scabby nipples - charming topic!

[weddingcake]

DD (6 days) had a terrible latch for the first couple of days. She's now got the hang of it and is feeding well but both my nipples are partially scabbed over and still pretty sore.

Can anyone tell me what will happen next/what should I be doing to aid the healing process and also will this be blocking my ducts. I had mastitis last time round (after recurrent thrush) and am terrified of the same thing happening again.

Many Thanks!

Hi weddingcake!
I am not a bf expert but the same happened to me with both dd and ds. It is really horrible and painfull! I got mastitus with dd but things have been much better with ds this time round (he is 4 weeks)
I have used lanolin ointment and 'Kamilosan' ointment on my nipples straight after every feed and my nipples have healed really quickly this time. I don't need the cream at all now. I think there is some evidence that moist wound healing is better than letting them dry out.
I know some people say that if you get sore nipples you are doing it wrong or that your latch is wrong but in my (limited) expirience some people just do get sore, scabby nipples and blood blisters etc at the start. I think you just have to push on through that stage as it will get easier.
Try using the ointment as it really helped me!
good luck

Hello weddingcake,

Lanolin was my lifesaver in this situation and quite a lot of it!

If it's any help, they healed really well once we got the attachment right and breastfeeding was absolutely brilliant after quite a tricky start - well worth the perseverance.

My nipples were so sore and scabby, but moist wound healing was definitely the way to go.

See this Breastfeeding network leaflet for more info:
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/moist-wound-healing.pdf

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/moist-wound-healing.pdf

Sorry - forgot the 's. ;)

I got this too. I used the wet healing technique (think it's explained fully on Kellymom.com) basically involves keeping the scabs wet by putting Lansinoh on them and then breast shells. It stops the scabs drying up and re-cracking with each feed, which is the bit that hurts. Worked v quickly for me.

Hi, I had this with ds4 - both were hideous scabs which I was sure would scar me forever!
Glad to say they didn't and I swore by lashings and lashings of Lansinoh.
Hope it gets better soon.

X-post! Great minds etc.

Thankyou all - will keep going with the lansinoh. I have a tube in each room!

(and if you have any left, it's great for healing little cuts at the ends of fingers!! ) Magic stuff!

Don't wear a bra unless you have to ie. leaving the house. Best bit of advice I read before DS arrived, and I think why I avoided mastitis and thrush.
I would wrap a muslin round my boobs while i was sitting down if I was dripping.

Lansinoh all the time, especially if you're putting breastpads on otherwise they'll stick to the scab and rip it off when removed.

Good luck!

Great advice wasting but unfortunately we live on campus with lots of big windows so I might scare the students!

With a nightie and dressing gown on too!

could also try putting on expressed breast milk, i know sound strange, but breast milk has healing properties and anti-infective agents in it, defo helped me !!!xxx