Breastfeeding Tips

Help with sore nipples.?

Does anyone have any ideas that are not so common that helped them? My son is a month old now… and my nipples are extremely sore and cracked from breastfeeding. I’ve already tried all of the following:
1. Contacted a lactation consultant who assisted me with his latch. His latch is good.
2. Used Lanolin cream with breast pads. It seems to make it worse especially when my nipples harden.
3. Rinse daily with vinegar and water solution to kill any bacteria or infection. Also use yeast infection (thrush) cream.
4. Tried using a nipple shield. It sort-of helped but not enough to make my baby have to suck through one of those things. He hates it.
5. Pumped out of the side that hurts. My pump is not pumping it as fast as my baby eats… so my breast got engorged.

You poor thing! I remember this sooo well – feels like attaching a staple gun to yourself when he nurses, huh? I would try not to jerk when my son latched on and I’d just cry! ; (
I had nursed 3 daughters prior to having him and It was my own fault for thinking, “I’m a breastfeeding pro!” and not paying attention – well, yeah, he wasn’t opening his mouth all the way when he latched… took 2 weeks to heal up all the way!

Cold wet and sqeezed out regular TEA BAGS!! There is something very healing in the tea and it can help in healing.

Make sure you’re using 100% pure Lanolin – I found it to be extremely comforting. Lanisoh was what worked for me.

Pure Vitamin E oil might help too – I wouldn’t put it on before nursing though. Very Very healing!

You can use antibiotic ointment like neosporin – just not before nursing.

Make sure you’re not using soap on your nipples, which you probably know. It will dry them out. You probably don’t have to worry about the yeast cream – I never used it. 2 of my kids ended up with thrush, but it wasn’t a big deal. The best thrush medicine in the world is an OLD SCHOOL remedy called “Gentian Violet” and it’s like a purple stain that you “paint” on with a Qtip. My pharmacist made it for me! It was recommended by my pediatrician and works so much better than the prescriptions available! It’s messy, but cleared it right up! You can use it on nipples, but it would be a mess – so don’t if you don’t have to.

I hope I could help – know that it will get better. It won’t take forever and it will be worth it in the end! Take care and heal up fast! Best Wishes!!!