Bitten nipple?

[DaydreamBeliever]

my dd has recently acquired her 2nd tooth and yesterday bit down while feeding. I now have a split on the bottom of my nipple and it is excruciating. I have been putting lansinoh on and using a cold gel pack, is there anything else I can do? I am persisting and feeding her still but worried I could make it worse or get mastitis.

[PumpkinZulu]

Mastitis is a blocked duct that has become infected, so I don't think you need to worry about that from a bite. You could use a nipple shield on the damaged side until it's healed enough to feed from again? It hurts sooo much when they break the skin

[Eenee]

I've had a bite which drew blood and honestly the best thing I did was left it alone and just put breast milk on after a feed and allowed to dry. I'd be not putting anything else on it and just wait it out and feed through the pain unless its showing signs of infection.

[DaydreamBeliever]

Thanks ladies, I meant infection not mastitis lol. I will try the BM after a feed

[~Kim~]

Oh my I feel your pain!! I have a biter who has split one nipple open more times than I care to count.



I actually found a bandaid helped. That and watching like a hawk and popping her off before her mouth changed. I actually had to stop the feeds before she did for a bit as she was too quick, but now I still watch her and pop my finger in and get hor off when I see her jaw change.
I found changing position helped. Fottball hold feeding a 12monther is no mean feat, but it helped, and also making sure her attachment was spot on every time helped lessen the pain.

again.

[OceanPrincess]

Ouch! That doesn't sound too good. I really think what Em suggests is a good idea:

I've had a bite which drew blood and honestly the best thing I did was left it alone and just put breast milk on after a feed and allowed to dry. I'd be not putting anything else on it and just wait it out and feed through the pain unless its showing signs of infection.

BM has all sorts of good things in it and it has natural healing properties.

Hope it clears up for you soon hun.

[Taurean]

Mastitis is a blocked duct that has become infected, so I don't think you need to worry about that from a bite. You could use a nipple shield on the damaged side until it's healed enough to feed from again? It hurts sooo much when they break the skin

You can actually get mastitis from a nipple wound, it's not always a blocked duct. I've had it several times with both my girls, never a blocked duct.

When I've had nipple damage my LC advised me to pump the damaged side for 24 hours to rest it. Lasinoh can sometimes make a decent sized wound worse so airing it and keeping it dry is usually a better option. I had annihilated nipples with both my girls in the early days (one due to poor attachment, the other from an undiagnosed tongue tie) and my LC suggested the above each time. Unfortunately I did get mastitis several times anyway so I ended up on ABs. Hopefully your crack heals soon. I think the frequent newborn feeds didn't help in my situation.

Good luck!

[DaydreamBeliever]

My bra is sticking to it and hurting each time it comes off so will try the airing out and have a day at home. Thank you so much ladies. I now watch her like a hawk and pop her off when she is nearly done. Saves my nipple

[Taurean]

Have you got some washable breast pads too? My bamboo Pea Pods breast pads were so nice to wear especially when the girls were damaged

[lise]

Keep a close eye on it - I had a similar bite from DS1 and for weeks it was agony. Ended up with blood poisoning! So if it doesn't clear up in a few days I'd see a gp. I found lots of air time and smothering in breast milk helped but ultimately I needed strong antibiotics. Hope it heals soon, I know your pain xx