Is it possible to have permanently damaged nipples?

[loraxc]

My first DD had a very high "bubble" palate. Nursing was excruciatingly painful, always (nothing could be done--it was a mechanical issue). I went to near-exclusive pumping at 6 months and continued to pump till she was 15 months. My nipples underwent a horrifying transformation because of the bad latch. Her nursing action abraded them at the tips, and even after switching to pumping they stayed pretty damaged. They are now permanently a deep purple at the tips and the tips are very bumpy, scarred, and eroded. After I weaned, all the skin peeled off of them for weeks on end.

I am now pregnant with #2. I'm not really worried about another bubble-palate baby, but I am worried that my nipples may be permanently injured. They aren't nearly as sensitive as they once were (I slept in a bra for several months post-weaning before I could stand to have loose cloth touch them) but they look very different.

Can nipples be permanently damaged? Could I have traumatized them so badly that nursing will never be painless?

[quirkylayne]

Well, yes and yes.

But you won't know until you try. I would make sure you have a good IBCLC, perhaps you can see one before the baby is born to give you tips on possible issues.

[loraxc]

Oh, believe me, I will try. But I'm very nervous. I'm also wondering if there is anything that can be done if they are permanently damaged.

[Tellera]

I have been getting the courage to post this exact thing (although no bubble palate diagonosed, just a REALLY hard time in the beginning and it was never perfect - but it was a good as it could be, based on a few LC visits), but thinking I was crazy because I'd not seen another post like this. I also had vasospasms when nursing, pumping and randomly in between, and continue to have them now and then.

Don't have any positives - I have not nursed in 9 months, pumped in 8, and I still need to wear a bra all the time - still can't stand for loose cloth to touch them. The longer time goes by, the less hope I have :

I am afraid of nursing another one and wonder if it will be as painful, have vasospasms, and if I'll be able to handle nursing/pumping for even as long as I did with DS.

I hope you have an easier time with #2.

[loraxc]

Tellera, although I was not diagnosed with them, I'm pretty sure I also had vasospasms. My nipples were constantly rock-hard and purple, and it was worse in the cold. Did you get any treatment for that?

If it helps, know that mine finally feel pretty close to normal again, although I think they are more sensitive to pain at the tips. It's so nice to be able to go braless again.

[quirkylayne]

Originally Posted by loraxc

Oh, believe me, I will try. But I'm very nervous. I'm also wondering if there is anything that can be done if they are permanently damaged.

Wish I could answer that for you but I think you will need to see a breast specialist/expert.

I'm not sure what kind of pump either of you used but you may find that a different pump works better for you. For example, if you used an electric, a manual may work better as you can control each independent pump action. Or if you used a Medela which use suction you may find that a Whisper Wear or Avent Isis, which use breast compression may work better.

There are lots of options out there that may need to be explored. And as you just learned, you aren't alone

[Tellera]

Originally Posted by loraxc

Tellera, although I was not diagnosed with them, I'm pretty sure I also had vasospasms. My nipples were constantly rock-hard and purple, and it was worse in the cold. Did you get any treatment for that?

If it helps, know that mine finally feel pretty close to normal again, although I think they are more sensitive to pain at the tips. It's so nice to be able to go braless again.

No professional help. Mine would turn white totally, or, I would just have the white line across them. I posted here about it and took that advice - keeping them warm, upping certain vitamins. It sucked because everything set them off, the pump (manual avent isis), nursing, and just random. It was awful when it would happen at work. It doesn't happen too often now, and very rarely if I do stay warm enough. But ugh. I think I will work up the courage to talk to my doctor about seeing a breast specialist - I guess I just expected that nothing at all could be done. Now they are just hard all the time, purple mottled, and horridly sensitive. I can't stand anything touching them other than a bra or a tight (but not too constricting) pj tank top, otherwise I just want to scream.

To be honest, I would rather feel nothing at all in my nipples than have them the way they are now.