healing cracked nipples

[Stefka]

Please give me every tip you have! I am using Lanisoh (don't know how to spell it!) and today the midwife suggested I try the other one - Kami something so I am giving that a go now. I have my boobs out all the time so they are exposed to the air. Anything else I can do?

I had a complete mare with one nipple when feeding DS. In the end i expressed for 2 days one that side to give it a break, used nipple sheilds for another couple of days, changed feeding position on that side to rugby ball technique and put lanisoh on prior to feeding (a tip a friend gave me and will always be grateful for). It prob took a good week to settle down.
(Im presuming that MW has checked technique/latch on position etc)

Yeah she said it was ok and just needed to ride it out but they are both cracked and it is pretty grim.

Right, Jelonet is the stuff, it is a sticky gauze that you need to cut up and put on your nipples after every feed. This stops them from scabbing over and then cracking deeper with each feed. I had this and they only started to heal after I used Jelonet consistently. Your midwife might be able to give you some, otherwise you can get it at any chemist.

Hope you feel better soon.

Expressing milk onto nipple can help. Lansinoh is quite good, Kamilosan is the other one, I didn't get on with that so well.

Be wary of midwives who say your latch is okay. I had three tell me mine was, but was it buggery!

You could try letting your baby self-attach; put baby on your chest and let him/her find his/her way to your breast him/herself. S/he knows the best latch!

Breast crawl It doesn't need to be done with a freshly born baby, the reflexes that cause the baby to find the breast last for weeks apparently.

Yes, putting Lansinoh on BEFORE a feed can help greatly too.

Oh and I've heard loads of people on here swear by something called Silverette.

Also, about six midwives told me my latch was fine but it wasn't. When I got some help from a bf counsellor (who was the one who advised Jelonet too) she changed the way I was doing it and I had a pain free feed for the first time. Can you ask her to refer you to someone, or contact NCT/LLL?

OOH stefka. empathy empathy empathy. My nipples were so bad, they got blood blisters. My toes felt like they were curling up to my hips whenever he latched on...to one in particular. Lansinoh was my saviour. It took about 10 days to heal and that breast never seemed to produce as well as the other. And if you find you have some left over when you finish breastfeeding in the future, it's a great lip balm too!!!Always a positive outcome.

Hi Stefka I was exactly the same with dd, it does get better I promise...Here's the link to silverette, www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2

I've not got first hand experience of these but lots of good feedback from different people who've used them so I bought some as I'm expecting in 6 weeks and don't relish going through the pain barrier again! Yes they're pricey but when you think of the price of all the different creams I think they're worth it (you don't need to use the creams with these)

I used Lansinoh but it did take a while to work. You have my sympathy

Use loads of lansinoh & breast pads to stop it staining your clothes.

I ordered the silver things - I hope they come quickly. I am using oodles of both Lansinoh and the Kamilson.

I used lashings of Lansinoh which I got free on precription as my doctor was very pro breast feeding and I was going through 2 tubes a week. I also used nipple shield for 2 weeks. The boots ones not avent as they were too thick. Didn't affect my flow and DD still gained weight normally. However HV do not really like them but they worked for me and I fed until 6 months (bleeding cracked nipples at 3 weeks). My DD was latched on correctly but hungry and just sucked for England!!