Diaper Swappers

minneapolisite · 10-20-2011, 05:28 AM

This is my first baby and he's one week old today. We're latching great on right breast (zero pain) but my left nipple is chomped raw from poor latching. Just met with our pediatric nurse (who is also a lactation consultant), and she helped me relearn how to latch him better on the left side.

In the meantime though, my left nipple is SO RAW. I am having a REALLY hard time feeding baby on it. Latching and the first 5-10 minutes are excruciating.

I wasn't going to pump this early into the game, but I'm wondering if I could pump from that breast and feed from the other one for a few days to give the nipple a chance to heal? Would that hurt my supply or anything? Is it too early to pump?

Blindbatbeth · 10-20-2011, 05:42 AM

Use a nipple shield! I always use one for the first 3 weeks then wean the baby off once my nipples are tough. It helps soooooooooo much!!!

knodceo · 10-20-2011, 05:54 AM

Sure you can but it might make you lopsided. And the baby could favor the right side. I had bloody nipples with my first at around 2 weeks...it healed by 6 weeks...the cream works...

mibarra · 10-20-2011, 09:02 AM

Lanolin. Your nipples crack when they dry out.

minneapolisite · 10-20-2011, 12:31 PM

I have been using Lanolin on my nipples after every single latch since the very first latch. It's not dried out. Wish it were that easy!

It's raw from getting chewed on from a bad latch. We solved the latching issue (I think!) but in the meantime it hurts like the ****ens.

Mara'sMommy · 10-20-2011, 02:11 PM

I would put some breastmilk on it and let it air out as much as possible. I know it hurts really bad but it's going to hurt pumping as well. I would avoid pumping and just keep nursing. Lanolin is good but some breastmilk and air will help as well. Also what about ice packs before your little one latches on so it's kinda numb and you can avoid feeling all that pain with the initial latch.
I would avoid the nipple shields, but that's just my opinion. I've seen too many people not be able to wean off them and having to basically use them all the time.

KB'sMama1031 · 10-20-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mara'sMommy

I would put some breastmilk on it and let it air out as much as possible. I know it hurts really bad but it's going to hurt pumping as well. I would avoid pumping and just keep nursing. Lanolin is good but some breastmilk and air will help as well. Also what about ice packs before your little one latches on so it's kinda numb and you can avoid feeling all that pain with the initial latch.
I would avoid the nipple shields, but that's just my opinion. I've seen too many people not be able to wean off them and having to basically use them all the time.

I was too engorged for DS to latch properly in the hospital and ended up needing to use nipple shields so he would have something bigger to latch onto, they worked great for us but I was not able to stop using them until DS randomly decided he did not mind nursing without them at 6 months, and we never used them again

sisu · 10-20-2011, 02:40 PM

I had the same problem with DS, even the same side.

I'm sorry, I know how truly excruciating it is.

We nursed through it. Pumping was worse for me, and honestly, I suck at pumping, lol, so I was worried about supply problems if I went that route. I also didn't want to use shields, I was afraid they'd be a long-term thing of he got used to them so early on.

The good news was, since his latch is fixed, you should start healing quickly now. GOOD LUCK, and you can do it, mama!

marajade1023 · 10-20-2011, 05:32 PM

Its normal for a week in to have cracked even bleeding nipples. No cream or ointment compares to the healing power of breast milk. I can vouch for the fact that it works miracles! My nipples were bleeding, cracked, I just expressed some milk w/ my fingers at the end of every nursing, spread it around the nipples, and let myself air dry like that. It healed within 2 days flat! They went from bleeding and sore and cracked to healed and toughened up and good to go in that short of time!

lj2blessed · 10-20-2011, 05:50 PM

This happened to me and I tried everything BUT what the Lactation Support Group leader suggested (triple paste mixture of miconazole, hydrocortisone and neosporin) and my nipple did NOT heal! I finally got desperate at 6 weeks because I was returning to work in a few days, my nipple was healed in like 48 hours of applying the mixture!

Wish you the best

10-20-2011, 05:28 AM	#1
minneapolisite Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 3,651 Ratings: 6 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Help! 1 week in w/ a raw nipple -- strategies for healing it? This is my first baby and he's one week old today. We're latching great on right breast (zero pain) but my left nipple is chomped raw from poor latching. Just met with our pediatric nurse (who is also a lactation consultant), and she helped me relearn how to latch him better on the left side. In the meantime though, my left nipple is SO RAW. I am having a REALLY hard time feeding baby on it. Latching and the first 5-10 minutes are excruciating. I wasn't going to pump this early into the game, but I'm wondering if I could pump from that breast and feed from the other one for a few days to give the nipple a chance to heal? Would that hurt my supply or anything? Is it too early to pump? __________________ Wife of DPK (10/2006) Mother of DAK (10/2011) natural birthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, Catholic, full-time mom

10-20-2011, 05:42 AM	#2
Blindbatbeth Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NH Posts: 731 Ratings: 36 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Use a nipple shield! I always use one for the first 3 weeks then wean the baby off once my nipples are tough. It helps soooooooooo much!!! __________________ Sorta Crunchy & Sorta Crazywife and mommy to Bella 5.27.2009 and Lyra 9/23/11

10-20-2011, 12:31 PM	#5
minneapolisite Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 3,651 Ratings: 6 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Help! 1 week in w/ a raw nipple -- strategies for healing it? I have been using Lanolin on my nipples after every single latch since the very first latch. It's not dried out. Wish it were that easy! It's raw from getting chewed on from a bad latch. We solved the latching issue (I think!) but in the meantime it hurts like the ****ens. __________________ Wife of DPK (10/2006) Mother of DAK (10/2011) natural birthing, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, Catholic, full-time mom

10-20-2011, 02:40 PM	#8
sisu Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 6,571 Ratings: 44 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Help! 1 week in w/ a raw nipple -- strategies for healing it? I had the same problem with DS, even the same side. I'm sorry, I know how truly excruciating it is. We nursed through it. Pumping was worse for me, and honestly, I suck at pumping, lol, so I was worried about supply problems if I went that route. I also didn't want to use shields, I was afraid they'd be a long-term thing of he got used to them so early on. The good news was, since his latch is fixed, you should start healing quickly now. GOOD LUCK, and you can do it, mama! __________________ Kylee, married to my inimitable DH. Mama to my seraphic sweetheart (3.2010), my bodacious babe (11.2011), and impatiently awaiting someone new (8.2013).

10-20-2011, 05:32 PM	#9
marajade1023 Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 67 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100%	Re: Help! 1 week in w/ a raw nipple -- strategies for healing it? Its normal for a week in to have cracked even bleeding nipples. No cream or ointment compares to the healing power of breast milk. I can vouch for the fact that it works miracles! My nipples were bleeding, cracked, I just expressed some milk w/ my fingers at the end of every nursing, spread it around the nipples, and let myself air dry like that. It healed within 2 days flat! They went from bleeding and sore and cracked to healed and toughened up and good to go in that short of time!