Bruised/cracked nipples, please help!

Hey ladies, I'd could really use some help here. I have a baby in neonates (born at 24 wks) and I've been expressing for 10 weeks. My nipples are now bruised and one has become cracked. Can you please tell me what you've found helpful in healing an incredibly painful cracked nipple????!!!! Ouch!

yup, i had a baby who was stuck on my boob nearly 24 hours a day for 3 days befroe they realised that he was starving cos i had no milk and i found the lanisoh stuff amazing!! you dont need to wash it off like you do things like bepanthen too

rub a bit of milk on them and let them dry - ideally in the sun. apparently you can get cracked nipples from an incorrect "latch" when expressing too... so maybe look at that as well.

Ohhhh I feel your pain, I pumped while C was in NICU and then when he came home too to keep up my supply.

I used Purelan (like lasinoh) every time I expressed or fed. Also try keeping your (.) out in between and letting some BM dry on them if that's an option.

I also got put onto these healing pad thingees and I have completely forgotten the name (sorry) but they were amazing, you put them on your boobs under your breast pads/bra and they stop everything sticking but also somehow help things heal. Kinda like those blister plasters I suppose? I will try find out the name of them tomorrow, perhaps there is something similar in NZ.

Also, if you're using a manual pump, are you pumping too hard? I was kind of doing too long a compression IYGWIM which REALLY sucked on my nipple (it went a long way into the pump thing, sorry crap explanation) and I don't think that helped at all Are you able to ease off the pumping a little for a day at all?

You are doing an AMAZING job Juzzo. 10 weeks of pumping is blimmin hard work.

MrsH wrote: kiwisj wrote: You are doing an AMAZING job Juzzo. 10 weeks of pumping is blimmin hard work. Yeah, I just popped in to say that too. YOU.ARE.A.LEGEND!!!

Totally agree!

I also expressed for nearly 4 months when my DD was born. My nipples didn't crack as such but they did rub on the cup and sorta chaffe and end up bleeding everytime I pumped. I was in agony! Have you talked to the NICU lactation specialist? I talked to ours and she ended up giving me some little sachets of KY jelly (lol) which I applied before each express and it stopped the friction and allowed the nipples to "slide" more easily in the suction cup

All the best again, I am following Harlow's blog, he is doing great

MrsH wrote: kiwisj wrote: You are doing an AMAZING job Juzzo. 10 weeks of pumping is blimmin hard work. Yeah, I just popped in to say that too. YOU.ARE.A.LEGEND!!!

Just thought I'd add I agree as well!

Have you seen the lactation consultant? Also if you are using the medela pumps make sure you have the correct size breastshield.

Juzzo! Sorry I completely forgot to come back and check this and post the name I hope things are improving for you and you've got the thrush knocked on the head.

The pads are called Mothermates, my LC recommended them to me and they sold them at the Mother & Child clinic we go to. Not sure where you'd find them in NZ...

Product info

Hi Juzzo! *waves*

If you decide to use breast shells be careful using them for extended periods of time. In the instructions that come with them it says not to use them for more than 40 minutes at a time as they put a gentle pressure on your milk ducts which can damage them if used for a while. I guess 40 minutes of relief is better than nothing though!

They also make you look like you have cone shaped boobs, lol. I just use mine for collecting the leakage from the boob I'm not feeding from.

I used pawpaw ointment when my nipples got very sore and that was brilliant. I popped it on after every feed and I'd healed up within a day. One of my friends who had huge problems with breastfeeding used it too and had great results. So maybe if everything else doesn't work you could give pawpaw ointment a shot! I got it from the chemist.

I had a crakced nipple not long after Oliver was born & my MW suggested bepanthen (nappy rash) cream. it worked a treat for me so it might be worth a try.

I hope things are improving for you . Expressing is damn hard work!