Healing nipples

[tee]

Dd is 5 days old. She is a good nurser. She nursed a lot during the first 2 days with a shallow latch and caused damage really quickly. We have worked on her latch and I think we are getting good place but my nipples are still really damaged (they're scabbed) and it's pretty painful. I'm left wondering how long this is going to take to heal? What else can I do? Will this have an effect on our nursing long term?

She's having plenty of wet and poopy diapers.

Right now I'm following Kelly moms advice for the saline rinse after each feed, followed by lanolin or lansinoh soothies sometimes. I'm using a warm compress before nursing (at the tail end of engorgement too) and Advil.

Thank you!!

[marshmallow]

You can put coconut oil on them. I also got a prescription for APNO ointment (all purpose nipple ointment). And Earth Mama Angel Baby makes a nipple butter. I used all 3 of these at different times after badly damaged nipples due to my son's tongue tie.
You may also want to consider seeing a lactation consultant to help confirm the latch is getting better.
Good luck and hang in there.

[ladybug15]

I agree with everything marshmallow said. I had damaged nipples and they eventually healed after about 3 weeks. My LO is 4 weeks now and nursing still isn't completely pain free but it is significantly improved, and I'm only feeling little twinges at the initial latch.

In addition to lanolin and earth mama angel baby cream, I also rubbed a little expressed milk on my nipples and let them air dry after each feeding. Also, keeping them exposed to air works wonders. I swear the greatest healing took place on days that I laid around topless!

Stick with it! You're doing great!

[ellabee]

[quote author="ladybug15" source="/post/510014/thread" timestamp="1423423934
In addition to lanolin and earth mama angel baby cream, I also rubbed a little expressed milk on my nipples and let them air dry after each feeding. Also, keeping them exposed to air works wonders. [/quote]
I recommend this too. Expressed milk and air drying really helped me!

ETA: quote fail

[flcl]

Congrats mama, you sound like you're on top of BF! LO was tongue tied so his latch was really shallow and the pain was bad. In the beginning, I used these hydrogels discs until things healed up. Then, like PPs mentioned, I used the EMAB nipple butter and expressed breastmilk. GL!

[sgio7485]

I highly recommend alternating between the soothies and earth mama angel baby. Worked wonders!

[taberbtb]

I will agree with what marshmallow said. I have used both the EMAB nipple butter and the APNO and they were life savers. My nips are completely healed after just a couple days and the one was in really awful shape due to a slightly shallow latch and nipple shape.

[whitney4126]

In addition to saline soaks and lanolin, my LC also told me I could use Neosporin and vitamin E. I alternated all of those and then also tried to occasionally let just let them be dry.

[fish8412]

It will get better I promise!! Use lanolin after every feeding AND after you shower. My nipples were cracked/bloody/painful for about the first 2 weeks. LO is 11 months and breastfeeding is still going strong, so there weren't any long lasting effects on our nursing relationship. You are doing awesome! Hang in there!

[Deleted]

Once my LC told me to start using bacitracin (she rec'd this over Neosporin, FWIW) after feelings I started healing much faster than when I was just relying on Laniolin!

Congrats and hang in there!

[blueflower]

Expressing breastmilk and allowing it to air dry and then placing the soothies on is a good idea. I second having a IBCLC watch a feeding and ensure the latch is good,and she may be able to get a prescription for a nipple ointment if needed.

[jax1182014]

I second getting a prescription to help you heal faster. I had scabs and blood on my nipples from a shallow latch. LO ended up being tongue tied. Good luck!

[Deleted]

I'm gonna cover a few things.

APNO is a good idea, it contains an antifungal, antibacterial (bacitracin), pain relieving creme, and a steroid creme. It's a bit of overkill for most situations, as it's likely like the bacitracin will heal if it's damage, and an antifungal would heal if it's thrush. cool compresses alternating with motrin can help with the swelling and inflammation.

some feel you should wipe off any bacitracin on the nips- I would probably do so if you are putting on tons and it is noticeable.

It is not recommended to use Vitamin E on your nips anymore. That is an old recommendation and can cause vitamin E toxicity to baby.

and get more help in person if it doesn't resolve. you may be dealing with a tongue tie or other issue that needs to be fixed before nursing can be pain free.