BF for over a year, now sore and bleeding, any ideas?

[fififrog]

DD is 12.5 months and although I had v sore cracked nipples for a few weeks at the start have had no other problems.

The last 4 weeks, however, one I my nipples has become very sore and the tip is white and a bit bumpy. It was even bleeding the other evening. I have been slapping on lanolin for about a week but no obvious benefit.

I am undecided about whether to stop BF - my reasons go doing it are convenience rather than ideology (DD is an early riser) but I would def miss it if I stopped. However I'm fed up being sore and it doesn't seem to be gettin better. Could this be anything other than a "latch gone wrong" which is taking a long time to heal?

hmm odd.... is she teething? that sometimes makes their latch go to pot.

do you have a local breastfeeding group you could go to?

Could be thrush, certainly if you have been on any antibiotics or anything recently, or could just be from the area being a bit moist and milky but I'd see your GP for treatment - if it is thrush both you and DD will need to be treated.

sounds like thrush - get it sorted asap I had it for a while and was very sore.

i don't think it sounds that much like thrush tbh

you'd normally expect shiny red sore nipples, stabbing pains between feeds etc etc
and if it's been going on for 4 weeks then it's highly likely that the child would also have it

Are you feeding while half asleep/full asleep ? You mention your DD being an early riser so I wonder if you are bfing in bed with her latching on as she pleases while you doze (possibly experimenting with different ways of bfing in a toddler style - 'I wonder what happens if I do.....') and this has lead to some nipple trauma as you say your nipple has gone white and has bled which sounds like a poor latch causing compression.

It might be worth paying attention to how she latches over the next few feeds (even if it's with one eye open so you can 'catch' her at it) to see if you can spot an obvious cause.

In the meantime, lots of lanolin, not air drying (don't want scabs to form!), and being gentle on your nipples - perhaps slathering on the lanolin then using a breast pad to cushion your nipple from the inside of your bra rubbing/sticking to the wound - may well help heal up the damage.

Thanks all, I don't think it's thrush. Certainly not red. It is a bit sore between feeds but I think just because it is generally sore. It is highly likely we had a bad latch one morning as I do have to feed her lying down now (though we are both properly awake and she doesn't come on and off at all).

I guess what's bugging me is that if I stopped BF it would probably clear up quickly. I will stick with the lanolin for now and go to BF group next Monday maybe someone can take a look and tell me for sure f they think it's thrush (I know for a fact the GP I usually end up seeing doesn't believe in it!)