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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

advice / ideas and good cream for nipple cracks??????

33 replies

weeonion · 14/07/2007 19:56

evening folks. 12 weeks into bf and yet another wee hurdle. i seem to have developed 2 whopping cracks across my left nipple. i know tis is down to poor position for latching - not sure how it got to this stge tho@. i am using lasinoh (thick layers0 but still agony to feed. any ideas on how to get throught the next couple of days til it heals??

OP posts:

octo · 14/07/2007 19:57

big hugs wo No idea - but think I am getting thrush back - thought we were over all the bf problems.

babyblue2 · 14/07/2007 19:58

Was told no cream when I had cracked nips, I had lukewarm baths every day and lots of fresh air to them. This helped greatly.

notnigella · 14/07/2007 19:58

have you thought about using shields, just temporarily?

stressteddy · 14/07/2007 20:03

I thought shields were amazing. Whoever invented them should have had a Nobel peace prize IMO. Try them, they don't work for everyone but they sure did for me
12 weeks - well done you

Original poster

weeonion · 14/07/2007 20:03

notnigela - i have the shields in eth steriliser as i type. i did try them earlier but LO really rejected them. hoping ehen she is sleepy at next feed - we might have better luck.
BB2 - good idea re fresh air. a topless night for me then
octo - hey to you! i know - i thought by this stage it woudl all be plain sailing! lucewheel and i still have thrush as well. are you on meds??

OP posts:

ProfYaffle · 14/07/2007 20:05

Try putting a breast shell (the kind you collect milk in) over the cracked nipple for half an hour after putting Lansinoh on. It keeps the skin moist and promotes speedy healing.

octo · 14/07/2007 20:09

I have some canestan lurking in my changing bag - but will need to get some drops for ernie on monday. Not as painful as last time but know the signs this time and plan to catch it before I feel the need to go to A&E and have boobs anaesthetised!

notnigella · 14/07/2007 20:24

a bit off the original topic, but on the subject of thrush, don't hang around - go straight for fluconazole. my gp wasnt even aware of it, but lots of great info on kellymom etc. both ds and i had iv a-b during and after labour, which was almost bound to give us thrush, but didnt realise it for first month - just thought everyone was such a damn liar when they said that bf didnt hurt - really, really hurt ;-). but persevered and exclusively bf for 12 months, so keep going.

babyblue2 · 14/07/2007 20:28

Actually, i've just remembered you're also to rub your own breast milk into your wounds. That is meant to help the healing process. I tried loads when I B/F. I remember being so sore that I cried before and during most feeds during the first 3 months.

determination · 14/07/2007 21:21

Or you could go for the Quick Natural approach that worked wonders for me and a few other mums on here Silver Healing

I was completely healed within 2 days and if i ever felt i was getting sore, just popped them in for a few hours and magic..

wulfricsmummy · 14/07/2007 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

fishie · 14/07/2007 21:31

ow weeonion, here is some info. do try not to let it get a dry scab, it was that breaking which caused the worst pain for me. change position, turn baby other way round and slide round or rubgy ball, it will put different pressure on and help healing.

have you got someone to see / ask about latch in general?

fishie · 14/07/2007 21:35

sorry that doesn't make any sense. i mean start feeding on rhs, keep the baby lying on its lhs and slide round to your left breast, like rugby hold but not on back. not sure that makes much sense either! anyway, if latch bad of course you must change position for the better.

GrimoireThief · 14/07/2007 22:44

The silver breast pads - amazing. Also the silverette cups come highly recommended. Seriously, it does speed up healing.

I also had some comfort from hydrogel breast pads but if I'd known about silver pads (I think the brand name is Silverlon) I'd have tried them first.

GrimoireThief · 14/07/2007 22:44

Determination beat me to it

moulimoo · 14/07/2007 23:01

def lansinoh, excellent stuff - i used it for all my 3 dc and also lots of my friends would agree

foxybrown · 14/07/2007 23:03

I'm using aloe vera gel and avent breast cups (with the holes in the top to let air in). Seems to be working so far!

Original poster

weeonion · 14/07/2007 23:22

ok - for tonight i have a thick layer of lasinoh with my own milk underneath, and the nipple shields ready. i have expressed milk off with the pump for her next one to "rest" this boob. i like the sound of the silver cups but reckon bf and me are nearing to parting ways. i know alot of it is down to the latch and position which we just cannot seem to crack. have been to bf specialist and she reckons its because of the angle of my dangle and having v big boobs?

ta for the advice tho'

OP posts:

GrimoireThief · 14/07/2007 23:39

Would it help (prbably not) to know that I went through a lot of the stuff you have and had similar sounding latch problems (big boobs, flat nipples, dreadful cracks) and it did go on for a long time but relatively suddenly at about 16 weeks it just got better and has been great ever since?

I don't think I ever really got the latch sorted. I'm a pretty ungainly breastfeeder - never was able to do any of that fancy holding-the-baby-while-answering-the-door-stuff but it all seemed to click and the thing that sorted it in the end I think was ds just getting bigger. His mouth was bigger so he automatically was able to get more nipple in there and he also got adept at getting himself into position.

As I said, probably doesn't help. 16 weeks seemed a lifetime at 12 weeks but I know that 12 weeks was a bit of a barrier for me as that was the point my mum had told me it got better for her (same anatomy - thanks for those genes mum ) and it just didn't for me.

Just wanted to say though incase you thought that this was definitely how it was always going to be if you were to continue.

Original poster

weeonion · 15/07/2007 09:27

GT that does help actually. thank you for sharing that with me I know that alot of my difficulties are down to the size / shape of my boobs which doesnt make it any easier to deal with / accept but the idea that it might get better - is a godsend to be honest. every day - i think this may be the last one i BF but if we get through it then it is another one she has been fed by me.

OP posts:

Katy44 · 15/07/2007 09:33

oh weeonion [wince]
Did they heal at all overnight?

Original poster

weeonion · 15/07/2007 10:38

hi katy - good morning to you. nope - they are still bloody sore. one seems to have got a bit bigger - yeuchhhhhhhh. i hace covered myself in lasinoh to see if that will ease it today!

OP posts:

Katy44 · 15/07/2007 10:41

oh no
Hope the lanisoh helps

amidaiwish · 15/07/2007 10:48

weeonion i got a crack on my left nipple when bf DD1 - it was excruciating so you have my sympathy. also give yourself a big pat on the back that you are carrying on through it.
i got through it by feeding less on that side, (prob not the best advice but it did help me and didn't bugger up my supply, by 12wks it should be well established) and when i did feed on that side i fed lying down so the latch was varied and she pulled on the nipple less where it was sore.

hope that makes sense.
take care.

BirthdayBabe · 15/07/2007 14:44

another vote for lansinoh, it worked wonders for me, all the other ones were useless

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