OWWWWW. There's a hole in my nipple, dear mumsnet, dear mumsnet..........

[tortoiseshell]

Have been finding b/feeding on one side very painful for a few days - on NYE I looked, and there was a BIG hole - weepy, not bleeding, but definitely oozing (sorry if tmi). NYE was agony, as I'd been not feeding so much on that side, as it HURTS, and got a bit engorged, so have fed through that, taken nurofen, bathed it in hot water, changed angle of feeding.

How can I help it heal? I'm going to get some Lansinoh today, and have rubbed milk into it. It's SO sore!

Any positive stories of this sort of thing that resolved? Morningpaper, you had a similar thing didn't you? How did that turn out? Ds2 is 8 months, not ready to stop feeding yet, and in any case, couldn't stop straight off because of engorgement.

[Enid]

god you are so good to still be feeding

well done you

(sorry no advice about hole it sounds horrendous - I think you may need antibiotics, otherwise tea tree and lavender oils (diluted) are great for healing)

[tortoiseshell]

Thanks Enid - will try those! I've got some left over from just after his birth. Don't think it's infected (yet), just not healing.

[mytwopenceworth]

I am really really really sorry about your sore nipple. i remember when i was b/f oh so many years ago, i still have the scars. i really hope someone comes along soon who can give you some advice.

but.

i have to complain - much as i sympathise....

i now cant stop singing

theres a hole in my nipple, my nipple, my nipple, theres a hole in my nipple dear Liza a hole,
well fix it dear henry, dear henry, dear henry, well fix it dear henry, dear henry, fix it .....

its when i get to the straw and the axe and stuff that it really gets odd!!

now im going to be humming it all day.

• ps, i hope you heal soon, take care xxxxx

[Macdog]

Sorry to hear you've got this after doing so well.
Don't know what to recommend other than what has been said.
There are products here that might help.
I did a quick Google search and found Calendula cream appears in many nipple creams.
Might be worth researching further?

[Enid]

try to let air get to it

walk around with norks out and hope noone knocks

[fishie]

oh poor you. i had dreadful probs for first few months and found that the best thing is not to let it dry out comletely but not soggy either - it is the pain of scab coming off which is worst. you can get sort of gel dressings (usually used for burns) and lansinoh is the best thing for keeping it moist. i should think it'll be better in a couple of days.

what has caused it? ds had a nasty habit of digging his top front teeth in for a while which did cause a small hole.

[tortoiseshell]

Good idea about the air enid, ds1 has a friend over today, so possibly after he's gone home....

I think it's been caused by ds2's bottom teeth. At the moment there's no scab at all - it's still open. Am going to Waitrose later to get Lansinoh, and am pinning my hopes on that!

[tortoiseshell]

that's a nice website macdog - will look properly later, thanks!

[tortoiseshell]

bump for anyone else reading...

[tiktok]

No...sorry to contradict, but airing it is not the way to go. This used to be advised but now we know it encourages the formation of a scab and that's not good. I think somethiing like this needs a medic's view to check for infection. Meantime, moist wound healing is best. I suspect a little toothy-peg has caused the hole.....

[tortoiseshell]

Hi tiktok - so is it best to use something like lansinoh? Can't get to a GP till at least Thursday, so what would you advise till then?

[tortoiseshell]

PS - It's those razor sharp bottom teeth...

[shonaspurtle]

My cavernous nipple wound (well that's what it felt like to me...) has finally healed over so it will get better, even with feeding on that side a bit.

I used Lansinoh by the bucketload and also stuff called Jelonet (sp?) which I think is what fishie was talking about. It's a sort of mesh soaked in something a bit like vaseline and stops the wound sticking to things and opening up again

Mine had an infection and didn't really start healing properly until I got some antibiotic ointment so a visit to the doctors and a swab would definitely be worth it as tiktok says. Cleared up quite quickly once the infection had been addressed .

[yellowrose]

tortoise - symapthies - I have no idea what it is - but it sounds painful !

I had, I think, a blocked duct or 2 in one breast for weeks, maybe months which made feeding from one boob quite painful. I am one of those bloody women with what my midwife called a "high pain threshold" (afer she saw me NOT collapsing half dead after an agonising labour with zero pain relief!) so this ain't much help to you !

I just let it continue, and it cleared eventually. I didn't take nay thing for it. It wasn't a hole though, it was a sort of sharp pain every time DS latched, the minute he started sucking, the pian got gentler. 2.5 years on I still haven't got a clue what it was !

I hope someone can help you with this. Have you tried reading kellymom.com or calling one of the bf helplines ? They may have come across this thing you have.

You may not need antibiotics. Speak to an expert first. The damned thing about antibiotics is they kill the "good" bacteria and in some cases bf mums on too many antibiotics end up with thrush.

Good luck !

[tiktok]

TS - lansinoh, jelnet (or similar, there are other brands), white soft paraffin (from the chemist)....all these are used in moist wound healing and will prevent a scab forming, and they are safe to use. Ask the chemist what he suggests and what would be cheapest (I think the jelnet is ridiculously expensive because each gauze thingy is sterilised, which is not really necessary).

Hope it clears up.

[fishie]

i hated the jelonet thing, vile smell and it kept sticking to bra instead of nip. oh wish i could remember the name of the dressing - could be hydrogel but google not showing me anything familiar. ask pharmacist?

[tortoiseshell]

Thanks all - I'm encouraged shonaspurtle that yours healed up ok - how long did it take? I'll get the lansinoh, and I think the change in feeding position will help as well - it felt a bit better this morning for feeding 'underarm' instead of on my lap.

I will be glad when it's better!!!

[fishie]

good info here

[tortoiseshell]

THanks fishie - that's really interesting. Lansinoh is on - I suddenly remembered where that tube that I never needed after ds2's birth was! Hopefully it will help a bit.

[Quootiepie]

I found lanisoh EXCELLENT with my wounds! I assume you got it from biting? Thats usually just a phase... DS has gone through biting phases when teething.

[tortoiseshell]

QP - yes, biting with sharp sharp sharp teeth!

[tortoiseshell]

Feeling a little better today - still horribly sore, but not so AGONISING. Am treating with b'milk and lansinoh which does seem to be helping.

[yellowrose]

tortoise - oh good - what a relief for you ! Lansinoh is a godsend to bf nipples !!

I have even used it on DS when he had patches of rough skin on his cheeks and legs, works wonders

[shonaspurtle]

Glad you're feeling a bit less sore . Mine lasted for weeks but this was because of the infection (and ongoing bf'ding latch difficulties).

After the infection was being dealt with, the "hole" closed over within 3-4 days.

[wads]

still have a scarred nipple from dd2 sucking a hole in right nipple. Found some avent nipple shields that are hard shells with air holes which are brilliant from keeping nipple from chafing on clothes/bra/small children while healing. Also agree that moist healing is the way to go having tried airdrying & milk and found loads of cream & nipple shells heals much quicker