Sore, bleeding nipple - help :(

[Twilight]

I'm sorry, I know questions about sore nipples are asked all the time here... I was wondering if you guys can point me to threads or just let me know your thoughts on this..

I have a newborn - 1 week old. I've been to see lactation consultants three times and managed to get the right nipple pretty well healed. But the left one is a mess... Every latch just about sends me out of my chair, it hurts so much, and last time I fed her I popped her off because of the pain and was shocked to see the whole nipple was covered in blood :

How do I even start healing it? I'm so upset.. I had similar troubles when DD1 was new and I was so hoping that this time would go better.

[MamabearTo4]

I had the same issue...

Ask your LC for nipple shells, or call to see if your local pharmacy happens to carry them. Apply lanolin to your nipple after a feed, put your shell over the nipple and leave it alone. After the next feed, do the same thing. If it's excruciating for you to feed her on that side, gently pump (maybe every other feed) to keep your supply up and nurse her longer on the 'good' side. Poor thing! If you were closer to me, I'd bring my shells right to you!

The shells that worked best for me were by Medela. They were given to me by a friend who'd had the same problem, and she picked them up for me from an LC. I didn't even know they existed!

The moist healing of the lanolin is very helpful, and covering the nipple with the shell is smart because otherwise your nipple is smashed into your flesh and no air can get to it.

Take care! and good luck...

[Paddington]

Ouch mama! So sorry! Ds2 caused the same discomfort, even though I had done it before. I was so irritated by that... I would so hope he would delay eating so I could have some extra healing time... But is it hurting while he is latched on? You may need to change the latch. Though mine hurt when he was latching, while he was actually nursing I was usually okay.

mamabear offered the best advice I think. I never used shields, but definitely the lanoline, tried to keep it as dry as possible (yeah, right, when you are covered in milk...)

Heal quickly mama....

[Metasequoia]

mamabearto4, did you mean nipple shields? (Shells are not meant to be nursed on.) Medela makes these, which I have used through 2 babies & I can honestly say they've saved my nursing relationships. Target carries them in the breastfeeding/bottle/pacifier aisle. I need to go get one now, my 9 month old bit a chunk out of my left nipple & it's not healing at all after almost 2 weeks. I first used the nipple shield with Dd2 & my nipples were fully healed within 3 days.

[RootSnort]

I think she meant the shells. You wear them between nursing sessions, and they give the nipples air and space to heal. Shields are usually reserved for latch problems, I think. It's harder to empty a breast with a shield on, better to only use shields if you have to.

[MamabearTo4]

This is hilarious...

I did mean the shells (hard plastic, half-moon shape). Recently, I gave mine to a mama who needed them, then (wouldn't you know it) had a bad case of sore nipples myself. Then I ended up with mastitis! After the mastitis, I went to the pharmacy to get what I thought was going to be the shells. Well, they sold me a shield (bendable rubber thing), which I thought was supposed to be used between feedings, like I had used my shells!! And when I bought the shield, I didn't realize that only one comes to a box! I thought it was kind odd that the thing molded itself to my breast! And maybe that's why they only sell the one...it's hard to nurse from both sides! sheesh!

So now I want to try to nurse Seamus with the shield on... I'm convinced that we're having latch issues, though he nurses very well and is gaining beautifully. My nipples have been so sore since he was about 2wks old!

My fourth nursling, and I've learned something new! I'm grateful that I haven't had any nursing issues with the other three to have already figured this out!

So, do I remove the shield after the vigorous sucking stops?

[pazerific]

mamabearto4--yes, remove the nipple shield as soon as it's bearable during the nursing session. it reduces the ability of the baby to empty the breast to about 80%. if you can't manage to remove the shield during the session (too painful, or DC won't allow it) you need to pump on that side after DC's done eating to make sure you're all the way empty.

twilight--the shells were very helpful to me at first along with some lanolin between feedings, but my nipples weren't as beat up, just sore. in a breastfeeding class i recently took for doula training, the LC said a moist healing product (like Soothies or something similar) has actually been proven to heal wounds faster than keeping them dry. you just want to make sure you're not using much lanolin with these because it's just not needed. i've seen them at the drug store, and LCs also carry them. hope you're feeling better soon!!!

[sedalbj]

I had lots of pain from oral rejection when DD was new (her latch was fine but she wasn't taking the nipple in far enough and would squish it to the roof of her mouth), and had cracking etc. I would nurse one side and pump and bottlefeed one side all day, then switch the next until it was feeling better. It just hurt so much. It may help the healing to express breastmilk and liberally spread on the nipple before the lanolin. Changes in the hold is a great idea and could help a lot. Good luck! Hang in there....

[Eben'sMama]

I had the same issue. Using nipple SHIELDS to nurse until the nipple healed helped immensely and I think it saved my ability to nurse DS. You just have to be sure that you stop using the shield once the nipple has healed, as it is easy to become dependent on them because they decrease they pain; however, they also decrease the amount of milk your baby gets in each suck-swallow cycle, so they are not to be used long-term.

I also had great luck using the breast SHELLS between feedings to help the nipples heal--kept them dry and gave lotsof relief at those times when it is excruciating to have anything--even a light t-short touching the nipple.

I know that it is disconcerting to see your nipple covered in blood or to see blood on your baby's mouth. MY LC assured me that it is common and happens quite often with new nursing moms. Hang in there and it will get easier!

[Twilight]

i will look into the shields, thanks for the tips! i do apply lanolin about 1/2 the time and let them air dry... but the cracking is worse and the pain is awful. good news is the right side is fine... all the problems are on the left. i had to pump and bottlefeed from the left side today... which still hurts, but not as much as nursing.

i wish this was easier even the pumped milk comes out pink from blood. i am pretty militant about bf'ing and this is making me want to quit.

[sedalbj]

honestly, lanolin didn't work for me either. after about 3 days i realized they weren't healing at all. so i put breastmilk on them and let them air out b/t feedings either w/ the shells (which i had to dump every hour or so) or w/ a really loose shirt. i also got a prescription from my m/w for Dr Jack Newmans All Purpose Nipple Ointment http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/3bpdf.pdf. i used it very sparingly but it seemed to help a lot.

[mimie]

I used a nipple shield on the sore side and tried to encourage her to comfort nurse on the non-sore side. Luckily, I was having OVER supply issues on the hurt side, so it didn't affect my supply. After a few days of using the shield, though, she started rejecting my non-sore side (since I wasn't using the shield on that side). I stopped the shield right away - although it still hurt, the three days I used it gave the sore side a chance to mostly heal.

[PatchPixie]

I had similar problems at about the same time as you are. I sent my DH to BabiesRUS (which I don't normally like very much...) But thankfully they carried the crescent shaped shields and my poor bloody nipple healed just beautifully and my DD happily nursed away not noticing the difference. Some people had warned against confusion - but it really saved my nursing experience (ongoing...) . Best wishes....

[cchrissyy]

me too... ouch!

[alibuff]

With my first child, I suffered through 3 months of sore, cracked and bleeding nipples. I almost gave up. What worked for me was to squirt my own breastmilk on each nipple and to allow them to air dry. I swear to you, the 2nd day after doing this was a dramatic difference! I was totally healed up and we were nursing fine in a week... she went on to nurse for 4 yrs!
I do feel for you, I've been there and its not fun. My toes would curl up everytime she'd latch on in those first 3 months and I'd cry the whole time.
The nipple salves only softened the scabs so that her initial latch didn't hurt as bad. Breastmilk saved my nips!

[MeMommy]

So sorry, mama....

I had it horrible, too.... went to two LC's until the third finally diagnosed toungue-tie, just wanted to throw that out as something to look into...

Good luck!

[cchrissyy]

mine's gotten to the "can't do this anymore" point. it's been over a week on both sides and they hurt even between feedings, when I walk and my shirt touches them

I'm looking for some sheilds? shells? first thing in the morning. wish me luck

[Love my 2]

Hydrogel pads, like Soothies can really help healing and keep you comfortable while you're healing. Keep trying, it gets better with time.