1 month of sore nipples
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Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 9:39am
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Topic: 1 month of sore nipples
Posted By: tamiem
Subject: 1 month of sore nipples
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 9:37am
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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? |
Replies:
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 9:43am
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Ouch, sounds sore and brings back painful memories!
My MW recommended I use Hypercal Lotion. It's a Weleda product and you can get it from a pharmacy (quite expensive-$17). You mix one tsp with half a cup of cooled boiled water and dab it on the affected area 2-3 times daily. It helped me alot. Also good for healing stiches! You should only use it for a week at a time. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MyBelly
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 9:48am
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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! |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 10:00am
 I remember what it was like  Everyone told me it would get better at 6 weeks, but it didn't start to improve for me until about 8 weeks. I only BF for about another 6 weeks after that though, as Chloe got colicky and really terrible at feeding, and wouldn't get much milk at all off me (not for a lack of supply though!!) And my nipples really hurt in the cold (and in the shower) until after I weaned her (or rather she weaned herself, when she got tonsilitis).
Have you tried Lasinoh? I put it on religiously on the recommendation of my midwife, I think it helped a little. As for airing my nipples out, I tried but would get so down because milk would spray everywhere every time and I barely had a spare minute to deal with that. But I've heard that letting them get some air works wonders. I've also heard that rubbing some breastmilk into them helps, but I have no idea if it helped me or not. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 12:16pm
I am assuming that Hypercal is made from Hypericum oil which is a brilliant healer and tissue regenerator. I would definately recommend using hypericum! ------------- Lindsey 
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kabe wrote:Posted By: tamiem
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 2:57pm
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Thanks for the advice everyone. Off to town tomorrow (for the first time in a month, as we live 1 hr from the nearest town) so I'll add some Hypercal lotion to my list!
Is Lasinoh the same as Purelan? |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 4:26pm
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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. |
Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 6:42pm
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I used lanisoh and man it was awesome. Got the sore nipples sorted out within a week. Purelan is exactly the same - its just pure lanolin. ------------- Alex, Thomas and Lily http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 7:36pm
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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. -------------  |
Posted By: tamiem
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 8:53pm
| I guess I would describe it as more of a split than a crack. I phoned the La Leche lady and I'm going to call in and see her tomorrow so hopefully she'll be able to help us! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 17 June 2008 at 9:15pm
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: tamiem
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 9:15am
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Thought I'd better update this thread, to help out new mums having problems with nipples:
my daughter is now 4 months old and feeding beautifully!!! She was 8 weeks old before my nipples healed completely. I showed my Dr at my baby's 6 week check and he said to take her off AGAIN and just express until it is all healed. Well that took a week, then I developed a blister on one nipple which took another few days to heal so all up 8 weeks!! I'm really pleased I stuck at it though, even although it was so painful! I was lucky that she switched so easily from the breast to the bottle and back again, so I could give my nipples a rest! Also the Bepanthan cream helped better than the Lanolin, then after a while I just stopped using anything as my nipples seemed to be getting soggy! |
Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 12:03pm
good on you! Well done - what a  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 03 September 2008 at 12:59pm
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Yay - so glad you got it sorted!
It is so hard those first few months and those few months seem to last forever. It took me 4 months before I was feeding without any pain and have the most scarred nipples but Im so glad I stuck with it. Just proves that can be overcome with just a little persiverance and a lot of guts. I agree with DJ - your a ------------- 
 
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