Breastfeeding with a cracked nipple

[bgmama]

This is not an AIBU but I am desperate for some advice.
I have a 3-week-old baby which I am exclusively breastfeeding. Both my nipples started cracking and bleeding a few days in but one of them just healed on its own. The other one has a deep crack that looks like a cut, which seems to be getting worse. I tried to give this breast a break for 24 hours and it started healing but when I put the baby on it again the wound started getting bigger. The baby's latch on this breast is not great but we are working on it. I think the main problem though is that the nipple does not have enough time to heal. Have you gone through something similar and how long did it last? What helped you to get over it? Any advice will be really appreciated.

I had a similar experience. My right breast was always fine but I couldn’t get the latch right on the left and I had a really nasty open wound on it. I used nipple shields for a while but also tried different positions to stop putting pressure on the sore bit. I found the rugby ball hold really helpful for this. It eventually healed up and as my daughter got bigger her latch improved. It’s hellish at the time OP, I really feel for you. I’m not sure how but I managed to keep going and I’m still breastfeeding at 16 months. The nipple is permanently scarred now!

Hello, I am a midwife and lactation consultant so deal with this every day. Moist wound healing is the way to go. Creams tend to be absorbed and allow the wound to scab/crust over so that it then is reopened at the next feed. A dressing is much better for cracked nipples, such as Jelonet, applied double thickness. Apply a clean piece after each feed, and remove just as you are about to feed. The cracks must never become dry as we want to avoid a scab forming. They will still heal from the bottom of the wound upwards.

You have my sympathies, I still have a scar on my nipple from breastfeeding my DD and that was 7 years ago.
Nipple shields, lansinoh, and pumping on that breast will help, but the root cause of my issues was tongue tie, which we got fixed at 2-3 weeks old. After that it healed fairly quickly and we didn't have any further problems.
As for the baby's latch, have you tried squashing your breast (holding it like it's a burger) and "feeding" it to your baby? I found that improved things as well.

Good luck, I hope you get it sorted because it is SO painful.