Hi just wondering the best way to heal cracked nipples? I am expressing some milk and rubbing that over them and then letting them "air out" as much as I can during the day. I just find that when I go to attach I am cringing and just dread that first couple of minutes as the pain is toe curling....
I want to keep bf as I did with my other two little people and never had this problem but the pain is just so off putting.
Can I just express from that breast & feed her from the other or will that effect my supply?
THanks in advance
You can do that until it heals. It won't affect supply much at this stage.
Just be careful with lumps and so on - sometimes you don't empty as well with a pump as with a baby.
Some people find hand expressing is more comfy than pumping for cracked nipples.
And make sure that the pump flange is the correct size for your nipples so it doesn't make them worse. Your nipple should slide easily into the flange and not get squashed.
Hi TUP. I suffered terribly with sore cracked nipples too in the beginning it was just awful! The milk and air drying is good. If you can get a bit of sun on them too that can aide healing. I also used Lansinoh cream that was very soothing, just not too much or it can make them a bit soggy. There are also things called breast shells. They will keep your clothes off your nipples in between feeds HEAVEN!!! I didn't have them in the early days I soooo wish I did. I had a more recent incident with a breast pump, it bit me lol and I had one sore and bleeding nipple, I found breast shells then they were awesome! I did express from the sore one and feed from the other a few times, to rest it, just not too often, I was worried it would muck up my supply.
Maybe someone else can give you some more advice about the expressing.
Goodluck with it hope you get some relief soon
Hang in there I know it hurts, but you're doing a great job.
Addit: didn't see Kmn's post. There you go more expressing help
TUP, I agree with the others. Also it might be helpful to have your attachment checked or to try Baby Led Attachment. If your attachment needs some fine tuning it will take longer for your nipples to heal.
I had terribly cracked nipples to the point where they developed into very painful holes. We expressed from one side and fed from the least painful side until they healed and it affected my supply a little but we soon built it back up and we're still going strong almost 11 months later.
You're doing a great job hun, it certainly does get easier.
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Cracked Nipples
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