What is wrong with my nipple?!

[ohwhatever]

So, DS is 2wo just about and feeding well, putting on weight... BUT, I'm having a whole load of problems w my right boob. Initially both were painful for first minute or so of feed, but I had this for a few weeks with DD and it didn't bother me.

Left has now got better and is painless but right is getting worse - for a few days DS was taking ages to latch on that side and when he did was v painful. I had a little crack on the side of the nipple that I assumed was responsible. I read a load of posts on here, tried all sorts of different positions and finally managed to get a bit more comfortable in a weird version of rugby ball hold.

However, today I've started to have constant pain in nipple. The crack had turned into a kind of small open wound in the last day or so - a bit sticky looking but only a few mm across - I thought it would heal up if I fed in a different position that didn't disturb it for a bit. Am now dreading next feed. Have no expressing equipment and have tried to manual express but with little luck. Have HV visit today but on past form not holding my breath for much wisdom there.

Does anyone know what could be wrong/ what I should do?!

Ask your hv if they can lend you a breast pump - they sometimes have a few in stock. I'm rubbish at hand expressing and find electric pumps much easier.

I think you probably just need to give that nipple a rest to let the crack heal. If it's sticky, it could be infected so a trip to your gp might be an idea. As ds is only 2 weeks old, are you still under the care of the community midwives? They will have better advice than the hv. Also try la leche league helpline.

Good luck!

Have you got Lansinoh? It is the bees' knees when it comes to sore nipples. I had terrible cracked nipples with DD1, and this saved us. It is expensive, but a tube lasts forever.

Thanks for replies - will def ask hv for pump; hadn't realised they might have some to loan out so that's really useful idea. And I was sure I had some lansinoh unused from last time but couldnt find it so might look some out later today as I have to go to pharmacy anyway.
Actually feeding now and not too painful once he has got going...

You could also try and get some 'jelonet' dressing from the pharmacy. It will cover the crack and you can use it with the lansinoh.

Hi, would you say that your nipples are sore when exposed to the air/shower, are they red? Very often if you have a crack in the nipple (i did for the first 11 weeks) thrush is present too. your m/w or h/v may be able to go over a checklist with you to see if you have thrush. this can cause you to have pain at the onset of a feed and can be only one side and very often no sign of thrush in babies mouth either.
Someone has posted to give the nipple a rest but I wouldnt say this is a good idea for your supply so early on. You can carry on feeding baby fine (i was bleeding into my dd mouth for a week!) mw dont like recommending nipple shields but what i did was put one on for the initial latch to get the flow going to reduce the pain then take it off and it was a bit more comfortable. keep washing your boobs after every feed in a white vinegar solution or a solution of grapefruit seed extract, air dry boobs and change breast pads very regularly.
lansinoh is great stuff and you can get special plastic dome type things to put over the nipple to stop tem rubbing on your bra and catch excess milk. they are quite good.
pure vitamin e oil is brilliant for cracked nipples too. i swear by this. you can also rub your own milk on the nipple to heal it and air dry.
if you think the nipple is infected apple cider vinegar might be a good homeopathic way but best to ask gp about clearing infection.
congratulations btw ;-)

I thougth about Thrush too...

hi knitter, yeah, i never realised how common a problem thrush is.. i wonder if our diets (society) have got more sugary and there is more yeast about or soemthing. i have always been quite thrushy person "downstairs" but until dd came along didnt know you could get it on your boobs!! reading mumsnet has made me realise its actually quite a big problem with bfing mums. its horrible too !

Most people would say that thrush is usually in both breasts though because it is so contagious that it gets passed between the two. Pain after a feed is another sign too. If it is thrush, I'd been cautious about using lansinoh as this can be the perfect ground for thrush to thrive in.

hey crikey, I said exactly the same to my h/v when she suggested i had thrush coz i only had pain in one nipple but i did have thrush. totally agree about lansinoh -what you said. ;-)

My thrush was only on one side too - still amusingly referred to by DH as my mouldy right tit - oh how I laughed.

The Grapefruit Seed Extract that GEM mentioned is sold as Biocidin Forte - tablets and drops... Highly recommended by me!

ha ha mouldy right tit!! I got my mouldy tits back last week - been GSE'ing like mad again and gone in 3 days but have to cut out the sugar in my diet which is sooooo hard i love my cake!!