain when nursing. After that I was able to nurse successfully from both sides. My milk supply didn't suffer and my son was happy and full. Hope this helps.

Hang in there!

P.S. Remember to let you nipples get plenty of air when you are not nursing or pumping. It will help speed up the healing process.

I've been there too. You've received lots of good advice here. Nipple cream definitely--there's the lansinoh--there's also one I love that is soft--it's called Motherlove. But Lansinoh will work just fine. Definitely go topless when you can, around the house, and indirect sunlight is good for healing cracked nipples. Just sit topless at a window for a few minutes each day if you can.

I am prone to plugged ducts and mastitis--my lactation consultant recommended the natural supplement lecithin. You can get it at most health food stores--you take it like a vitamin and it promotes good duct health. Dr. Sears also recommends it.

There are also pads called Soothies--some people like them and swear by them, others hate them. I loved them--they have a cooling gel and they promote healing--they were heaven to put on between feedings.
http://www.lansinoh.com/products/soothies-by-lansinoh-gel...

Lastly, don't make the same mistake I made. After feeding, I would put my bra back on, not realizing that walking around in a wet bra (from my milk leaking) was keeping my nipples from healing. So when you're wearing your bra, definitely use nursing pads.

As for the pumping/not feeding on that side, I can only tell you to ask a lactation consultant, or contact La Leche League for your specific situation.

Good luck, and remember that it will get better. You're doing a great job! And congrats on the baby.

That shouldnt be a problem but there are these silicone nipple shields you can get that protect your nipple so it can heal but you can still nurse from that side. I used them for the same problem with both my nipples and they were amazing!

The dreaded cracked nipple! The best thing you can do for yourself is get some Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter (forget the Lansinoh, which is wool based - EMAB is pure olive oil based!). This place is supposed to carry the line:
Vitamin Shoppe
1320 Stony Brook Rd, Stony Brook NY 11790

It heals the skin very fast and give immediate pain relief. It is organic and safe for baby (certified!). I would put it on BEFORE AND AFTER you nurse, religiously!!! The pump will still open the crack, so I would just nurse him.

As for nursing, boobies get cracked due to fair skin, dryness and incorrect latch. Do you get sharp, burning pain when he first latches and for the first few sucks, then it goes away? Where exactly is the crack?

Let me know, I counsel breastfeeding moms over the phone and in person. Can do by email as well!

I just had a daughter a week ago and already the breastfeeding is extremely painful. Part of it is my daughter has a very strong suck and latch, my lactation consultant said she's latching fine but in the meantime she told me to first always use Lansinoh. I used it with my first son and it's amazing the difference it makes. Also, I started to have some bleeding and sores on my nipples, not sure if they were cracked. But she told me to soak my nipples in a salt water solution for five minutes and then rinse in warm water..then I apply lansinoh and let them air dry. Yes, I spent most of my hospital stay topless! :) I have to say that it makes all the difference in the world. Hope this helps and definitely contact a lactation consultant for support and to make sure your son's latch is correct.

Good luck and keep it up!!

Ouch... I've been there myself... no fun. There's a prescription compounded nipple ointment (http://breastfeeding.about.com/od/nippleproblems/qt/tripl...) that you can have your doctor request. That's the only thing that finally worked for me... I tried everything else first, and my problem went on for several weeks until I got the Rx ointment.

One thing... be careful if you're just pumping from the sore side... I started getting clogged when I did that, and was worried that I'd get mastitis. Just keep an eye out for lumps or sore spots.

good luck!

Do you have any stored milk for him? Can you use a sheild and pump from that side (never tried it???). Hang in there, that can't be comfortable. Also, as you probably are/will, lanolin works wonders!

Use Lanolin, and get a nipple sheild. The sheild worked great for me.. it was the only way that I could breastfeed on one side when it was cracked.
Good Luck

Contact La Leche and find a leader in your area http://www.llli.org/Web/NewYork.html

Definitely pump the one side to keep your supply going. Have someone from LLL or a good lactation consultant take a look at it and how you are holding your son. Cracked nipples are a sign of a not so great (or comfortable) latch. Keep nursing and get help!!!!

You can buy a spray or cream for your nipples at Target, WalMart, etc. I used both but the spray worked better and it did not hurt to apply. They are safe for nursing- in fact that is what they are made for. I cannot remember the name of the one I used. My first born I had the same issues and I used the cream, it works but my nipples hurt so bad that it hurt to apply the cream. My second and third I used the oil/spray and I literally just sprayed it on and within a couple of days I was fine and it did not hurt to nurse. Good luck!

That happened to me too! I did as you are doing-I would feed from one side and then pump from the cracked side after each feed (as if both sides were being used for a feeding) and used Lansinoh-and of course, didn't wear a shirt!! I actually gave it 5-7 days (can't remember exactly-what a blur those first weeks were!!) but it helped giving it a rest and the pumping helped keep my supply up. I also then had a nice stash of breast milk in my freezer. Make sure you have a good solid latch-I did not, which was why I had the issue. Good Luck!