Dry/Cracked Nipples?

Question

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and all throughout my pregnancy, my nipples have been very dry/cracked. I want to try to breastfeed, but have read that your nipples should not be this way. What should I do to try and get them healed prior to delivery?

Answer 1

try lasinoh,

Answer 2

Now and after the birth of your baby, try putting a little Lansinoh on especially after a shower. It's a purified lanolin and,especially important, is safe to leave on your nipples while your baby breastfeeds. It's expensive (available at most drugstores) but a little goes a long way. Some hospitals will give you a small trial size tube if you ask a nurse in the maternity ward.

Also, drink lots of water! Your body is making a lot more blood and needs the extra fluid. This will affect your skin in general, including your nipples. Every time you get up to go to the bathroom, get a glass of water to replace the fluids lost.

Stick with it and make sure your partner knows how important it is to be supportive! For me with both babies, the 2-3 week time was very painful and I almost gave up. But after they got bigger they could latch-on better, the cracks healed with the help of lansinoh, and the pain subsided ... and then all the REWARDS of nursing kicked in.

Answer 3

Olive Oil

Lanolin BUT go to a "whole foods"/herb shop and get some really go stuff. It should be soft and buttery at room temperature. (Or your local pharmacist may have some behind the counter)

Petroleum Jelly

All of the above are also safe during breastfeeding, and I have listed them in order of my personal preference. Also when you shower do not directly soap your nipples. And maybe rinse your bras a little better or use a fragrance/dye free soap. If you do not wear a bra you may want to consider it while you are healing as friction from your shirt is probably not so good. (I don't really know about not wearing a bra I've worn them all day pretty much everyday my whole life)

Also breastmilk is a natural moisturizer so you may find the problem goes away. Though I think most moms experience some dryness directly after birth.

Also please consider joining your local La Leche League. Start going now so you can meet lots of great moms and get lots of REAL information before delivery. Also then you can have some phone numbers for right after birth if you have a problem.

http://llli.org/ab.html?m=1 (choose your country in the upper right corner and go from there)

Other good breastfeeding sites:
http://www.kellymom.com
http://www.askdrsears.com

Congrats and best of luck.

Answer 4

I've heard that Lily Padz are great for this. They don't chafe like cotton nursing pads. Keep up with the Lansinoh, even if it doesn't seem to be helping. When you finish nursing, express a little milk and rub it around the nipple like lotion. The antibiotic properties in your milk will prevent infection, and the other magical goodness will help it heal. My daughter is 18 months old, and I still find it soothing to express a little milk and rub it in when she's finished nursing. Pumping never worked for me, so I'm not a good one for advice on that, but I do know that it's not as efficient as the baby, so you run the risk of losing supply if you pump exclusively. Even when I had cracked, bleeding nipples, the pump was more painful to me than the baby. Don't use soap on the nipples. If you're taking baths, I wouldn't even make a special effort to get water on them, and I certainly wouldn't towel them off. Drip dry! I didn't think mine would ever heal, and they did. You'll be fine in a few days - couple of weeks at the most. Hang in there. You're doing a great thing for your baby!

Answer 5

Get a LaLache League book. It really helped me learn how to prepare my nipples. With my first baby I tried nursing, but I was so sore by the second week I had to quit (cause those little boogers can really suck hard and often and I didn't prepare myself by pulling), so by pulling that will toughen your nipples .Sounds strange but it works, With my second baby I was ready to nurse without soreness or cracking.
As you do this pulling apply a small amount of cocoa butter on them and your abdomen. Rub in well. You won't have any stretch marks at all.
Plus it feels good because the skin is having to stretch so much. It really helps to keep things soft and supple.
Good luck.

Answer 6

Use Lansinoh! My nipples were that way after my daughter started breastfeeding and it worked like a charm. Keep your nipples moist with it and within a few days it should clear up. Good luck breastfeeding! It's the best thing you can do for you and your baby! Hope I have helped!

Answer 7

I had that problem when I was breastfeeding.I bought a tube of lanolin from walmart.It's in the area where you find the baby items.You apply it on the nipples.You can use it while breastfeeding if you decide too.It won't harm the baby.Also,you can squeeze milk out and rub it on your nipples.

Answer 8

Get yourself some Lansinol lanolin cream. There are other generic brands available too. They are specially formulated to soothe dry, cracked and sore nipples.

Answer 9

Target, Motherhood Maternity, Babies R us, Toys R us all carry a product called Purelan. It is in a yellow and white box and costs about $6.95. You also will want to talk with the lactation consultant at your local hospitol, and or sign up for a breast feeding class.

You should also bring it uo at your next prenatal check up, as you may have a yeast infection of the breast. It is easily cleared up with antibiotics.

Best of luck!

Answer 10

you can try lanolin, brand name lansinol, or if you cant find it, this may sound crazy, but get some udder cream. You can find it by the pharmacy or maybe with the lotions, I suffered from that quite a bit too. Good Luck!
I know walmart carries it.

Answer 11

1