Lanolin use

KatieFNP1984 · November 2014

My mom says that she discourages use of lanolin and suggests I just express some breast milk to rub over my nipples at the end of the breastfeeding session. I was surprised to hear and I can't remember her exact reasoning for this but I do trust her as she has 30 years of experience as a labor & delivery nurse. Have you all heard similar advice? I'm interested to know. Thanks. Edited for typo

BackseatDriver · November 2014

Yes I have heard that. I thin antibodies in breast milk are supposed to help protect against thrush and so forth. I haven't heard that using lanolin was bad though. I used lanolin while pumping.

KatieFNP1984 · November 2014

That's right! I remember her saying that about the protection of the breast milk and it wasn't so much "don't use" lanolin, just that she didn't see it necessary.

letsgox · November 2014

Yes, breastmilk definitely has healing qualities. When DD had scratched her face very early on, the pedi suggested putting milk on it and it healed quickly (which happens anyway I suppose).

I used either based on whether or not I had two hands available or just one. But definitely lanolin with pumping!

LuckyPenny1231 · November 2014

I found breast milk is good, but early on when she was learning to latch and my poor nipples were torn up, breast milk wouldn't cut it and I needed the lanolin.

Mrs_Bennett · November 2014

Breastmilk definitely does help with healing, but I'd encourage you to have some lanolin (or other nipple butter) on hand for if you need it. If you get cracks or cuts on your nipple, you will need something more than milk to help it heal up before your next feeding session. And, when LO starts teething, you will for sure need something!

Stephij1 · November 2014

Yep. Breast milk is magic! I hated lanolin, but I regularly used coconut oil if breast milk wasn't cutting it. Coconut oil has some pretty decent antimicrobial properties too.

YaMrWhite · November 2014

I will definitely still use lanolin on my nips but breast milk is good for sure. I put a drop or two in my daughters eye after she was first born and had some
goop/puffiness and it cleared it right up. Nurse hotline helped me figure that out.

robsbabygirl08 · November 2014

I used lanolin on DD's dry scaly feet when she was a newborn. It worked great!

Trek3 · November 2014

I used both in the beginning and later just breast milk unless I was having issues.

Squeeze a bit out, rub it in, LET IT DRY!!!!! (prevent yeast growth), then rub in nipple cream if needed for extra healing. Make sure you keep your breast pads/bra dry.

mshepherd20 · November 2014

Yep, I used breastmilk for my nipples with both babies. I also used it when my son had a clogged tear duct. It is amazing stuff...hence "liquid gold".

mellie86041 · November 2014

My DD would refuse to latch if there was even the slightest bit of lanolin. I used either breastmilk or coconut oil.

thompnia · November 2014

Never used lanolin when I nursed. I never had cracked or sore nipples, though.

Mom2anAngel2 · December 2014

I only used lanolin when I had cracked nipples during the first few cluster feeds (BM just wasn't cutting it). I never needed to use anything at any other time, so the only experience I have had using BM was that it didn't help.

AggieMom0809 · December 2014

I did the bm, but there were times that that wasn't enough to protect again the chaffing.

KatieFNP1984 · December 2014

Thanks girls.

Bigboneded · December 2014

I've heard either works. I just got some nipple butter , cause mine were dried out and hurt and not really having breast milk just yet... :-)

Britt1406 · December 2014

I'm another in the "both" group. BM alone just wouldn't cut it at some points.

Smelh324 · December 2014

Anyone notice that lanolin stains their bras/clothing? My friend who gave birth about a month ago said she didn't care for the consistency and heard it stains. I don't know that I care if the consistency is weird, but if I wash a load of clothes and they all come out with grease stains, I might mind a little more! Maybe nip pads will protect from it getting on bras in the first place?

rodiesmum · December 2014

Used it a lot on cracking nipa the last time

Trek3 · December 2014

Smelh324 said:

Anyone notice that lanolin stains their bras/clothing? My friend who gave birth about a month ago said she didn't care for the consistency and heard it stains. I don't know that I care if the consistency is weird, but if I wash a load of clothes and they all come out with grease stains, I might mind a little more! Maybe nip pads will protect from it getting on bras in the first place?

I highly recommend using with nipple pads. They will protect your clothes, absorb leaks, and also give a little soft cushioning to sore nips.

@saiven I bough some EMAB nipple butter, it seems really nice and smells like cocoa butter (one of the main ingredients). I will be using both EMAB and lanolin on and off.

I love coconut oil for just about anything, but I won't be using it during breastfeeding as both my girls get eczema from coconut - don't want to take the chance of it irritating this baby.

Lanolin use

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