How to heal cracked nipples fast

[Rebelwithallthecause]

I’ve been feeding newborn for 2 weeks.
Nipples are shredded. One worse than the other.
It’s slightly oozy and sticks to the breast pad which is making things even more sore

Midwife suggested using nipple sheilds until baby is bigger and/or has check for tongue tie.

I’ve been using them now for the past few ages along with lansinoh but still they are cracked and sore.

What else can I do?

Baby hates the shields and I really don’t want it to be like this for the whole time I’m breast feeding.

Is there any hope that things will settle down ?

I suffered similar with my first baby. Really feel for you, it's so so painful. I remember crying before and during every feed. And baby spitting up pink bloody milk.
Nipple shields were the thing that got me through it and I went on to breastfeed him until he was 15 months old. Once my nipples healed breastfeeding was easy and wonderful.
As an aside, my second baby was completely different and not painful at all.

I’ve heard the mam compresses being recommended on here, but I think the midwife really needs to come back and check for a tongue tie. And ask them to watch you latch the baby on. Go topless if you can to give your nipples some air.

I was going to say lansinoh and nipple shields. They will soon heal and you will then be able to feed without the shields but still then use the cream for little longer.
I was, at one point, feeding my baby sobbing in agony until I used the shields & cream. It will heal soon.
Congratulations on your baby.

I’ve been in tears throughout the feeds before the nipple sheilds we’re here

Anytime DH bought me baby to feed my heart would sink

I’m managing with the shields but didn’t know if I’d totally broke one of my boobs for good

I’ve been using compresses which has helped when I was during the engorgement phase

I’ve been taking pain killers to try and help too.

Il keep on the sheilds and lansinoh and hopefully can get tongue tie officially checked soon.

Only problem is all appointments are by phone now so no idea how that will work

How long have they been broken OP? Have you had the latch checked by anyone? Our local NCT breastfeeding counsellor is doing zoom consultations. I wonder if there's something similar where you are?
My nipples were so shredded I bled through my breast pads, and my bra, and my clothes. So so painful! You have my complete sympathy. But one day about 5bdays after they split it was like the latch just 'clicked' and they took about a day to heal after that. I too thought it might never happen and I'd have carnage on the front of my boobs forever.
It's okay to take paracetamol for the pain and use lansinoh with reckless abandon. Any you have left use it as the best lip balm ever. Get that latch checked ASAP and also try 'dangle feeding' which is exactly what it sounds like.. You sort of dangle your boob into the baby's mouth and it helps to deepen the latch. Dr Jack Newman or La Leche League should have some guidance on this if you're unsure.
Best of luck OP and hope you're more comfortable soon xxx

Definitely get some advice. I had similar with my eldest, and jelonet was a godsend, it helps the cracks to heal from inside out, so less chance of them reopening when you feed. Good luck! It's so painful, but hopefully worth it in the end.

Lansinoh, warm cloth, fresh air and shields if you can.

I went to a bf support group when I had similar (in January so was lucky things were still going) and they said let air get to the nipples as much as possible as well as all the other stuff. I stayed pretty much topless when in the house and used bamboo pads instead of the disposable ones.

I struggled for the first few weeks with bleeding and cracked nipples. What helped most was putting on lanisnoh and covering them with nipple shields in between feeds so they didn't stick to clothes/bra etc and the lansinoh had time to work. I took them off for feeding but applied a lot of lansinoh for each feed. If one was particularly bad I'd just feed from one side and hand express from the other to relieve pressure a bit - sometimes a day or two off for one nipple was enough to give it a fighting chance then I'd swap. Found breastfeeding got much easier when the baby's mouth got bigger!!!

Hi, new mummy here too my daughter is 2 weeks old and I've had excruciating nipples.

So definitely push the tongue tie issue. In hospital I was told it was very minor/mild. But we struggled with latching. I got advice from a lactation consultant/private midwife/tongue tie divider who assessed that her tie was bad (50%) and she happily did the division. It seems to have helped her latch. She showed me (and husband) how to get her to latch. I'd recommend her 100%.

Also get these silver nipple cups they look weird but have really helped me.

I broke down last week sobbing I felt awful I couldn't feed her and had to use formula as the pain was horrific (on top of an infected c section)

X

These are the silver nipple cups

Congratulations on your new baby.
Just a thought, maybe you are allergic to lanolin? It may be worth trying a lanolin-free nipple cream to see if it makes any difference.

Coconut oil and lots and lots of air to said areas

I'm in the same boat OP. It's horrible isnt it

I had the same with my DD a few years ago and so I knew this time with my DS that he has tongue tie, which has been confirmed but due to covid they wont snip it. I've had to go onto a waiting list for when the clinic reopens! It's been hell in the meantime and hes nearly 4 weeks old.

I've tried mam compresses, jelonet, shields and shells but what I've found to help most is not wearing a bra or covering the nipples between feeds, and using a pump and alternating between bf and ebm bottles. I didn't do this first time around as I kept hearing it would be bad/cause nipple confusion for a baby so young to switch between the 2 but DS has been absolutely fine with it. If anything you can tell he prefers the bottle as it's less work for him. With the bottles it's great as well because DH can take him and do it and it gives me a break. I dont think I'd be able to exclusively pump as I'd feel like I was attached to it all day, but giving myself a few hours off has really helped my nipples heal up. When DH gives him a bottle I just go and pump a bottle to keep up supply (and get some time in front of the TV on my own )

Please be vigilant for mastitis if your nipples are cracked, I've had it already this time and it snuck up on me very quickly.

Make sure you get a check for tongue tie asap as that should make a massive difference. I've also found the rugby ball hold best to get the least painful latch.

The advice is always to air dry, but I found that agony. What helped me was leaving breast pads soaked in milk in my bra (very attractive I know) and doing wet wound healing. That along with lanolin and the compresses saved it for me.

For some reason my local pharmacist wouldn’t sell me jelonet when I asked for it this week as they said it’s got paraffin in it and not good for baby.

I have some breathable breast shells which are allowing the nipples to breath when I can’t be totally topless but it says not to wear them for more than 40mins at a time.

Il keep with the lansinoh.

My health visitor has arranged first appointment with me on Tuesday but it’s over the phone

I think il have to look into tongue tie clinics to find one open

The midwife who did the newborn check said she has a minor tongue tie but there’s not enough to cut and said the latch was fine so shouldn’t affect it

On my 5 day check midwife watched me feed and she said the latch was fine but baby seems to latch fine and then makes it shallower as the feed goes on

I’m feeling quite down about it all.

I’m surprised people manage to bond with their baby’s when there is so much pain involved

I don’t know if one of my nipples is infected as it’s a bit gunky on the tip

I had very badly damaged nipples and after going to the BF clinic for advice, the midwife told me to express as much as possible for 48 hours. This seemed to help the nipples heal, as they weren’t been constantly chomped on.
Do you have a pump that you could use and perhaps alternate feeds with? It’s far from perfect, but it got me through and we carried on nursing until my son was 22 months.

Also, I really recommend letting your boobs air and Multi-Mam compresses provide a lot of relief.

Wishing you lots of luck and hope you heal soon. Be kind to yourself xx

@Rebelwithallthecause I was told the same that it was minor and the latch was good. I honestly was sobbing trying to get her to feed. Everyone says it's this amazing and natural thing but it's not always that easy. If you're berkshire or Surrey I can give you the details of who I used.

I felt down and thought I was a bad mum. I'm still not great at the whole breastfeeding thing and don't find it easy (have used formula and bottles of breast milk)

I bet you're doing better than you think. Call the NCT helpline (they were the ones who suggested getting the tongue tie done)

PM me if I can be any help or just listen x

Can I use sudocrem on the one that’s looking gunky?
Or I have witch hazel but it says not to use on broken skin
This is what gets stuck to the breast pad.

I’ve got some bamboo washable ones coming soon.

Even if the tongue tie is 'minor' its obviously bad enough to be causing you extreme pain which is not on. Its worth having a look into private tongue tie clinics and lactation consultants, and don't let anyone fob you off. They can say the latch looks fine but it isnt if this has happened to your nipples.

One other thing I've found really helpful - using a haakaa pump on one side whilst baby feeds from the other side. You just stick it on and leave it whilst feeding (no need to 'pump' it or hold it with your hand) and it collects loads of milk which you can then stick in a bottle and give yourself a bit of a break. There's videos on YouTube on how to use them and they're pretty cheap from amazon. The electric pump I use was from amazon as well (calypso) and was in like new condition for about £80. I never wanted to go down the pumping route but I honestly wouldn't have got this far this time without it. You need to give your nipples as much of a rest as possible otherwise they won't heal.

I get where you are coming from with the pain affecting your bond - its awful isnt it, you start to dread them waking up as you know you're about the get chewed on and be in agony. Please do speak with your midwife again and tell them how you're feeling, I tried to just get on with it with my DD years ago and I really regret not speaking up! I put way too much pressure on myself and it really affected my enjoyment of her as a baby.

Also re your post above, I'd just keep putting lansinoh on it and trying to rest it as much as possible. One of mine was much worse than the other so I tried to feed off that side every other time or just pump it for a few feeds instead.

Extra virgin olive oil sprayed onto breast pads! It’s amazing and so soothing!! X

Silverette nipple cups

Rub breastmilk on them regularly-it heals anything (just squeeze some out and rub on nipple).
But it obviously won’t stop them being damaged.

Use breastmilk. Combined with lanolin mine healed really quickly - within days.