OWWWWW. There's a hole in my nipple, dear mumsnet, dear mumsnet..........

[tortoiseshell]

Have been finding b/feeding on one side very painful for a few days - on NYE I looked, and there was a BIG hole - weepy, not bleeding, but definitely oozing (sorry if tmi). NYE was agony, as I'd been not feeding so much on that side, as it HURTS, and got a bit engorged, so have fed through that, taken nurofen, bathed it in hot water, changed angle of feeding.

How can I help it heal? I'm going to get some Lansinoh today, and have rubbed milk into it. It's SO sore!

Any positive stories of this sort of thing that resolved? Morningpaper, you had a similar thing didn't you? How did that turn out? Ds2 is 8 months, not ready to stop feeding yet, and in any case, couldn't stop straight off because of engorgement.

OH HELLO!

I ended up with an infected nipple and then mastitis.

Then I got into that big furore with SWMNBN in the same week

It was TRAUMATIC!

ANYWAY I ended up with lots of antibiotics. To be honest I would go to GP and get some antibiotic cream for starters. Express a bit of milk and rub it in as often as you can as well. The main issue is to try and keep feeding so that you don't get mastitis but it is a real bugger - ooooh the PAIN was just excruciating. Just toe-curlingly bad. I really thought I would have to wean her because of the pain.

She bit a few more times and I shouted and put her down each time. Once I shouted so badly that she was traumatised and went on a strike for a day. SO stressful. She doesn't do it now though (is 14 months!) but she is a cheeky monkey and loves pushing boundaries. Grr.

Ooh just checked again and you have been improving

I would stick to the lasinoh and breastmilk routine if it seems to be working!

THanks MP - much appreciated! I don't think it's infected, but NYE was agony - couldn't walk - think was because I was avoiding feeding on that side. I'm encouraged you got through it - toe curling is the word isn't it! DId yours heal up ok in time, even with feeding? Thanks for the response, and wads as well - that's really interesting!

Nightmare about it being THAT WEEK as well mp - not what you needed I imagine!

Yes it healed up in time. It gradually got less and less painful to feed on that side as it healed up. It really WAS awful, I remember latching her on and having to breathe deeply through the first few minutes - and it took me AGES to have a let-down because of the stress from the pain!!!

It didn't take long - it got better each day. How are things now?

I had the same problem, but from the top teeth. It was agony, but I carried on. I used camillosan (sp?) which helped and smelled really lovely too. It took maybe a week to stop weeping then another to heal. DS was 7 months when it happened, and I am still BF now 7 months later.

If your LO is in a pattern for feeding, take some paracetamol about 30 mins before due for a feed so it has time to kick in

Well, I think it is getting a bit better - the start of a feed up to let down is still awful, but once he's going it's bearable - it's amazing when he's on the other side - I'd never appreciated how pain free it is usually!!! I'm being ultra rigorous in putting on the lansinoh. I think it's just very deep and healing from the inside out. I think you're right in that it's gradually becoming less painful - round about New Year the whole feed was excruciating!

sockmonkey - really interesting about the time taken to heal - that's encouraging!

Little ratbag of a baby - if he wasn't so gorgeous I'd seriously consider drowning him!

tortoise - rest assured that when you have been at it for years you develop norks of steel

I must have the toughest nipples in town now they are so used to been sucked and bitten, nothing feels painful any more

I used to think people with metal rings through their nipples were tough, now I think they are just wimps compared to me !

No I DEFINITELY have norks of steel but being bitten was the worst pain EVER

I can actually suck milk sfrom my own breasts and tie my nipples in a simple knot, they are THAT flexible

Neither of those things are lies

Only a 'simple' knot, MP?

You know the Stronget Man in the World competition ?

Could MN run a Strongest Nipples in the World competition ?

I don't think mine have developed steel qualities yet - despite ds2 being my 3rd, and b/feeding the other 2 for over a year each.....

Neither of them had these vampire tendencies!!!

MP - can't get the idea of 'right over left and under, left over right and under and pull' out of my head now!!!