How to heal nipples

[Tattooed Hand]

I recently treated a case of thrush with gentian violet. My nipples were sore to begin with but the last application (#7) of GV ended up being too much because DD was cluster feeding that night. She ended up burning a little rim around her lips and my nipples got the skin around their sides scalded. And since then nursing hurts! One side in particular is excruciating and has been for 3 days now. The skin is raw and the nipples cracked.

As of the last day, I've been letting the milk dry on them and then applying Motherlove nipple creme. But I've been nursing her as usual, though when she's just hanging out on the painful side, I break her latch (because literally I am about to scream). Are these the right things to do to heal my nipples?

[dillonandmarasmom]

Ow, sorry, mama. Sounds very uncomfortable.

I used nipple shields to heal my cracked and bleeeding nipples this itme around. After three really troubling beginnings (DS1, DD, and now DS2), I was able to get past the extreme pain by inserting the shields in my bra, which really just keep everything from touching the nipples, and lathered them with pure lanolin. It took at least a week for them to be completely better, but the pain was diminished right away. I made sure there was lanolin on them just before and immediately after nursing, too.

Good luck~!

[AmyKT]

Originally Posted by dillonandmarasmom

Ow, sorry, mama. Sounds very uncomfortable.

I used nipple shields to heal my cracked and bleeeding nipples this itme around. After three really troubling beginnings (DS1, DD, and now DS2), I was able to get past the extreme pain by inserting the shields in my bra, which really just keep everything from touching the nipples, and lathered them with pure lanolin. It took at least a week for them to be completely better, but the pain was diminished right away. I made sure there was lanolin on them just before and immediately after nursing, too.

Good luck~!

The nipple shields in your bra is a good idea. I was so sore with DD, and I hated having anything touching me but I didn't want to go around naked, either. I ruined a lot of shirts with lanolin stains, too. I'm definitely going to remember this tip.

[1babysmom]

For me what worked after our 10 weeks of thrush (leaving my nipples like a war zone) was to keep coconut oil pretty much constantly applied, try to be bra-less whenever possible (because it just HURT to wear a bra) and nurse on one side for about at least 12 hours at a time. If I could go longer, I did. It definitely allowed each side time to heal. I had to alternate back and forth for a few days but finally got to where it didn't make me want to cry when she'd latch on.

[Tattooed Hand]

Originally Posted by 1babysmom

For me what worked after our 10 weeks of thrush (leaving my nipples like a war zone) was to keep coconut oil pretty much constantly applied, try to be bra-less whenever possible (because it just HURT to wear a bra) and nurse on one side for about at least 12 hours at a time. If I could go longer, I did. It definitely allowed each side time to heal. I had to alternate back and forth for a few days but finally got to where it didn't make me want to cry when she'd latch on.

Will block feeding like this endanger my supply? I went about 9 hours last night on one side to spare the nipple with the most damage, but it's also the side that has always had a little less milk and I don't want to hurt the supply. I pumped last night and again this morning on just that side, but pumping isn't hugely effective (when I can't get anymore out pumping, I can still squeeze milk out). I still got 2 oz out of it, though I let her nurse on it before bed and again this morning before pumping (letting her nurse on the other side through the night), about half of what I can get out of the other side.