Nipple blisters

[zippy34]

I posted this on another thread but I don't think anyone saw it .

After feeling like things were turning the corner I have now found out I have staph & strep infections in my right nipple (and possibly also my left). Have antibiotics for this but the bits-on-the-nipple-where-the-milk-comes-out (to use the technical term... are all blocked. I looked this up on the Kellymom site and they seem to be called nipple blisters?

My right breast is twice the size of the left and even though I have borrowed an electric pump from the hospital I can only express a very small amount from it to relieve the pressure (all coming from one unblocked pore).

The left was also blocked but using the pump seems to have resolved itself so ds is feeding from that.

I'm scared that this is mucking around with my supply as the left side feels much softer even before a feed. A couple of times I've got dh to feed him at night with the expressed milk to give me a break and let the left side replenish itself forgetting about the golden supply and demand rule...

Sorry, rambling now but I would welcome any stories of similar situations that turned out well - will the antibiotics resolve the nipple blisters?

Ds is well, plently of wet nappies so I know I should be happy with that but he's only 11 days old and it seems to be one thing after another .

I'm going back to the breastfeeding clinic at the hospital tomorrow so will get some advice then - at least noone's suggested giving up yet as I think that would just make me crumble.

zippy, no need to even think of giving up

You have a very, very bad case.....I wonder if hand expressing might be easier for you, and speed up healing (I would be worried that the pump is stretching the skin in a way that does not help).

The infection is being treated which is good. I would think this is down to good ol' positioning issues: your baby has damaged the skin because of not getting 'on' properly.

Is your baby pooing plenty? has he been weighed since birth? What has the midwife said?

It's a good idea to go to the bf clinic. Good luck there.

Ouch, poor you. No advice but am bumping for you.

Hi Zippy

I am no expert but I would guess that even if your supply dwindled on the left side, once your nipples have healed you will be able to build it up again with frequent feeding/expressing. Plus I know someone who only feeds from one breast and her son is still thriving at 9 months, so it would not be the end of the world even if you never fed from that side again. I'm sure it won't come to that though.

Wishing you a speedy recovery..

Nine

Dr Jack Newman recommended breast shells for sore nipples. I'm not sure if they'll help in your situation but I can really recommend for speeding up recovery.

Thank you.

He has a dirty nappy after most feeds and he was weighed on Sunday at 8lbs (7lbs 12oz at birth). I was managing to feed from both sides again (after resting the right nipple) up until Saturday though so if he wasn't getting enough the weight loss wouldn't have shown up then.

All our problems definitely originate with the initial latching problems which were exacerbated by my flat nipples and engorgement. By the time I got expert help (which was a god send) a lot of damage had been done which presumably led to the infection.

The latch still isn't perfect but it's a lot better than it was and I'm still getting help with it. If my nipples would heal I'm sure we would be fine .

I think you're right about the hand expressing. I'm really worried that it's so blocked. The aereola (sp??) is very red and swollen, almost rigid and I don't think the pressure from the pump is helping. I've been doing some hand expressing additionally but continued using the pump as I hoped it might help clear the blockages.

Will ask about the nipple shells tomorrow. There seems to be a difference of opinion about the benefits of wet or dry healing? Jack Newman's site also suggested popping nipple blisters with a sterilized needle but I think given the infection I'll not do that!

Noooooooo....no popping. That's only for nipples which are blocked at the exit points with clogged up milk, absolutely not for the infected blisters you have.

Eeeek.

don't give up, i did and still regret it. get all the help you can and persevere good luck and don't burst rthe blisters it makes them worse and sore, i know from experience

I remember when I had nipple blisters - very painful, I had blister on top of blister on top of blister! My midwife told me to use my breastmilk and dab in gently on my nipples to help sooth and fight infection!

I had ghastly blisters on my nipples with dd, and used nipple shields (the soft silicone sort) for a few days to give the skin a chance to recover. Of course, correcti g the latch is the key, but the shields tided me over until I was able to addres that issue. Didn't have any problems with supply or with feeding as a result, but only used them constantly for a few days and then reduced the amount I used them over the following couple of weeks, even taking them off partway through the feed.

You poor thing. I had blisters, soreness etc. and can totally understand how wretched it can make you feel. Feeding can be toe curling at times even with good latch on if you are sore already. I found it hard to work out if I had a good latch as it hurt regardless after a while. Good on you for staying as positive as possible.
I would recommend the nipple shields as they can keep you going and limit the pain for a while. Not for everyone but worth a shot perhaps. I also found hand pump much easier and successful than the machine. However, I think it was psychological as I felt like a cow in a high tech milking shed when wired up to the machine but more human and in control when I hand pumped...
Hope you are feeling a lot better and blisterless soon xxx

Wet healing is brillieant, btw. Forgot that I'd used that. Get Jelonet at the pharmacy (you may have to aks for it, but don't need prescription) and put it on your nipples witha breatspad over between feeds.

Thanks for all the advice . It all really helps.

I've been on the antibiotics (erythromycin) for just over 24 hours and have actually seen an improvement in my right breast already!!! I was able to express this morning for the first time since I posted and got 4 oz which gave me loads of relief from the swelling. The nipple looks a bit better but I've now been prescribed antibiotic ointment (bactrim?) as well to try to move things along a bit.

The left breast is actually now in pretty good shape comparatively and apart from the odd mishap we're managing well with feeding from it. Now that I've got the extra expressed milk to top up with I feel a lot less desperate as my biggest concern was that I might somehow run out of milk in the middle of the night...

Back to the breast feeding clinic on Friday... the woman there is so positive, she always makes me leave feeling like a hero!

Pc, I have jellonet as my midwife brought me some - I think it does help

I've also bought some nipple shields but not used them yet. It kind of helps to know that they're there if I need them. It's good to hear from people who have gone down that route and not had problems so thanks for your stories.