Cracked nipple after three weeks and other issues - advice please

[Caplin]

My baby is three weeks old and feeds like clockwork ever 3 hours. We had issues in the first few days and my left nipple became cracked. It still looks as though it has a big gouge out of it and is sore when she latches on. The pain has improved and it has healed a bit, but after three weeks it is still there.

I tried nipple shields but she can't get the hang of them and can't seem to get any milk out so we end up feeding again an hour later.

She takes an express feed a day from a bottle which helps.

I'm thinking of just feeding her from my good boob for the next few feeds and expressing the sore one to stop it getting engorged. Do you think this would be OK for the next 12-24 hours? Will it affect my supply?

Also, she has a habit of tensing her body during a feed, ramming her face into my boob and chowing down hard, then throwing her head back. This shifts the latch but then she grips on to the end of my nip as she pulls back and is starting to make my good nip a bit raw and obviously nakes the sore nip even worse. Anyone got any advice?

Thanks,

Caplin

caplin, get some lansinoh cream and rub that on. also get some fresh air to your nipples. If it doesnt' get better, maybe ask your midwife or health visitor for advice about positioning and latching. Or even better get in touch with a breastfeeding advisor. Sometimes a tiny adjustment can make a huge difference if you are finding it uncomfortable.

Thank you. I am surgically attached to my Lanisoh!! We have now mastered the rugby hold, but the problem is she licks the crack so it never fully heals (and can make me feel quite nauseous after 20 mins. I think we have pretty much mastered the latch, I just can't get the crack to heal. It is far less painful so clearly it is healing, just very slowly.

My health visitor is duie next week so I might get her to have a look!

Caplin

if i was you, i would contact breast feeding advisor. always good to get a second opinion and she will have lots of time to chat to you as well as maybe more advice than a health visitor