extremely deep crack (more like a slice) using nipple sheilds (but still bleeding loads) HELLLLLP!!!!

[emonslemons]

i have been BF my newborn dd for 8 days.....i had a deep crack from first dd (five years earlier) which never really healed well and so opened on first feed of new dd!
at first there was no pain but now i have had to resort to nipple sheilds to stop my nipple literally falling off in peices!.....ive seen bfc and every mw all have said latch perfect (which i beleive as other nipple is fine....if a little sore).....but today was the worst experience.
i latch dd on and she latched off only for me to see blod pouring off the nipple sheild!.....Panic!!!
i really need some help, i want to cntinue feeding, but the nipple sheilds cant stop the problem as the crack is very deep and at the very top layer of the nipple on the side so the suction of either the baby sucking or a breast pump is too strong and just causes it to reopen.

i dnt know what to do and im soo desperate, i want to feed i need some advice as she will wake wanting to drink something!

:( :( Ow ow ow ow.....

You need to see someone about this lemons - today. Call the midwife. In some circumstances you might need a stitch. You can continue feeding on the non-split side and hand express on the split side (pump will prob open the wound, as you say; midwife can show you how to hand express). Your dd will be fine with milk from one breast only.

This is an emergency. You are entitled to in-person midwifery help urgently.

I had this although not as bad as yours sounds. I was told to express breast milk and let it dry. To do it a lot. I did and I got so much better. I nearly gave up bf so glad I didn't I still wince at the bleeding and pain. Good luck x

You poor thing, has baby been checked for tongue tie?. I had very similar, it looked like my nipples had been slashed with a knife (a vertical stripe down each nipple, one much worse than the other). DD had posterier tongue tie. The only thing that helped me was (after TT snipped) not feeding from that side for about 3 days to allow nipple to heal, and 'airing them'! (not great in this weather). I expressed (very gentle and slowly with electric pump with shield) and fed with a cup (though sometimes could feed from one side).

Really hope you get some help soon, I feel your pain!

this sounds hideous, poor poor you. it needs to heal for sure. seek emergency help, feed from the other side and get help with positioning as some people find that this kind of thing is caused by incorrect positioning. successful breastfeeding should never hurt or cause damage so this needs investigating. Your baby's nutrition is the most important thing right now so dont be afraid to ask for help. dont keep feeding from that nipple in that state...please! perhaps its not positioning from this time but the damage was caused previously, if it was then this sounds serious and may need more attention.

oh, and just feedingfrom one side is fine, baby's often prefer a 'side' anyway so for a short time just feed from the one side and apply liberal amounts of vaseline to cracked nipple. it needs to wet heal, if it dries out it will crack more. vaseline does the same job as expensive lanisoh.

thanks for responses everyone, surelynotme baby has been checked for tongue tie, and latch by two bfc, my other breast now has a blocked duct and mastitis.....i currently feel like shit a terrible mess, all the same issues i had with dd1 have now resurfaced with dd2......i feel quite low at the moment.....im now able to breast feed from sliced nipple, ironically covering with liberal amounts of lansinoh and keeping covered not aired is helping, however it did bleed again today.....im gonna wait till next week then contact bfc again!!!....theres got to be a reason for my issues.....not just bad luck?!

thtas good keeping it covered - dont 'air' your nipple. nipples are different to other wounds, they need to wet heal rather than dry heal. hope youre feeling a bit better now and had a happy christmas.

thanks woahthere developed mastitis in the other breast over xmas, gt antibiotics now....feeling better