My baby is 8 1/2 weeks and for the past 5 days my nipples have been dry cracked and severly sore. Breast feeding has been so painful even in different positions. My baby is latching on just fine. Showering is even painful so I've been taking baths. I've been using Lansinoh and it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference. Any suggestions. Should I pump until they heal?
2007-02-22 13:21:49 · 19 answers · asked by andreakb1 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Don't laugh - this really works.
Steep two teabags in water. Let them cool. After nursing, put one cooled teabag on each nipple for about 5 - 10 minutes. Afterwards, prick the end of a vitamin E capsule with a pin and put the oil on your nipples. You can then cover with a nursing pad (or a clean gauze pad) and go about your business. The good part about this is you don't have to rub off the vitamin E before you nurse, since it won't hurt the baby. Most of the commercial creams need to be removed first, and the constant rubbing doesn't help much. Good luck!
2007-02-22 13:30:32 · answer #1 · answered by mjkl1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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!
2007-02-22 13:38:12 · answer #2 · answered by Amy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, do NOT pump. That will only make the pain worse and diminish your supply. Try feeding him in different positions. I found that that helped when my nipples started to get sore. Also, the lilypadz or soothies are really nice, as they can be put in the fridge (the coolness helps) and also condition your nipples. A bag of peas works too.
Also, he may be latching on right, but sucking really hard to start your let-down. If you are tightening up, it will only work against your let-down reflex. Try to relax and take deep breaths. Sometimes, hot wash rags help with let down as well.
Also, after every feeding (and maybe in between) rub some of your breastmilk on your nipple and let it air-dry. Go braless for a few days. Its amazing how much it helps!
Other than that, I would maybe take a tylenol until the pain subsides.
2007-02-22 13:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would use your breastmilk. Squeeze a little out and rub it onto your nipples after each feeding and try to let your nipples air dry as much as possible. If your baby is latching good it should go away. I had the same thing happen to me with my son who never took a bottle so my only option was to keep breastfeeding. With these techniques it got better and we made it through.
Good luck.
2007-02-22 13:28:27 · answer #4 · answered by schell_75 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Lanisol/Lansinoh cream is safe for you to use while breast feeding your baby. I used that with both of my children and it seemed to help a lot. You can also rub some breast milk on them at the conclusion of each feeding.
2007-02-22 13:27:09 · answer #5 · answered by Lizzy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lansinoh Lanolin is what worked bst for me. But NON-stop. It is safe for infants to ingest so put it on before and after nursing and every time it absorbs in put on more!
Also they sell these gel pad for bras that I bought for my friend. i didn't try them so I don't know if they work but you put them in the refrigerator then slip them under your bra.
But thats pretty normal, as long as they aren't bleeding. Everyone goes through this kind of period while their body adjusts and basically toughens up. It is hard but just stick it out and it will get better. :)
2007-02-22 13:46:16 · answer #6 · answered by slawsayssss 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
theres a product called udderly smooth. it was,like the bag balm, made originally for milking cows, but it works for us too! it works for any chapped irritated skin. when i get a cold i use it under my nose cuz otherwise it gets chapped or raw from the constant nose blowing, and gets flaky for days after...not pretty and it hurts! this stuff keeps that from happening n heals it once it has happened. u can find it at a lot of quilting and yarn stores and i saw that their line is carried at the walmart pharmacy. get a little tube and bring it to ur pediatrician for them to ok u to use it while ur baby is nursing. ive seen on the package that its safe for calves nursing on it and wont do anything to the milk that is collected from a cow being treated with it. i hope that it helps u!
2007-02-22 13:53:42 · answer #7 · answered by carmen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi! You know, there are all those cremes to put on your nipples, but, I didn't like the idea of my little one then sucking on them. So, I squeezed out more breastmilk when she was done nursing, and rubbed it on my nipples. It is also important to let them airdry. Hope that helps!
Mom to 5 month old Emma
2007-02-22 13:25:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-03-01 00:40:36 · answer #9 · answered by Oates 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bag Balm. Made in Vermont since 1899.
2007-02-22 13:25:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋