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Red, raw nipples for the last 3 months

Stella2008Stella2008 member
in Breastfeeding

So I feel really stupid posting this, but it is finally occuring to me that this is not getting any better. I'm thinking I should probably just find a lactation consultant but feel kind of embarassed that I have let it go on for this long.I think I have just gotten so used to it being like this that I did not do anything about it.

I tried to nurse DD for about a week. She did great for a few days, and then had a poor latch for a few feedings which caused my nipples to get really red, sore, and cracked to the point of bleeding. After living with this pain for a few more days, I decided that I would just EP (I did this for almost a year with DD #1 with no issues). 

However, my nipples never really healed from that initial "trauma". Every day I cover them with lanolin and a non-stick bandage, and go along with my day--pumping 3-4 times with the larger size breast shields. The areola of both is bright red, puffy with peeling/cracked skin, and sore. They still sometimes bleed.

I am so sick of this and am at a loss--is this normal? Should I try any other home remedies, or just call a lactation consultant or my OB?  I never had any of these issues with my first BF experience and just don't know what to do.

Will baby #3 be another girl?


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Re: Red, raw nipples for the last 3 months

  • Mrs. Sarah&MicahMrs. Sarah&Micah

    Do you let them air dry at all?

    My LC told me 2 solutions for sore nipples:

    1. Make a triple paste (anti-fungal, Bacitracin and Anti-itch creams all mixed together) and put on nipple and air dry

    2. Use expressed breastmilk, dab on sore areas and air dry.

    I am thinking since you put lanolin and then cover with a bandage, you are keeping the moisture in and not letting it dry out/heal.

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  • ebp913ebp913 member
    Definitely let them air dry.  Keeping them covered is probably not helping.  Expressed breastmilk also works well.  Lots of airdrying!  If you have a private yard and can sit topless in the sun, that can help too.
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  • farmlinzfarmlinz
    Other things my LC told me: soak nipples after a feeding or pumping in a salt water solution, like 1/2 teaspoon salt to one cup warm water, soak for as long as you like/have time for a few times each day. Also can use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin after feeding. But definitely have your dr or a LC help you, there is no reason for you to hurt this bad for this long! I'll warn you, once we fixed all our problems it still took weeks for my nipples to heal, but now we are nursing and pumping great! Good luck!
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  • jayleigh68jayleigh68 member

    imagefarmlinz:
    Other things my LC told me: soak nipples after a feeding or pumping in a salt water solution, like 1/2 teaspoon salt to one cup warm water, soak for as long as you like/have time for a few times each day. Also can use antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin after feeding. But definitely have your dr or a LC help you, there is no reason for you to hurt this bad for this long! I'll warn you, once we fixed all our problems it still took weeks for my nipples to heal, but now we are nursing and pumping great! Good luck!

    This is what my LC told me to do to fix my nipples. Worked great!  

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