DS 2 weeks old - Questions re. Expressing to rest cracked nipple

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My DS is only 2 weeks old and I had planned to leave expressing until milk supply was established, but I had a cracked nipple last week and due to tiredness I have managed to reopen the crack three times since just as it seems to be healing

He is heavy and I find it difficult to adopt the 'oposite' position to prevent it reopening, so would like to express until it is healed up enough to go back to the cradle position which I was just beginning to establish.

My questions are as follows;

1. How long will this take 1 day maybe 2?

1. I have managed to express 1oz after feeding on the good side. Is this alot or a pitifull amount. (aware pumps don't generally get as much as a baby, so worried about my supply)

1. Will the supply on my good breast pick up enough to compensate or should I be feeding some of the expressed milk

1. If best to offer some expressed milk can anyone explain cup feeding (or post helpful links) as I have heard this would be the best way to avoid nipple confusion.

Phew, sorry for long post, this is all new to me.

Hi,

A friend in my LLL group had a REALLY bad cracked nipple and had to give up feeding on one side for a couple of weeks. Her other breast completely adjusted to the increased demand and then she was able to switch back to both. My cracked nipple took about 2 days to heal I think. After every feed I would express a bit of extra milk and allow it to dry on the nipple and it worked - I kept feeding on that side with a different hold ( although it was still one of those grit your teeth and count to 10 issues) but mine may not have been as bad as yours. Hope you get it sorted - it's not fun at all!

i think you just hold the cup still (a cup was provided in my medela harmony) and baby laps it up (dont tip it into their mouth) i was advised to try carrot juice on the cracked nip, cabbage leaf for odema. one breast should provide everything but you could end up lopsided if you dont keep up the expressing. 1oz doesnt sound much, but its ok for a beginner! even if you do have a cracked nip, it can heal through being used. also, let the air get to your nips, dry the bm on them too. lots of us have been there and come through, it does pass but til then is bladdy painful. i used to bite down on a folded flannel to stop me wailing!

I had cracked nipples early on and gave DS a bottle of expressed milk for a couple of days to rest both sides and then used nipple shields for about 6 weeks. Expressed milk was given in a bottle and we had no problems with nipple confusion. Also DS had expressed milk once per day anyway from 1 week old and the only problem we've had is when I stopped expressing for a couple of weeks he now won't take a bottle!