1 month of sore nipples

My daughter is now 5 weeks old and I'm still waiting (not so patiently) for one of my nipples to heal. It looks like someone has gouged out down one side.
I breastfed her for the first week, then stopped as it was far too painful, and the other nipple was heading downhill fast and developing a crack too.

That time off helped alot and the good nipple has healed completely now and the bad one is looking a little better but still definately sore (sore when I start to feed her, not the whole way through) and still looks like an open wound. Had been using lots of Purelan but switched to Bepanthan cream after a friend suggested it. I've been fully breastfeeding her for 2 weeks now and waiting for the nipple to heal but nothing - it's not getting any worse but not healing either! Frustrating! Using a mix of cloth and wool breast pads too.

Is Bepanthan safe to use as nipple cream? I haven't noticed any problems, and my friend used it with all 4 of her children, but I don't really want to keep using it if it's harmful!

Any other suggestions of things I can try to help my nipple heal? Also it's extremely sensitive to the cold - not sure if that is because of the wound or something else?

the advice i got given by just about everyone was to air my nipples, my nipples looked like they had half fallen off (or been ripped off) and airing them really helped, maybe in a nice heated room though!

maybe see a lactation consultant to check baby is latching properly too as that could be a part of the soreness.

also rub breastmilk onto and around the nipple, this helps so so much!

good luck hun and big hugs!

kabe wrote: My MW recommended I use Hypercal Lotion. It's a Weleda product and you can get it from a pharmacy (quite expensive-$17).

I am assuming that Hypercal is made from Hypericum oil which is a brilliant healer and tissue regenerator. I would definately recommend using hypericum!

Yip I think its the same.

Maybe try not putting anything on it at all? The moist might be keeping it from healing.

I'd also check your latch just to be on the safe side.

Is it a crack or is it a split on the side? With baby #3 I managed to get my nipple split. It was very sore! I had to latch her differently (lying down, so her mouth was upright and therefore latched on the top and bottom of my nipple instead of on the side where the split was) until it healed. When I did that, it cleared up very quickly.

If it is a crack though, I'm sure it sure had cleared up by now and if I were you, I'd get in contact with La Leche - or your mw if you are still under her care - and get someone to watch your latch and check you are doing it perfectly. I know it's annoying being told all the time, I still needed it with baby #3, but a bit of embarrassment is definitely worth it for no pain.

Ok then you need to avoid baby pulling on that split with her tongue... good on you for getting hold of La Leche so quick - hope it gets better soon.

good on you! Well done - what a