Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Really sore and cracked what can i do to sort it??

23 replies

Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 15:49

Am breastfeeing dd who is 5 months, and for the last 2 weeks i have had really really sore cracked nipples, both sides, i have never had a problem with the latch or anything so i dont know what im doing thats causing it, but i have tried a few different creams and nothing is working - its soooo sore, can anyone help?

OP posts:
Tatties · 22/02/2006 16:10

Sorry if you have tried it already but I found Lansinoh excellent. I got it free on prescription.

SoupDragon · 22/02/2006 16:10

Have you maybe got complacent about latching her on? (I have and DD is only 2 weeks old ) Try going back to basics and ensuring the latch is 100%. And remember that they'll still be sore and hurting until they heal even if you do get it right.

laundrylover · 22/02/2006 16:17

I liked Kamillosan but sure you've tried this already. Friends swear by nipple guards to give you time to heal.

Original poster
Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 16:18

I thought that too soupdragon - maybe i am getting a bit complacent she is my third and i have breastfed them all, and i have NEVER had a problem with sore cracked nipples before so i think maybe i got to the point where im a bit 'hey look at me' nah nah, lol i will stop it now and make sure i check correct positioning and latch right now! its stings like a bugger though every time i feed her - oh my eyes have been running today!

OP posts:
Original poster
Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 16:19

oh yeah nipple guards!! have tried kamilosan - makes it less sore but doesnt help it heal, will try Lansinoh - im sure someone gave me a free sample of that somewhere......

OP posts:
Tatties · 22/02/2006 16:26

You need to put the lansinoh on after every feed, that will give the nipples chance to heal, it really didn't take long when I used it. Then I guess if they are still sore and you have checked the latch you could look into other possible causes?

SoupDragon · 22/02/2006 16:32

DD is my 3rd bfed baby too, Helenemjay. As I fed her after the birth the midwife said "how nice it is to see a 3rd time mother feeding her baby - much better than a first timer..." Needless to say within 3 days I was sore through compacency and a non-gaping baby

I found Kamillosan did help but it can't sort out the reason why you're sore in the first place. If you sort that, then the creams will help your nipples heal I think.

Original poster
Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 16:48

Well i need to sort it soon dd uses breastfeeding as comfort as much as anything else and has started to play at the breast alot lately so i think my supply is dwindling slightly so was just about to devise a plan to encourage better feeds when this happened, uugghh the thought of feeding her makes me shudder at the moment, and she is currently staring at my boobs very lovingly lol

OP posts:
Mum2OneAndOneMore · 22/02/2006 16:51

Lansinoh is fantastic this was recommended to me when i had sore nipples and it worked very fast its wonderful stuff, use it after every feed though

milward · 22/02/2006 16:59

If it's sore but latch is fine check for thrush as this can cause sore nipples when position is no prob. Plus...Look for white spots in your baby's mouth, nappy rash, if you have pain in the breast (s) between feeds. You might have one or more.... or none at all of these - thrush can be difficult to recognise.

It's caused by an over growth of candida - & a anti-fungal cream can sort it out. You & baby need to be treated if this is the case. Your doc can check & prescribe if you need treatment.

Lots of best wishes xxx

Tatties · 22/02/2006 17:04

Helenemjay when I had cracked nipples the Lansinoh healed them in a couple of days but it still hurt like hell all the time (not particularly when feeding) and it turned out I had thrush.

Original poster
Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 17:11

Yes milward!!! she does have white patches in her mouth!!! ooh err will go to gp in the morning i think!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Helenemjay · 22/02/2006 17:13

WOW how thick am i?? i sore those in her mouth about a week ago and wondered if it might be a touch of thrush can't believe i never made the connection im such a plonker

OP posts:
milward · 22/02/2006 22:40

Helenemjay - I had mastitis but didn't believe the signs!!! Felt silly explaining this to doc - that dh kept telling me but I thought I just had flu - ahhh!!!

make sure your doc treats you & baby. Plus wash on hot all clothes, bedding, towels that you & little one have used. Sterlize any bottles & dummies. Keep a check that it doesn't come back. hope all goes well xxx

morocco · 22/02/2006 22:48

ouch!
make sure the doc gets straight on the case, and I'd recommend putting a little bit of the cream on your breasts after each feed, rather than just once or twice a day - you can always just wipe them quickly before bf
hope it gets better really soon

Spidermama · 22/02/2006 23:12

Lansinoh is better than Kamillosan IME and has the added benefit of not needing to be washed off before feeding baby.

Could you have thrush on the nipples? Mine were sore and cracked when I had thrush. It was awful. If so the Breastfeeding Network have great advice on this. You need to treat yourself and the baby. Google them for info.

I hope it gets better for you. I know how awful it is. My problems came with my fourth child and I'd had none before.

Good luck Helenenjay. x

Spidermama · 22/02/2006 23:13

Sorry - just read whole thread. You know about the thrush then. Good luck treating it. Also stay off yeast (bread and wine) and sugary stuff. Wash bras with a touch of vinegar. Keep up treatment even after it appears to be clear.

Ouch!!!!!! I remember it all too well.

All the very best to you.

Socci · 22/02/2006 23:15

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Helenemjay · 23/02/2006 09:27

Mastitis - is it like flu? i have been feeling really rough all week - thought that maybe i had the flu, my whole body aches and i have felt abit sickly too, could it all be related? have booked an appointment with the GP this morning so hopefully it will all get sorted either way! THANKYOU girls!! your help and advice is as always hugely appreciated

OP posts:
suzybow · 23/02/2006 09:52

In my experience, symptoms were very flu like - hot/cold shivers, temperature etc but also had v. painful lump in breast like a big bruise - carried on feeding (through the pain!) but it cleared up pretty quickly.

On the sore nipples front - Laninsoh worked for me but a tip from my mum helped - put the cream on you but also on a breast pad to give some extra comfort (and stop you sticking to your underwear!). - worked a treat

Hausfrau · 23/02/2006 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hausfrau · 23/02/2006 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Helenemjay · 23/02/2006 15:27

Oh god Hausfrau!! your poor poor lady!! my skin was all prickly reading that! ds2 almost did the same to me when he was about 6 months old (he is now 3) except it wasnt my nipple that was the problem he was just trying to eat it - honestly, he had a VERY short phase of everyt time i fed him he opened wide and with great force chomped down on my poor boob! have no idea how long this phase would have lasted as he began enjoying it so much i stopped breastfeeding then and there - and he didnt mind in the slightest he chewed bottle teats instead, might i say he went through 6 teats in one week after that, he would just chomp and chew them until they had gone, i can only presume my poor nipples would have been in a similar condition had i carried on!!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page