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Pain, cracked nipples, what can I do..?
Please can anyone advise me, I have cracked nipples, ,one has bled a tiny bit,I've been using gel filled breast pads from the fridge as my boobs felt hot but now my nipples have cracked, painful is too soft a word, I've been using Mothercare cream but it hasnt really helped, my little girl is only 2 days old, I fed my son two years ago for 10 months with no problems.. what can I do to ease the pain?
Marie..x
Marie..x
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hope this helps.
xx
It's hard now but I promise you it does get better - probably when you, baby and your nipples get more used to this feeding lark.
I had a really bad time when i first began bf my little girl. My nipples were split and looked like they could drop off. I didnt get on with nipple shields either. My HV reccomended paraffin gauze which i found really helped to heal the cracks etc. I also used a breast pump and bottle fed my LO breast milk for some of her feeds. Breast pump was kinder to my nipples than she was and it allowed a longer time with nothing on my nipples so that they could heal.
It will get better! Good Luck! x
HTH
d xx
marie..xx
bailey_b and ciara (2 weeks tomorrow)
Hoping your nipples are starting to get better.I found the Lanisoh cream the best and also having a soak in the bath as the shower was to painful on my nipples.I have heard that leaving the boobies to air is good - but not always possible !!!
Also get someone to check your posistioning when feeding - do you have any breastfeeding help groups around your area.
Please let us know how you are doing
xxx
I had this with my baby who is now 19 days old, the first few weeks is hard as your constantly feeding, make sure he has a big mouth of nipple/breast and use Lansinoh cream after every feed and rub your own milk in after this really helped and it does get better. xx
i want to breast feed but i thought of using a breast pump to avoid all the crack nipples that everyone talks about. then i read something on the internet that if you dont use it correctly it can also crack your nipples. So now i'm confused...any advice?
Michelle, you don't always get cracked nipples from breast feeding. I fed my daughter for 18 months & didn't get any bleeding or cracked nipple. It sounds like you're talking about exclusively pumping which I've heard can be very demanding & time consuming. A new born spends a lot of time feeding so if you were pumping you'd be pumping & feeding & I don't think you'd have much time for anything else.
My advice would be to buy some lansinoh (nipple cream that you can buy in any pharmacy or possibly even get on prescription) and you put it on before & after any feed (it's safe to feed with it on your nipples). It can prevent a lot of problems. Then try & see how you get on. Until you start you don't know how you might get on with it.
Personally I didn't start pumping until my daughter was nearly 2 months old (did it initially so I could go to a friends hen do in London for the day) & found it miore uncomfortable then actually feeding my daughter.
I would also recommend attending as many breast feeding groups/classes as you can before & after your birth. I joined Le Leache League & went to informal chats whilst still pregnant & learnt so much about what breast feeding is really like in real life so I had an idea what to expect.
I hope you have an easy time of it, good luck x
Happened with me too, I used nipple shields and fortunately they worked for me. I have heard of others, who had to use creams and ointments.