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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

I have a painful HOLE in my nipple!!!

26 replies

Gingerbear · 09/02/2008 21:58

It started as a lump, then became red and sore, and now there is a weeping hole in it! I am in agony. Have bathed it in salt water and took paracetamol, but I am v worried - I think it is infected.

DS is almost 9 months and has teeth - not sure if he has grazed my nipple when feeding, he has stopped biting me, but still catches on his teeth sometimes.

Do you reckon I should see a doc for anti-b's? I will have to call emergency doc.

OP posts:
controlfreakyagain · 09/02/2008 22:00

owwwww!
poor you. that sounds awful. would definitely get some medical advice.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/02/2008 22:01

You do need antibiotics yes. When you say it's got a weeping hole it it, is it possible you have an abcess? here is a picture of one - it's grim

I had a breast abcess a few years back and had to be admitted and have IV antibiotics so yes it's worth getting treatment pronto (I ignored mine till I got flu type symptoms - a bad idea)

nailpolish · 09/02/2008 22:02

i think you should call your nhs direct , ginge

you could go to an out of hours dr (they send on your details and you dont have to wait) and get started on some abs (if thats what you need) tonight

MrsEi25 · 09/02/2008 22:02

sounds like you might have had either an abscess (a small one) or just simply an infected sore. where is it on your nipple?? does it feel as if it is deeper than what you can see on the surface?? i would go and see your GP as you almost certainly will need antibiotics. are you able to feed from the other boob and just express off this one until it feels a little better??
sorry i cant be of much help someone will prob be along soon with better advice xx
xx ei xx

TinkerbellesMum · 09/02/2008 22:03

Yes, get to your out of hours Dr or A&E.

Not that I think your nipple is going to fall off or anything, but you do have an infection and it won't go away if you ignore it. You may have had a bad latch that gave you a blister or you could have had a blister inside that's come out (something I don't know much about) or any of a few things, but it definately needs antib's quickly to get better and to get rid of the pain you must be in.

Hope you feel better soon.

PS if he's biting have you been told/shown how to retrain him?

nailpolish · 09/02/2008 22:03

if you elave it til tomoorrow you might start to feel really unwell (pyrexic, shivery, etc)

good luck

TLSM · 09/02/2008 22:05

I really would see a doctor My sister friend had mastietise (sure thats spelt wrong sorry) but it got infected and she has been in hospital for 10 days on a antibiotic drip because she never got it seen to, I dont mean to scare you but please do go see your doctor.

vis · 09/02/2008 22:07

As above- I suggest you get a health professional to see it Tonight since from you r description it may be you need to start antibiotics and that is always better thing started sooner ( duh- i am soo patronising- sorry )

let us know how things went.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/02/2008 22:10

Agree about sooner rather than later, as I say I ignored mine, developed septacaemia (blood poisoning) was on IV antibiotics for five days and had to have a surgical removal or part of the breast tissue because it necrotised (died).

Original poster
Gingerbear · 09/02/2008 22:10

Shit.
I have had flu like symptoms since last Thursday, put it down to catching cold from DD.
I think it is an abcess, albeit a tiny one, right on my nipple. I have a pain that feels deeper than just the nip.

Right, am off to call NHS direct. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 09/02/2008 22:11

oh ginge

let us know how you get on

weeonion · 09/02/2008 22:13

ginge - pretty much reiterate what others have said. better to get some medical advice and take it from there. do not leave it and "wait and see".

whomovedmychocolate · 09/02/2008 22:13

Oh dear. If you have the following:

(1) Pus/ooze coming out
(2) Tracking from the centre of the sore bit - ie red veins showing up eradiating from it
(3) Swelling
(4) Heat in the area of the hole

You NEED to be seen pronto.

I know it's horrible. But you can get better from this really quickly with good treatment.

nailpolish · 09/02/2008 22:16

whomovedmychocolate - - hope you are ok now

whomovedmychocolate · 09/02/2008 22:18

Oh gosh yes Nailpolish. This was totally unrelated to breastfeeding too - it just happened! Twice actually but the second time was the one where I had to have surgery. I've since breastfed my daughter (well still am feeding her at 15 months old - with no problems).

However if I'd have continued to ignore the problem I would have been in deep doo-doo because sepsis and shock follow very quickly.

nailpolish · 09/02/2008 22:21

oh thats good to hear
yoru pics are lovely btw, whomovedmychocolate

vInTaGeVioLeT · 09/02/2008 22:29

gingerbear - to me it sounds like a blocked milk duct which can really really hurt and lead to mastitus - if you feel fluey you definately need to at least speak to a dr - you could try unblocking it by hand expressing in a steamy hot shower - i had this a few times
you have my sympathy [ouch]

vInTaGeVioLeT · 09/02/2008 22:32

also carry on feeding as normal

maisy2 · 09/02/2008 22:50

carry on feeding as normal, if it is very painful try a nipple shield, avent ones are very soft, and probably the easiest i have used. Your DD may not take to a shield though as she is 10 months.

if you dont want to feed her on this side, make sure you express at least as regulary from this side as you would feed, otherwise any mastitis problems will become worse

do you have vaginal thrush? could also be a thrush infection.... any white spots on nipple or inside babes mouth?

I had thrush on my nipples whilst BF my daughter (9 months old at the time) and my nipples would not heal, it was agony, but the right treatment cleared it eventually (it took 2 months to get the right treatment as one GP refused to believe it was thrush), she said i was BF too much! I am glad to say I found a GP that knew what she was doing as prescribed the correct treatment! I am still BF her now (she is 2 and a half)

Original poster
Gingerbear · 09/02/2008 23:49

I have spoken to emergency docs and now have antibiotics - had a drive into town in my PJ's to chemist, lol.
I don't think it is thrush - no signs on DS, and it is weeping which makes me think bacterial infection rather than thrush.

OP posts:
maisy2 · 09/02/2008 23:55

good luck to you, i hope it gets better soon

lol

nailpolish · 10/02/2008 00:05

oh good ginger
hope you feel better soon now you have the abs

vInTaGeVioLeT · 10/02/2008 00:05

hope you feel better really soon

whomovedmychocolate · 10/02/2008 09:26

Gingerbear - once you start the antibiotics - within 72 hours it should start to heal. If you do experience red marks tracking outwards from it though and they get significant - ie heading more than an inch or so, you need to actually SEE a doctor because you are close to major organs there and you could do without that bit of you going mouldy!

Don't worry though, you've done the right thing. BTW you will probably find that as it heals, your skin will flake a lot and may well seem quite odd for months, this is completely normal. Or you may find you get a hard pink lump. Again this is a normal part of the healing process and is nothing to worry about unless it starts to swell again.

Original poster
Gingerbear · 13/02/2008 14:36

update - it is much better, the AB's have done the trick - I have to take them until Saturday. The hole has healed up and the swelling has gone down. WMMC, crikey, yours must have been horrendous! I am lucky in that it was quite small sore - just shiny pink skin now where the hole was, not spread.
It had me worried for a while though.

OP posts:
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