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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Cracked/cut nipple won't heal

37 replies

SydneyB · 24/11/2008 10:57

DS is 6 weeks old and I have a crack in my right nipple which looks like an open wound after a feed. I have been working on the latch and have now worked out how to get him on without pain but I have to really concentrate on it as the right one is slightly flat. Still, the crack just doesn't seem to heal. If I'm not in pain, is this a worry long term? Am very careful at keeping it clean, changing pads and apply Lansinoh before and after every feed. Does anyone have any idea if it will heal up in its own time? Saw GP who prescribed antibs and Fluconzale in case of thrush which I don't think I have as it doesn't sound like the symptoms other people on here have described.

OP posts:
CharCharGabor · 24/11/2008 11:06

I did the salt water rinse on this page I had a crack similar to yours and have a flat right nipple too. I used this after 6 weeks and it healed within a few days. I used to do the salt water rinse, dry my nipple and apply lansinoh. I found it healed much better if I kept applying lansinoh so it didn't dry out. Good luck!

curlyredhead · 24/11/2008 11:11

was going to post same link! really helped me - also leaving nipple uncovered as much as poss.

CharCharGabor · 24/11/2008 11:13

Oh yes definitely, plenty of air to it. We didn't open our curtains for weeks!

twocutedarlings · 24/11/2008 11:13

Try putting expressed breast milk on it and leaving it to dry (not good in this cold weather mind ) but it really helped heal my cracked nips with DD2.

determination · 24/11/2008 13:50

i used Silverette and was soothed immediately and completely healed within 36 hours of wearing them. They are fantastic. {wink]

stellalily · 24/11/2008 14:51

I had really bad cracked & bleeding nipple and the only thing I found to work was to express off it for 48 hrs and use aloe vera gel on it. I was desperate at the time as I was in agony. Expressing was hard work to do every time I needed to feed from that breast but it worked and within 12 hrs it was much better. I had to wipe off the aloe vera gel but it was brilliant as well and after 48 hrs was completely healed.
Hope it gets better!

Original poster
SydneyB · 24/11/2008 15:19

Thanks so much for posts. A friend has separately recommended Silverette too so am going to give it a whirl. At the mo, am finding expressing hurts just as much as feeding. Why is breastfeeding so hard? How the human race has survived so far is beyond me.

OP posts:
MorocconOil · 24/11/2008 15:25

Sydney, I had terribly cracked nipples with DC3, having had no problems with my first two DC. Tongue-tie was diagnosed at 5 weeks, a simple surgical procedure performed, and hey presto the cracked nipple disappeared almost overnight. If you have not already done so, get your baby checked for TT.

TheBlonde · 24/11/2008 15:29

The worst thing for cracked nipples is to let them dry out
www.leron-line.com/updates/Wound_healing.htm

As soon as your LO is off your breast stick some lansinoh or kamillosan on
I had a crack that I thought would never heal but it did

determination · 24/11/2008 17:05

Sydney,

The thing to remember with the silverette is that you must not use anything else with them as this could reduce their effectiveness. I found that there was no need to anyway as as soon as i put them on i felt the tension on my shoulders disappear. They soothed them so much and healed them at an unbelievable rate - it was amazing.

I think the thing with cracked nipples is that you get into a vicious circle of having a poor latch as you naturally pool away from the pain which is caused by the poor latch and the pulling away just makes the latch worse.. you could get your friends silverette off her - as no bacteria can live on the silver so there will be no germs passed on save a few pennies too!

determination · 24/11/2008 17:07

pool?? - pull i'm sleep deprived!

munchkinmum · 24/11/2008 17:17

I have silverettes that I no longer need (thank god). Am keen to sell on - £10 plus postage if interested?

piratecat · 24/11/2008 17:18

Kamillosan, was wonderful, like miracle ointment.

piratecat · 24/11/2008 17:20

put dap on back of your hand, and warm it with tip of finger, then apply, it doesn't hurt, and is v soothing.

you can use it for all sorts of hurty things.

Original poster
SydneyB · 25/11/2008 17:47

Does that mean no lansinoh then? Already ordered them and they arrived this am, super quick. So far, very soothing. Thing is that I have strong let down in right one so silverette thing is full of milk when I take it off - does that matter? also do you have to do the bicarb soda thing each time or just once?

OP posts:
determination · 25/11/2008 17:54

I used to do the biocarb twice per day, this scrubs up the silver ions which help aid the healing process. If it is full of milk thats fine (mine were too) good for moist healing I felt the soothing immediately and was completely healed within 2 days.

Always found that they were Very Quick with sending out my orders.

determination · 25/11/2008 17:55

Yep, DO NOT use any other nipple treatments as this will decrease the effectiveness of the silverettes..

Original poster
SydneyB · 25/11/2008 20:21

Gosh yes, it is already so soothing and also just feel more comfortable knowing it is protected against bumps and flailing hands!

OP posts:
determination · 25/11/2008 20:53

you can keep me updated on the progress

Original poster
SydneyB · 26/11/2008 09:28

Ok, so 24 hrs in, feeding is painless! Crack still there but I think slowly closing. Hurrah. What an amazing thing. Feel I can just about cope with 2hrly feeding all night now...

OP posts:
determination · 26/11/2008 09:48

Sydney,
bet you will rave about them as much as i do now! Aren't they just amazing?.. better than Lansinoh?

Glad to here you are pain free. Now you can enjoy the pleasure of bfing..

Original poster
SydneyB · 26/11/2008 11:48

Better than Lansinoh and much less messy. S many of my clothes are covered in greasy lansinoh marks. Was really beginning to consider giving up bf as have had mastitis too and this was last straw. Silverette might well save the day!

OP posts:
determination · 26/11/2008 11:55

I was definately on my final straw too when i got them. It was with dd1 and she was approx 7 months and had just cut her two top teeth - they were like razors and for some reason she developed a lazy latch and rubbed a HUGE CHUNK off my areola. It was agony. Ever time i had nearly healed it she would rub it open again . I was at the bfing support group crying as there was puss coming from the wide,deep,open gash... and i swear it was my gurdian angel who i spoke to.. she was married to an Italian man and said that it was the 'norm' in Italy to use Silverette.. I paid £43 for mine directly from Italy and it was the best buy i had ever had. I was soothed immediately and completely healed within 36 hours. I have mine guarded and will keep them in a safe place for my dds to use when it is their time .

Original poster
SydneyB · 26/11/2008 12:01

DS is my second and a really vigorous feeder compared to my DD and the 'hole', as this is it has become, just looked like it would never close. Dreamt last night that whole nipple came off, argh!! They need to be much more widely publicised and recommended by mws etc

OP posts:
determination · 26/11/2008 12:17

That is why i go on about them so much. I don't think they have been in the UK for long as i got mine 4years ago and they werent available in the UK then. No-one knows about them - so no one knows how good they are. I think the NHS should give every new bfing mum a set and this would definately help increase the bfing rates. Any mum i have known to quit, did so due to pain. These are the answer !! Rant over!!