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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Help! - Really sore cracked nipple - can I just feed off one side?

31 replies

Pollyanna · 13/01/2005 15:40

I have got a really bad crack in one of my nipples - the other side is ok-ish. I am worried that the crack will not heal if i carry on feeding with it (although the midwife says I have now got latching on right). Can I just feed off the "good" side to let the other side heal? If so, how long would it take for the crack to heal?

Advice is really welcome as this is agony!

Also, there is a red line on my breast (it looks like a line my bra would make iysim)leading up to the nipple. Does this sound like a blocked milk duct?

OP posts:

louli · 13/01/2005 15:53

I had really bad cracked nipples when DD was born. I was given some Gel-net which you can get in any chemist. You cut a piece big enough to cover the nipple and it works really well. You just leave it there between feeds (if you can feed from that side)and it helps heal and doesn't affect feeding. I was also told about grated carrot being very soothing. Good luck - hope it gets better soon.

biglips · 13/01/2005 15:56

and savoy cabbage is vvveerrrryyyyy soothing - i kept them in the fridge and pop one inside your bra..

pixiefish · 13/01/2005 15:57

You must keep the milk flowing through both breasts.

If it's too much agony then you can express off the bad side. Does it just hurt while baba is latching on and then stop hurting after a bit- that's what it should do.

Try kamillosan on your nipple. They will get better and it does get easier.

Red line sounds like a blockage. Try to massage it when baba is feeding. Massage it in the bath to try and shift the blockage.

be careful that it doesn't turn into mastitis

pixiefish · 13/01/2005 15:58

shit- what I meant was if it's a cracked nipple it should stop hurting when baba's latched on. if it carries on hurting it could be thrush

KateandtheGirls · 13/01/2005 15:59

I had to use only one side for a couple of days when my nipple was cracked so bad. It is incredibly painful. I went back to that side as soon as I could manage, but for a few days she fed mostly just from the one side. If you just give it a little break it will heal faster - whatever you have to do to get through it, IMO.

I had mastitis with both my girls, but it wasn't a red line, more a hard red spot. Still, it could be. Keep an eye on it and if it gets worse contact your doctor. I was so sick with mastitis. Temp of 104, couldn't move, even hallucinating a little bit the first time, so definitely get it taken care of sooner rather than later.

Good luck. Those first few weeks are so hard, but honestly it does get better!

aloha · 13/01/2005 16:21

It is worth checking it isn't thrush. It's very common and - apparently - hurts like anything.

Original poster

Pollyanna · 13/01/2005 19:33

It does hurt more when dd latches on, but it still hurts alot while she is feeding. The breastfeeding counsellor thought I had got latching right now, but it is a very deep cut and it will still hurt during the feed. tbh I just feel like giving up altogether now.

(aloha I am going to the doctors tomorrow as another breastfeeding person I saw this week did think that dd has thrush, so I will get this checked out).

OP posts:

stewarty · 13/01/2005 20:17

What you can do is either try a nipple shield on the sore side,avent do special shaped ones so you still get skin contact or feed off the good side but express off the sore side meantime

stewarty · 13/01/2005 20:21

Sorry I also meant to say if it's something you really want to do (breastfedding that is ),Stick to it but never be afraid to stop.Any breast milk is better than none.I had to give up after 4 very difficult weeks and sobbed buckets but in hindsight it was the right decision at the time.I'm sure though once your all healed up you'll b fine .Expose boob to air as much as can,best form of healing

hewlettsdaughter · 13/01/2005 20:29

I reckon hand-expressing is the first thing to try - then a nipple shield if the alternative is not feeding from that side at all. Do you have any lansinoh cream?

eidsvold · 13/01/2005 21:23

second the lanisoh cream.. cleared my small crack up in no time.

Be careful that it is not thrush - I thought I had cracked/sore nipple - turned out to be thrush... it hurt like hell when the baby latched ( made my toes curl) on and whilse she was feeding...- kind of pins and needles shooting through my breast - hard to describe. For that - just used daktarin oral gel and put it on my breasts before and after feeding. Worked a treat for clearing it up - my dd then had drops that she had after each feed.... if you want to be sure -just check your dd's tongue - if it looks cottage cheesy - white and lumpy ( sounds gross!!) then it is thrush. It will clear up in no time - once you get the cream and the drops happening.

hth

Kelly1978 · 14/01/2005 11:12

Hi,
I had this, and it got too painful to feed, and I ended up with mastitus and pratically losing all the milk supply on one side. It was very painful.
I was recommended kamisolan. It can be bought from most chemists and is brilliant stuff. It has beeswax in it, is safe to use when breastfeeding without having to clean it off ur nipples before. It is also great for nappy rash. I never had any more sore nipples once I started using it.
HTH

aloha · 14/01/2005 11:19

Pollyanna, don't give up if it's only this that is putting you off. It is is thrush (and it really sounds like it, esp if your baby has oral thrush) then it can be treated effectively - if creams don't work in a couple of days Tiktok (breastfeeding counsellor) recommends Diflucan (the tablet form of treatment) to clear it fast. Your baby also needs treating. Then the pain will go and your nipple will heal.

Socci · 14/01/2005 11:30

Message withdrawn

crunchie · 14/01/2005 11:50

I used nipple sheilds and it saved my sanity. This way the agony is reduced, the crack gets a chance to heal and yoiu can continue to BF. My baby didn't get 'nipple aversion' or whatever else can happen and it worked for me.

hernow · 14/01/2005 12:36

I used to feed from one side only whenever necessary and just squeeze a little milk out to smooth over the problem. It would be uncomfortably full for a few hourse but then be okay.

Original poster

Pollyanna · 14/01/2005 17:00

I have got some cream for me and some drops for dd - hopefully this will clear the thrush up. At the moment I am feeding in a different position on the bad side, in an attempt to let the crack heal, but I might try nipple shields (tried them with my last baby and they didn't work).

I do want to breastfeed, and will feel sooo guilty if I stop, but I have 3 other children to look after and I am getting so preoccupied with this (and I can't bear them near me in case they hurt me) that I feel that I can't really afford to spend the next few weeks hoping that it will get better soon. It just doesn't feel fair for the other children as I am not spending any time or attention on them at all. i'm going to see how it goes over the weekend I think.

OP posts:

lowcalCOD · 14/01/2005 18:08

Oh i hadthis
n time to read thread I used lansinoh cream and the wet gauze stuff to keept he breastpad/bra form sticking to it

lowcalCOD · 14/01/2005 18:09

yes jellonet/lansinoh
alifesaver
do dodododo get it

alexsmum · 14/01/2005 18:38

if you have red lines on your breast that is a sure fire sign of mastitis.I really think that you need to see a drTONIGHT and get some anti-biotics.I had mastitis 5 ( yes you read it right 5) times when feeding ds2 and that was the sign the gp looked out for.the anti-biotics make a hell of a difference to the breast pain.
i too think the lanisoh is very good and ditto the cabbage leaves.
Please make sure you see the dr...hope this helpsx

Original poster

Pollyanna · 14/01/2005 20:18

Are you sure Alexsmum? I saw the dr today and mentioned the line (although he didn't look) and he didn't seem to think I've got mastitis. He gave me a prescription though in case it develops over the w/e, so I could go and pick the antibiotics up and take them. The pain certainly seems to have got worse and is unrelated to the cracks, but I don't have a fever or anything. Do the antibiotics work quickly?

OP posts:

stewarty · 14/01/2005 20:26

Sometimes a red line can be a blocked milk duct.What to do is lie in the bath or have a warm shower and gently rub your hand from top of breast towards nipple,across affected area.When dry hand express a little bit of milk and rub onto nipple allow to air dry.Try to involve other kids if possible dependant on their age,ask them to help mummy as she is a little sore .Emphasise what good big brother/sister they are being .Stick in their.Wish I had persevered longer !!!!

hewlettsdaughter · 15/01/2005 13:39

Pollyanna, how's it going? I really feel for you - esp. as you are feeling torn between your new dd and your other three children. I'm sure whatever happens you will have done your best by all of them. Thinking of you xxx

Original poster

Pollyanna · 15/01/2005 14:33

thanks hd - feeling a bit more positive today (although it still hurts alot) - i'm going to give it a few more days before making any decisions.

OP posts:

softymom · 15/01/2005 14:35

The antibiotics for mastitis make a difference within 24 hrs - they really are fast working and it's such a relief to feel well again.

For the pain of cracked nipples (I had crack on one side, deep groove on the other) I used buckets of Lansinoh lanolin cream and kept taking the v. strong painkillers I had been given post CS section - it still hurt to nurse but it got me through til I was healed up so managed to keep up bf.

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