Bruised/cracked nipples, please help!
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Topic: Bruised/cracked nipples, please help!
Posted By: Juzzo
Subject: Bruised/cracked nipples, please help!
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 8:59pm
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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! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 9:08pm
| I've got two or three unopened tubes of lanisoh (?) lanolin ointment I'm happy to pop in the post. I never needed it but bought while I was pregnant and I've finished breastfeeding. Just PM me your address if you want me to. |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 9:23pm
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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 ------------- 
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Posted By: Juzzo
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 9:26pm
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Thanks ladies I've actually got the Lansinoh stuff already, I've been putting it on with every express but should I be putting it on more often? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 10:51pm
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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. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 10:59pm
I'm not sure what ind of pump you're using, but I've got a manual which to start of with, I was using the wrong size funnel part (sorry, not well -explained but the part that pops on your boob). My boobies were stuffed! But once I switched to the right size, things got much much better 
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 3:58am
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. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: MrsH
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 7:54am
Yeah, I just popped in to say that too. YOU.ARE.A.LEGEND!!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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kiwisj wrote:Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 8:36am
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 ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: M2K
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 10:24am
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have you tried Avent nipple shields for when you aren't pumping, its hard work alright, you are doing so well. The shields prevent them from rubbing against clothing which I found better ------------- 
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 1:55pm
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. -------------  
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Posted By: Juzzo
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 9:13pm
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Thank you all so much for your help! I saw the lactation consultat today, yep, I have the right size but turns out I have Thrush. Ugggh!! Damn I am definately finding this hard going.
Will try the nipple shields and am thinking the KY might be a good idea too. Kiwisj, I'd be interested in knowing the name of those healing pads if you remember. Thanks heaps ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 7:16pm
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... http://www.mothermates.com/mmProdInfo.asp - Product info ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 7:52pm
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I am using purelan, but was told to express a bit of milk and let it dry then use the purelan. Also avoid breast pads as they keep everything in - breast shells are meant to be good but I havent gotten around to getting any yet. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Janie
Date Posted: 03 February 2010 at 9:58pm
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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. -------------   
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Posted By: Juzzo
Date Posted: 04 February 2010 at 9:13pm
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Hi Janie!!!! Thanks for that, altho you could have rung me with that info! LOL ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: JAFAjaffa
Date Posted: 05 February 2010 at 10:06am
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Juzzo
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 9:18pm
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Thanks, someone else recommended that too, I really must get some. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 9:52pm
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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! -------------    
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Posted By: Mum_me
Date Posted: 06 February 2010 at 11:55pm
| I found hypercal the best for healing cracked nipples (also for nappy rash!) |