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.

[DueNumberTwo]

Try a couple of different nipple shields and lots of lanisoh

[MatildaTheCat]

Nipple shields saved me. It takes a little longer to feed but protects the nipples.

I fed from alternate breasts each feed and also alternated feeding positions so the nipples weren’t constantly being chomped on at the same angle.

Feeding was fine after that and I carried on using the shields for quite a while. Same with DC 2 but got rid of them more quickly that time.

Good luck.

[User4152790]

You poor soul.

I have some Nessa organics nipple balm which is wonderful. My baby isn’t born yet but I have been using it for cracked lips, burns etc and it has really helped things heal.

Hope you’re better soon!

[Flavabobble]

Different positions, it's a long time ago now but I can remember having to lie on the floor with cushions baby lying opposite direction to me at one point as I was so desperate. Anything that alters where the pressure is.

[nameisnotimportant]

I pumped on my sore boob for 48 hours to rest it enough to heal and just let baby feed off the other one. Then lots of nipple balm and some hydrogel healing discs (from any pharmacy) that I used to keep in the fridge and apply between feeds. It took a good 7 days to fully heal though.
I tried to sit with my boobs out in between feeds too.

[Lockdownseperation]

Get some hydrogel pads.

Does she have a good latch? I know it’s difficult to tell when your nipples are already sore. Don’t be afraid of taking her off and relatching.

[Graffitiqueen]

Nipple shields and hydrogel patches. You poor thing, my toes are curling with the memory of the pain.

[BuddyRun]

I had this. My nipple split almost immediately and wouldn't heal. At about 5 months, I went into hospital and was on morphine so couldn't breastfeed. I had milk donated by a local bank. I didn't breastfeed for about four days and it completely healed up and never split open again. My milk supply came straight back when I started feeding again. I wouldn't worry too much about taking a short break and using donated milk (try not to switch to formula because changing a baby's whole diet without notice can sometimes give them an upset tummy).
For me, no creams or shields helped at all but they do work for other people so many try those too.

[RonObvious]

Another vote for nipple shields. The Avent brand are the only ones that worked for me, although, apparently I have very flat nipples (as was pointed out by every mid-wife who saw me after the birth).

[shesgonebatshitagain]

Depending on the shape of your nipple down shrieks work some don’t
You can get silver nipple shields with healing properties in

Also lansinoh balm is good
Earth angel nipple balm is good too

Have you had your baby checked for anterior or tricky posterior tongue ties as do many tines a shallow or poor latch is caused by this

[shesgonebatshitagain]

Shields not shrieks although I suspect you have as it is so painful

[bgmama]

I am not in the UK so I am not sure if I can get hydrogel pads here. What exaclty do they do? I was using nipple shields because my nipple is flat but the baby finally managed to latch on without them a few days ago and I don't want to go back to them as latching on was very painful and they didn't seem to help with the bleeding.
@BuddyRun, what did you with your milk while not breastfeeding? I have a hand pump but it is plainful and hand expressing is very slow and inefficient for me.
Thank you for all your replies and I am sorry for the negativity but I am at my wits end. I was hoping this will go away in a few days but now I see that people have had it for weeks and months!

[Homemadearmy]

It's worth getting checked for thrush. I had a deep crack on one nipple that just didn't heal. Once I was treated for thrush it healed

[zoobaby]

Lansinoh (brand name of a pure lanolin product).

Lanolin is worth its weight in gold!! Have multiple tubes of it all over the house, within arms reach.

Apply before, during, after feeding and also regularly between feeds.

[OverTheRainbow88]

I’m allergic to lanolin, so that made it much worse for me.

I would spend a day with all the curtains closed and go topless for the day, airing your nipple.
Squeeze a bit of breast milk out of sore nipple and rub it over your crack and allow to air dry.

Has baby been checked for a tongue tie?

I really feel for you, I had this with my first and I still shudder at the thought of the pain. I’m sorry.

[fruitpastille]

I used nipple shields for months as mine were flat/cracked. To be honest I did quite often find blood in the shield after feeding so they didn't entirely solve the problem but they helped. I also used some mesh dressing meant for wet healing for burns called jelonet which i put on my nipple with a breast pad on top. I bought it from the pharmacist quite cheaply. Be careful to still feed/express from the affected side or you may risk mastitis.

I really hope it gets better for you.

[LillyLeaf]

I used lanolin and put cling film over the nipple but also gave the nipple some air too during the night. It's so hard. Mine did heal while continuing feeding but it was very painful. Even now 10 weeks on I still get sore nipples. Breastfeeding is hard!

[GilbertMarkham]

I would pump from that side.

I found multimam nipple gel much better than lansinoh.

I also found Epsom an salt bath healed up sites/cracks.

[GilbertMarkham]

*Sores not cracks

[Duggeeismysaviour]

Silver cups were an absolute godsend. They may or may not be healing (as claimed) but what they do is provide lovely cool protection for the nipple in between feeds (whenever you must get dressed!) No bra rubbing (and sticking to the poor cracked nipples. Eeeeurgh peeling a bra off added insult to excruciating injury)

And the cups allow you to apply Lansinoh and keep it on. With my first born (no cups) it took 3 months for the pain to stop (despite many many interventions), but recently with second baby I used these and it resolved enough within days to become bearable again, then fully within a few weeks.

Recommended to me by amazing midwife and available on Amazon! Ps take care to allow your nipples to air too as covering them with these 100% of the time may cause thrush


Honestly, try them out, they are fab

[Duggeeismysaviour]

Ps I just remembered, the cups collect milk when you have any kind of let down so take care and use breaspads too otherwise it can be a bit messy
Good luck!

[bgmama]

Thank you very much for all the suggestions, I will follow them one by one and I hope that something will work!

[MunsteadWood]

I had this with DC2 and it was agony! I ended up taking a break and feeding only from one side to allow the cracked nipple to heal, but if you do this make sure to express from the other side to protect supply and prevent mastitis. What helped me was lots of lansinoh, jelonet gauze dressings (amazing things), and spending a bit of time topless (with curtains closed!) as a PP suggested to get some air to the damaged skin. Good luck and hope it gets better soon.

[Jenny70]

You shouldn't need to suffer for weeks and months.

You said it started to heal after 24hrs, maybe give it 48hrs, or even 3 days - give it a good rest from baby's sucking. Feeding off one side is fine, think of twins, they essentially get 1 side each. You can rebuild supply on the other side, just make sure it's not getting engorged.

Make sure baby gets good latch happening on other breast, then gently express a little off cracked side while they are feeding. If trying to catch/store it is daunting, express into a towel draped over baby.

Definitely lanolin helps healing and rest. As you found it will split again if baby latches on poorly.

So painful, you poor thing. Nipple shields also help draw out a flat nipple, but I think you said that was painful, so might not be good for your situation.

[User0ne]

I would reduce feeds from that breast for a few days. If 24 hours makes a difference try 1/2 feeds a day. It'll be hard work for the other boob but won't really impact your supply.

I'd also try other feeding positions. Are you using a "traditional" hold? I found that a rugby ball position worked well