Sliced nipple, how to feed?

[hairRaising]

DD is 9 months and first teeth have come through, on bottom. She hasn't bitten me, but has scraped me repeatedly & is really pulling my nipple out & hanging on the end of it, especially at the end of a feed. It's been really sore the past few days, then today I tried to pump milk & horrified to see the milk was dark pink and there was blood running down the pump funnel 😥 It seems she has sliced my nipple just at the point where the 'teat' joins the areola, so every suck makes the cut gape and squirt blood. Uurggh! Tried to get her latched deeply tonight to feed but it was too painful. Then tried a nipple shield and she full on bit it three times and refused to suck.

What to do??!

I'd maybe feed just from the other side and express from the cut side until it's healed up a bit more.

Ouch.

I'd rest thst nipple. You're going to have to express some from it to keep up supply and stop you being engorged, but it needs a couple of days off.

You could try kamilosan (however it's spelt) or some Vaseline to help it heal if you feel the need to put something on it, but I'm a firm believer in letting the air get to it and keeping it clean.

Do you want to continue breast feeding?

It helps to dab on breastmilk to the cut, and slather on lanisoh. I tried to keep my little vampire on the other breast for the most part to let it heal as much as possible.

Thanks for the replies.

Agree it's best to give that side a rest, but if pumping makes it bleed too is that just re-opening the wound?

Thanks

@TwoGinScentedTears Yes I really want to keep feeding, establishing bf was a big challenge and she could only feed with shields for first six months (ironic that she is refusing anything to do with the shield now!). Stopping now at nine months would be too soon for me. I love the closeness with her. But am pretty nervous of more pain 😖

OP I have felt your pain! DS managed to do similar to me before he even had teeth - no idea how he managed it! I did what PPs have said - lots of lansinoh and 2 days of just pumping that side sorted it out. Hope you're over it quickly too.

You'll have to express a bit otherwise you'll add engorgement and the risk of mastitis into the mix. I'd just try and express the minimum you can bear, at roughly your usual feeding intervals. Then increase it when your healed up a bit.

Thanks! This morning I expressed that side on the lowest setting, no bleeding:)) Will keep baby away from that side for a couple of days and express to avoid mastitis