Accidentally nicked my nipple while shaving

[Adsullata]

I know, this is nuts and I can't believe I just did this and still can't quite figure out how I managed to do it. But while shaving my armpits, I went to shave the other one and somehow managed to nick my nipple with the razor. It's the type of cut where the razor slips sideways and slices- more like papercut style if that makes sense, and not very deep either so it will likely heal fairly quickly, but for now it hurts and I don't want to nurse on that side quite yet.

Anyway, dd (23 mo) still nurses regularly (and we're intending to do childled weaning so I don't want to stop) and I've (fortunately) never had any problem like this before and am not sure what the best thing to do is. I can't use anything with lanolin in it due to allergy and I don't know if I should use something antibacterial.

TIA!

[pbjmama]

Bummer you can't use lanolin but moist wound care is best. Sorry I don't know what all the lanolin alternatives are, but something like neosporin would be good. Breast milk too! Make sure any blood or seeping from the wound doesn't attach to a bra or dressing. I would probably take ibuprofen about 15-20 minutes before nursing to help with pain and tell your baby to be gentle because you have an ouchy. Pick a good position too - hopefully you will be all healed up quickly!

[Baby_Cakes]

Crazy!
One time I was holding my cat and somehow she got spooked, flipped around and jumped out of my arms -- and somehow her claw totally sliced my nip (I wasn't wearing a bra, just a light t-shirt for bed). I looked and saw blood and was totally freaked out. The cut itself was tiny - I think nips just bleed a lot!
I put a bit of neosporin on it and DD nursed that night one more time. By the next day it had greatly improved and then I completely forgot about it.
I think just put a little neosporin or similar and it should be fine.

[Adsullata]

Thanks so much! pbjmama- I tried breastmilk and by today it was already almost healed! I am continually amazed by the powers of breastmilk. Also, like babycakes, it wasn't as bad as it looked. I was kinda freaked out at first cause it looked (and felt) awful, but I don't think the cuts were as deep as I first thought *big sigh of relief* The first 3 times she nursed on that side it did hurt quite a bit (felt like big needles being shoved in there- ouch!), but by the 4 or 5 time it was much less noticeable.

The funny part tho- not long after it happened yesterday, I explained to dd that I couldn't nurse her on that side for a little bit because it was "owie" and that she'd have to stay on the other side for a couple sessions. (She likes to switch back and forth regularly.) So today, I had trouble convincing her it was now okay to nurse there. I would offer that side, or one time she asked for and started to go for that side, and then she'd back away saying, "no, no owie boob!" Even after I told her it didn't hurt mama anymore and it was okay. (I wonder if the taste was different the first couple times or something too.) What finally worked was me saying it was "fresh nummies"... repeatedly

Thanks again for the suggestions and commiseration!

[averlee]

I recently got scratched on the nipple by a bit of leaf/twig that had fallen into my bra. I was able to position my daughter so she wasn't hurting the sore while she nursed. I considered dabbing a bit of fresh aloe vera on there, but it tastes awful, you'd have to rinse that off. My midwives recommended olive oil for nipple soreness, and I've heard of women rinsing/splashing with cool chamomile tea.

[Adsullata]

Wow, who woulda thought there were so many dangers to our nipples lurking about?? Seriously, I'm highly tempted to post a question asking how many mamas have had a nipple injury occur under unusual circumstances.

On the healing side, I really like the olive oil idea (so easy- it's ready to go and I always have it in the house), and chamomile tea makes sense, since it has skin calming properties. I also don't know why I didn't think to try Vitamin E oil, as I use that for so many other things too (anti-wrinkle for eyes, substitute for lip gloss, WOUND HEALING- duh). I don't know about the aloe vera though. I mean, it's great for healing, but it a laxative if ingested. Although the amount you would use for a nipple wound probably wouldn't be significant enough, but I don't know enough to say for sure.

[MiaMama]

I have sustained 2nd degree burns to my nipples twice while nursing. The fisrt time was hot oil splashing, and I learned my lesson. No more topless cooking!

The second time I was wearing a tank top, and I had put some hot soup in my blender, and I plugged it in, not relalizing it was in the ON position, and hot soup splashed me and ran down my shirt.

There was no blood, because they were burns, not cuts, but I nursed shortly after. Nothing makes a kid want to nurse more than a crying mama. I guess my LO think if it makes her feel better, it must make me feel better, too.

Bras are just so uncomofrtable to me when I am nursing, I think that makes my nips much more injury prone, but I am pretty injury prone and clumsy in general.