How long does a cracked nipple take to heal?

[northernlass81]

I have a deep crack on one of my nipples which seems to be taking ages to heal. I'm expressing on that side as too painful to feed baby directly at the moment. It's not infected. I'm using Lansinoh ointment and Jelonet dressings, but it's healing very slowly and can't see an end to the whole expressing palava! Any ideas or advice from mums who've been there? I have tried feeding him on the boob for the odd feed, and it is getting better. I've worked hard on correcting the latch on this side, after the initial damage!

[makeitpretty]

My ds is 6 months old now but I remember going through this. I can't remember how long it took for my nipples to heal, maybe about 2 weeks for breastfeeding to be completely pain free. Well done for carrying through though. I used to take paracetamol before some feeds to try ease the pain. Pumping was also painful for me so I just fed through clenched teeth and tears. I youtubed a lot (deep latch technique etc) and with a lot of patience, things got better. I hope things get easier for you soon.

[GinLimeandLemonade]

I had a crack on one of mine at the beginning of breastfeeding. I didn't have a pump so I just fed through the pain which was awful at times. I was taking post c-section painkillers during that time which helped.

It took a good couple of weeks for it to heal once I'd got the latch sorted (from what I remember anyway, my little one's 3 months now! Time flies) I rubbed breast milk into it after every feed and let it air as much as possible, and put a teeny bit of Lansinoh onto the crack after it was completely dry. My breastfeeding support lady said to try not to put it all over the nipple as it can be a bit too slippy and it stops your nipples smelling like natural oils which help baby find it.

I youtubed/googled latches, the flipple was a lifesaver and really helped me get a good deep latch.

I remember feeling like it'd never heal because it'd split at every feed but it got smaller and smaller and eventually healed.

I hope it gets better soon for you, breastfeeding is awesome once the problems are sorted

[NickyEds]

I had a big crack on the top of one nipple and it took perhaps 2-3 weeks to heal after ds had his tt snipped and the latch got better. Sorry if it's tmi but it sort of healed over not up IYSWIM- the skin didn't re-join together- I still have a little scar now (lovely!) and I can clearly see where it was split, but it stopped hurting after a couple of weeks. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, Lansinoh, keeping it clean etc.

[WhatAHooHa]

Mine took a good few weeks. Tips I was given were to have your boobs out as much as possible - shut the curtains, bra off as much as possible. Coat with milk after a feed and let it dry naturally. I coated with Lansinoh before a feed, plus I used a nipple shield for a bit which really helped get back into feeding him. Both my nipples were really deeply cracked and bled, I lived off paracetamol for quite a while! I also found it helped to feed him in different positions so it wasn't always the same part of the nipple taking the hit.

[MargeryDaw]

I had a deep cracked on the side of one nipple and one down the centre of the other due to a tongue tied baby shredding them! Honestly - baby was 10 weeks before they were healed and it was pain free. I can also still see the scars. HOWEVER 9 months on I'm still EBF and it has remained pain free. I fed through the pain too as to be honest part of the problem was my baby's mouth just needing to grow and for her to get better at feeding. I also wanted my nipples to get used to being fed from. Jelonet and lansinoh were my best friends during that time, and nice soft breast pads which I changed after every feed. I used a private midwife/lactation consultant to get the TT sorted and she really supported me with improving the feeds: she advised the Jelonet and cautioned against letting them dry out. If you Google moist healing there's lots of info on the principle behind it. Hope you're pain free soon!

[TheWizardJenkins]

Mine have just healed, took 10 weeks but I had infection and needed two courses of antibiotics to get healing started (also had thrush), are you sure there is no infection? Swabs not always accurate I was told. I nearly gave up 3 times due to excruciating pain, even went out and bought a cupboard full of formula but somehow preserved, I fed through pain as pumping just as painful and supply dropped. Saw breastfeeding counsellor loads to get latch checked but really just had to wait for healing to happen. Definitely recommend moist healing with a little bit of air drying now and then, lansinoh and jelonet and fresh breast pads after every feed. I feel your pain and distress so much, I lost my mind at times to the pain, cried so much, felt like it would never heal, it did take a while but at last it's pain free, plus not excruciating the last couple of weeks, slowly pain reduced, good luck s

[Car101]

My son is 5 months old and since his teeths are coming out he bit my nipple like about 4 days ago. I'm treating it with antibiotic ointment and medela ointment but it doesn't seem to get better and I don't know what to do. Any advice for me?? Thanks