A whole year, and NOW we have issues!!

I have breastfed DD since day one. I expected difficulty getting started, getting used to it, but it was great! The easiest part of parenting for me.

Until now :( Over a year later, my right nipple is a world of pain. Thankfully DD prefers the left, because I dread feeding on the right. There are three cracks on the top right that bleed, and one bottom left that bleeds. No positions help, they all suck.

At night I can't get her to sleep without both sides so it's a nightmare :( I have to express too, to keep my supply up and make sure she has milk while I'm at work, and a couple of times that's made it bleed too. This afternoon it didn't bleed but was painful. When I finished you could plainly see the cracks, it looked awful.

How can I help it to heal when I have to keep using it? I'm putting lansinoh on but I don't know how much that actually does. The left one was a bit grazed earlier too but has somehow just healed itself. What can I do for the right?

Sounds like an attachment issue, I'd go back to making sure you attach her correctly (like those easy days)
Xxx

I certainly think it's attachment that caused the problem. We both got lazy, especially in bed at night where I'd barely wake up and she'd latch on herself in the dark. I'm paying more attention now and making sure she opens her mouth wider and gets more in, but it's still seriously painful and seems to be getting worse :( Unfortunately I think the expressing isn't helping.

Sounds like you have some damaged and it is now infected - head to the doctor for an all purpose nipple creme like kennacomb or possibly oral antibiotics. You will be better in no time.

Bugger, I didn't even think about it being infected! Thanks for making me aware of that Barb. I'm already on antibiotics for a sinus infection, would taking two lots be a problem?

So maybe the creme would be better

Thanks :) Will call for an appointment.

Either that or thrush.

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The nice thing about the kenacomb is that it is a combined antifungal, antibacterial and antiinflammatory (the not-so-nice thing is that it's brown and gooey and a bit smelly) - so it's usually effective, regardless of the exact cause.

It sounds really nasty for you, you poor thing. As well as getting yourself checked out by a dr, are you able to maybe have a break for a day or so from expressing, just to minimise the trauma to your nipple & give it a bit more of a chance to heal?

Went to the GP this morning and yep, the right is infected. The left may get that way if I don't look after it too. I've been prescribed antibiotics and a cream to help with the pain.

I've been working on attachment, making sure her mouth is nice and wide, but the problem is when she wakes at might. She barely opens her mouth, just sucks the nipple into her mouth. I try opening her mouth with my finger and getting as much as possible in, but most times she gets seriously cranky at that!

Sorry to hear that kaytee, you will just have to force her. Though its hard to upset them you can't let her do it either. If she was biting you'd stop her right? Same kind of thing.

I had similar issues with DS latching in early days. Took a couple of weeks to retrain him how to do it properly. He used to latch great on one side and badly on other, go figure. But now all is going great, as long as he doesn't get distracted or try nibbling.

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Hope you recover quickly, and good luck.

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Thanks WM :) She's getting better, she figured out pretty quickly that I won't let her have it unless she opens her mouth really wide. So now I wait for her to open right up, then get as much in as possible before she shuts her mouth lol.

Picked up the abs and the cream today, doc reckons I'll be feeling better in three days. Fingers crossed!

sounds like it could be thrush also. Especially if you are already on AB's

The Dr didn't reckon it was thrush because there's no discharge, does that sound right? The only place you can see anything 'wrong' is where there are cracks. She also thought it was likely the abs I was on were helping but they finished about three days before the appointment.