Sawyersmum
15-10-2006, 22:03
Hi Pinky
When my son was 3 weeks old (he is now 8 weeks), I developed a cracked nipple in my left breast. I saw a lactation consultant when he was 5 weeks, and she confirmed that he was not latching on correctly due to me not holding him in the right way (a disappointing outcome given the midwives at the hospital told me my technique was good).
I am now confident with my technique (and very relieved to be feeding correctly) and my baby is reaping the benefits. The only issue is that my nipple has not healed as the crack is agravated each time my baby feeds. So far I have pushed myself through the pain (it is excruciatingly painful when he first latches on, and subsides during the feed), but I'm concerned that the nipple will never heal whilst I continue to breastfeed.
I have been doing all the suggested things - rubbing milk into the nipple; leaving it exposed to fresh air; sitting in the sun for a short time; using breast shields after each feed to keep the breast pad and bra from resting on the nipple; and rubbing lanolin into the nipple after each feed. But still no luck!
I thought one option as a potential solution could be to breastfeed him on the good breast, and bottle feed him using the expressed milk from my left breast, and do this until the crack heals. However, this may take at least 2-3 weeks (the crack is very big and deep) and I'm concerned that hand expressing for this period of time may affect my milk supply.
I definitely want to continue breastfeeding for the long term but the thought of my nipple remaining cracked and causing me pain for each feed is not the best!
Your advice is appreciated.
Bryanne :)
Mum to Sawyer
When my son was 3 weeks old (he is now 8 weeks), I developed a cracked nipple in my left breast. I saw a lactation consultant when he was 5 weeks, and she confirmed that he was not latching on correctly due to me not holding him in the right way (a disappointing outcome given the midwives at the hospital told me my technique was good).
I am now confident with my technique (and very relieved to be feeding correctly) and my baby is reaping the benefits. The only issue is that my nipple has not healed as the crack is agravated each time my baby feeds. So far I have pushed myself through the pain (it is excruciatingly painful when he first latches on, and subsides during the feed), but I'm concerned that the nipple will never heal whilst I continue to breastfeed.
I have been doing all the suggested things - rubbing milk into the nipple; leaving it exposed to fresh air; sitting in the sun for a short time; using breast shields after each feed to keep the breast pad and bra from resting on the nipple; and rubbing lanolin into the nipple after each feed. But still no luck!
I thought one option as a potential solution could be to breastfeed him on the good breast, and bottle feed him using the expressed milk from my left breast, and do this until the crack heals. However, this may take at least 2-3 weeks (the crack is very big and deep) and I'm concerned that hand expressing for this period of time may affect my milk supply.
I definitely want to continue breastfeeding for the long term but the thought of my nipple remaining cracked and causing me pain for each feed is not the best!
Your advice is appreciated.
Bryanne :)
Mum to Sawyer