Nipple fissure/crack... advice needed!

[BeccaMichelle]

After the first week of cracked, scabby, scary looking nipples we finally got the hang of things! Jess has always been a good feeder and very demanding about getting my supply to come in, but just when I thought everything was smoothing out I got this deep fissure (I think it's called) on my right nipple. Feeding on the left is a dream and we have no problems at all, but as soon as she's finished on the left I started to dread the next feed because I know it will be on the right side. The latch on is extremely painful and I have to make sure I don't gasp and scare her. After she's been on for a minute or two the pain lessens and I can deal with it, but I'm worried that if I continue to feed her on the right side it won't heal and will just hurt for ages.

I've been using the lanolin cream (I hate to think what it would be like without it!) So my question is.... should I use a pump and express on the right side to give it a chance to heal? and if so, should I 'pump and dump' and just feed her more often from the left side? Or should I let her have what was expressed in a bottle. She's only 3 weeks old (a little shy of that by a few days) and I really don't want to lose my baby to the bottle. I LOVE breastfeeding her, but I also don't want the pain to make me resent feeding my lovely baby. Her daddy is keen to be able to able so I can get a few minutes to myself and he'd love to be able to give her a bottle on occasion. This is our first and I really have no idea what I should be doing in this situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Shiv]

Hiya and well done for getting this far with breast feeding!! You are doing a great job

I can empathise completely, my left nipple was a mess for quite a while. You have several options open to you, but I woudl advise against giving a 3 week old a bottle, as you already seem to be aware about nipple confusion. Most HV's recommend waiting until 6 weeks to introduce a bottle.

If you do just keep feeding on your cracked nipple it will get better it might just take a while. I found that using lansinoh before a feed helped with the pain (no idea why!) Also air dry your nipple as much as possible. You can also put a little bit of breastmilk on your nipple to air dry after each feed. You can also get breast shells (a bit like coconut shells but seethrough!) that you can wear for short periods of time to stop your bra rubbing against your nipple.

However if you don't want to/can't just feed through teh pain you could try using a nipple shield (a little teat thing that goes over your nipple) this would reduce the pain and help tehhealing (although this could lead to nipple confusion the same way a bottle teat could)

You could express on the bad side to keep up your supply whilst only feeding on the good side. You could freeze the milk to use at a later date.

It will get better I promise!

 

[ShellysBelly]

I had one and what finally worked was using a shell full time. You're not supposed to as it compresses the ducts. Kept it wet with lanolin. It kept the nipple erect too so the pain when latching was less. I had a bit less milk in that breast for a while but I took a few days offering that one first and they're even again now. Watch out for ducts getting blocked if you decide to take that approach though.

 

[Samantha675]

Hiya and well done for getting this far with breast feeding!! You are doing a great job

I can empathise completely, my left nipple was a mess for quite a while. You have several options open to you, but I woudl advise against giving a 3 week old a bottle, as you already seem to be aware about nipple confusion. Most HV's recommend waiting until 6 weeks to introduce a bottle.

If you do just keep feeding on your cracked nipple it will get better it might just take a while. I found that using lansinoh before a feed helped with the pain (no idea why!) Also air dry your nipple as much as possible. You can also put a little bit of breastmilk on your nipple to air dry after each feed. You can also get breast shells (a bit like coconut shells but seethrough!) that you can wear for short periods of time to stop your bra rubbing against your nipple.

However if you don't want to/can't just feed through teh pain you could try using a nipple shield (a little teat thing that goes over your nipple) this would reduce the pain and help tehhealing (although this could lead to nipple confusion the same way a bottle teat could)

You could express on the bad side to keep up your supply whilst only feeding on the good side. You could freeze the milk to use at a later date.

It will get better I promise!

I second this. Also, don't wash your nipples when you are in the bath or shower. The only time I had cracks was when I went back to soaping them up. It drys them out and can cause cracking. They are self cleaning, so you don't have to worry.

 

[BeccaMichelle]

I was almost convinced to go ahead with the expressing and bottle feeding from one side (some parents at my OH's office told him that it worked for them) but I've been really worried about the whole nipple confusion thing and you guys have re-convinced me to persver until AT LEAST 6 weeks.

If I express on one side and just double up on feeds on the other side will that mess things up too much? (just to try to give the nipple a few hours to try and heal up)

Just so frustrating with the lack of sleep, baby blues and now painful nipples! Must keep reminding myself.. 'it's still not as bad as 22 weeks of morning sickness was.' I can do this.

 

[Samantha675]

Becca, if it is for a day or so, I don't think it will, it might take that side a day or so to catch back up, but you should be ok. I know it is super painful and frustrating as well. The first weeks are sooo freaking hard, and you think it won't end, but it does. We are always here, and you are doing a great job!

 

[Shiv]

I agree a day or so of feeding off the good one will not mess you up too much as long as you express regulalry off the sore nip. It may take a while (like a couple of days) for your boobs to even out supply wise but it won't do you or the baby any harm to have slighly wonky boobs

Good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[BeccaMichelle]

Thanks guys!

Kinda starting to panic as now I'm showing some signs of thrush. Deep aches and pains in the breast.. so far more on the side with the fissure but occasionally on both sides. I can really feel it in the right when I'm feeding on the left.. and strangely when I'm climbing the stairs they both start to hurt! Stupid crack!! argh!!

Health visitor is coming tomorrow... hopefully she'll be helpful. I just want things to start going smoothly!

I haven't gotten a pump yet.. I've just been feeding through the pain. (Come on nipple... HEAL!) I'll keep you updated. Thanks again!

 

[ShellysBelly]

It's not necessarily thrush, it could be from your breasts getting close to being engorged (which can happen a lot in the early weeks) and your breasts can ache for a good while even after they've been emptied. Also having a sore nip can refer the pain through the breast. Ask your doctor though, early treatment is a good idea if it is thrush.

 

[BeccaMichelle]

It's not necessarily thrush, it could be from your breasts getting close to being engorged (which can happen a lot in the early weeks) and your breasts can ache for a good while even after they've been emptied. Also having a sore nip can refer the pain through the breast. Ask your doctor though, early treatment is a good idea if it is thrush.

I mentioned my symptoms to my HV and she said it sounded like thrush, but I do feel a bit like I've self diagnosed myself. The gp is writing me a prescription without seeing me and now I'm worried about medicating me and baby if I'm wrong (always something new to worry about eh?)

The pain isn't constant but gets much worse in the evening... is there something else I should be keeping my eyes open for, to help me know for sure? I would have thought it was just nipple pain going deeper but since it's occasionally hurting in the other breast too I'm more concerned. Kinda a burning feeling as well.

Going to get some youghurt and some Acidophilus tonight...

 

[ShellysBelly]

The burning sounds familiar, to me it felt like the same itchy sting as vaginal thrush. Pink shiny nipples is supposed to be an outward sign but mine are normally pink anyhow.

Don't worry about the prescription, I did a lot of looking into the effects before taking it and the amount that passes into the milk is next to nothing. The oral solution for the baby (if you're using it) is safe too.
Healing the thrush will make the fissure heal and feeding will be miles easier. That was my experience anyway.

 

[BeccaMichelle]

Thanks

I just feel like I did this to myself with all the cake and cookies I've been having. I've had such a sweet tooth since Jess was born, today's my birthday, AND all my pregnancy weight has already come off so I just wasn't paying attention to all the sugar in my diet.. BAD MOMMY.

Hopefully I can pick up the prescription tomorrow.... I can't wait for breastfeeding to not hurt anymore!!

 

[ShellysBelly]

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

 

[BeccaMichelle]

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/BfN_Thrush_leaflet_Feb_2009.pdf

I'd actually just downloaded that a little while ago!

 

[Shiv]

I think Thrush usually can have white spots on the nipple, so something else to look out for.

I also got deep aching feelings and sometimes stabbing pains in my boobs when I was having nipple problems, although I never had thrush. I would try and see your GP face to face (or nipple to face ) to get a proper diagnosis if you can