cracked and bleeding nipple :(

my LO has completely destroyed my left nipple.., its cracked and bleeding. So I've been exclusively nursing on the right side and she's gotten the latch perfect and it doesn't hurt anymore.

I'm TERRIFIED to offer the left breast again. I've been hand expressing and freezing because even the pump hurts. Am I gonna dry up on the left side? I'm considering using it if I have to but the thought makes me wanna cry.

Any suggestions?

Do you put on lanolin after each feeding?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Viv, Ev & Gwen ♥:</b>" Do you put on lanolin after each feeding?"</blockquote>



Yes and I still do which is why I think my right has gotten so much better.

Quoting waiting on little luna!:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Viv, Ev & Gwen ♥:</b>" Do you put on lanolin after each ... [snip!] ... lanolin after each feeding?"</blockquote> Yes and I still do which is why I think my right has gotten so much better."

Then sadly there's not a whole lot you can do except grit your teeth and suffer through until it heals   Warm compresses and showers can help soothe too.

Continue to put lanolin and it will clear up. Ive read some mamas have put neosporin on, but had to wipe it off with each feeding. There has to be more out there, perhaps warm tea bags that helps sooth and heal (camomile) google search it. Oh, and also vitamin E Oil i think.. Don't be surprised if your milk supply *in that boob* drops. Especially if you are only hand expressing (as opposed to pumping I mean). While I personally didn't want that, you can build up the supply again (more nursing, increased supply) and if you really had to you can exclusively bf from your right without problems, just so you are aware. I am just assuming you are a first time booby feeder, so just so you don't over analyze, my right boob makes at least twice if not more the ammount my left does, usually one boob is the super boob (just in case that happens to you and you think it's because she wasn't eating on that side).

Quoting eKnuckles:" Continue to put lanolin and it will clear up. Ive read some mamas have put neosporin on, but had to ... [snip!] ... one boob is the super boob (just in case that happens to you and you think it's because she wasn't eating on that side)."

This is true too, my right made waaaay more than my left and was like twice the size, and I alternated feedings, so it wasn't a demand issue.

If your left supply drops you can always work 2x as hard and it will eventually get back up to normal, too.

Quoting Viv, Ev & Gwen ♥:" Do you put on lanolin after each feeding?"

   

The only things that helped with my cracked/bleeding nips was putting breast milk and/or coconut oil on them.

My baby was biting my nipples and causing them to crack and bleed. I went out and purchased a nipple shield it cost 11$ and saved my nipples. It helps so much and helps baby latch on proper. Try that out....you will be so happy with it.

if baby patches well on one side, offer the other side from the opposite direction to trick baby into latching the same.

Thanks for the tips!

I was thinking about a nipple shield so ill definitely look into that. and I didn't know I could use coconut oil! I have so much of that!

A huge concern was my left breast becoming totally useless and LO not getting enough on the right.

I'll continue hand expressing for another day or two and then try introducing her back to it  

Be careful that you dont get into that rut, i had a similar problem with My DD (npw2) and ended up having to top up and eventually she got nipple confusion and total breast refusal, the best advice i can give you is to run a nice bath in a very warm bathroom and get in with your LO and try latching on to the 'naff' breast even if you can only bare it for 10 seconds or failimg that you could try hand expressing http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/Health-Professionals/Care-Pathways/Breastfeeding/First-days/Hand-expressing/ from that side.
good luck and dont give up
E xx

Quoting waiting on little luna!:" Thanks for the tips! I was thinking about a nipple shield so ill definitely look into that. and I didn't ... [snip!] ... getting enough on the right. I'll continue hand expressing for another day or two and then try introducing her back to it  "

Be careful of the nipple shield. An LC made me use one and from then on my LO refused to take my nipple. I had to BF with the nipple shield every time and it was painful with it on. It completely ruined our ability to BF. I learned later on that its use is controversial in the LC world.

I had to use a nipple shield with my first because my nipples were too flat and he couldn't get a good latch...it helped to draw them out so then he could latch on properly. We had no issues from then on, but I can understand how it might cause issues.

My right nipple was also cracked and bleeding within the first week...I just grit my teeth every time she nursed on that side and put lanolin on after every feeding and it healed in a couple days. It was super painful, though! I feel for you.

Both of mine are sore and bleeding ... I've tried the lanolin and it didn't seem to help I eventually got a pump and pumped every second feed just to give them a break. They still sore but haven't got worse, so I just brace myself and wait for it to pass.
It doesn't help when he chews on them :/ I never had this issue with my first.