https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:05:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-662805 Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:59:20 +0000 Ginger333 662805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic - it'll take a few days to heal, let them air out after you apply the APNO if you can, sun and air are good for healing nipples. And yeah, it stings a bit :( but it'll be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-662723 Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:43:44 +0000 shopaholic 662723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ginger333: this is what I was prescribed Newmans ointment it says. They told me the same, no need to wipe it off. My cracks haven't healed yet, but don't appear to be getting worse. It stings when I put it on, but I think it will take some time to heal (especially when I'm still BFing and pumping). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-662596 Sat, 23 Mar 2013 09:55:41 +0000 Ginger333 662596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hilsy85 - Dr. Newman's APNO doesn't have to be wiped off before feeding. Some other creams you might, but i know from using it that this one doesn't have to be.<br /> I used it with this last baby and his APNO was awesome - total life (nipple?) saver! Hope it works for you.<br /> Dr. Jack Newman does take e-mail questions through his website - <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=62&#038;Itemid=33" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=62&#038;Itemid=33</a><br /> You could ask him what he thinks about using a nipple shield in your situation. He usually replies very promptly and I've gotten really great advice from him in the past.<br /> Hope you find a solution, what you're dealing with sounds really painful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-652630 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:42:52 +0000 hilsy85 652630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebittyhouse: ha I think we posted the same link! :) Great minds... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-652589 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:20:46 +0000 shopaholic 652589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: Interesting! Okay, will try that today! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-652587 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:19:40 +0000 swurlygurl 652587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you have any on hand, you might also want to try coconut oil. I've read that eczema can be caused by a lack of lauric acid. During breastfeeding, your milk takes almost all your lauric acid, so if you're prone to eczema you break out really bad with it. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid.</p> <p>Right after I started breastfeeding, my whole body broke out in eczema patches everywhere - it was crazy! Coconut oil cleared it right up!</p> <p>Plus, it won't hurt if the baby ingests any coconut oil! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-652540 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:00:43 +0000 shopaholic 652540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies for the tips! I got a prescription for that APNO called in and going to pick it up today. Fingers Crossed it helps and works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-649876 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:59:04 +0000 littlebittyhouse 649876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't suffer from this but I did have really raw/itchy nips due to my anatomy. Basically LO did not have to have a deep latch to get good milk flow and sometimes a deep latch would case him to gag. </p> <p>Hydrogels never worked for me either - it was more about the constant rawness as opposed to cracking/bleeding.</p> <p>I agree with the shells - so helpful in the healing process. The APNO is a lifesaver. You can read more about it here: <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&#038;catid=5:information&#038;Itemid=17" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&#038;catid=5:information&#038;Itemid=17</a></p> <p>I would feed, rub breastmilk, air dry, APNO. Somedays were good, some days were awfulbut 8mo later here we are. I sill get some soreness sometimes but it is nothing like the glass shards in the beginning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-649546 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:58:16 +0000 shopaholic 649546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandy: @hilsy85: Thanks Ladies! I'm going to call my OB today and ask about it. After using my prescription ointment 2xs yesterday, it already feels significantly better. It's just the wiping off part that's a hassle and painful and I worry about baby ingesting any of it.</p> <p>@Ms.SK: Yeah, all the nurses at our hospital are IBCLC and they're very vocal about it and all their breast-feeding stuff. No, I didn't know about the laws covering it! I will have to look into it and see if I can get it covered which would be nice! I've used Org. Coconut Oil as just moisturizer before, but it's for sure not tough enough for treating my eczema. But thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-649015 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:38:34 +0000 Ms.SK 649015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My best advice is to pay to see only a IBCLC, not just a LC. They really are worth their weight in gold! There is a difference between the two. I would wait until you see a IBCLC until you try the breastshields. Also, did you know with the new healthcare laws IBCLC are a covered expense (just like your breast pump)? You may not have to pay at all. Have you tried using Organic Coconut Oil? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648993 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:20:06 +0000 hilsy85 648993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: eta that the APNO has steroids in it, but you don't need to wipe it off prior to nursing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648992 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:19:16 +0000 hilsy85 648992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had major cracks on my nipples, but it wasn't due to eczema...however, the BEST product I used was all purpose nipple ointment. It seriously healed everything in like 2-3 days. I would talk to your ob or an LC and see if they think it would help (not sure how it would affect eczema). But it seriously is a miracle product for healing nipples.@sandy: it really is as good as people say!!! It is a compound med, so it needs to be specially made. If the pharmacy/your doctor doesn't know the mixture, this site has it (and has lots of other good info):<br /> <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&#038;catid=5:information&#038;Itemid=17" rel="nofollow">http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&#038;view=article&#038;id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&#038;catid=5:information&#038;Itemid=17</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648860 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:16:15 +0000 sandy 648860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: I feel your pain bc I have eczema too...developed it later in life...and like you I had a flare-up that affected my nipples and it was sooooo painful. I was soooo worried it was going to prevent breastfeeding. I don't have any specific advice bc by some miracle my eczema was not an issue during breastfeeding...but I did have a lot of pain/blistering//cracking...and for me the medela brand lanolin worked best. I got super desperate and had a prescription called into a special pharmacy (it has to be one where they'll mix the medication for you...I forget what it's called but your doc will know)...for All Purpose Nipple Cream...I heard it is the miracle product. I called my OB's office and they found the pharmacy for me and has it ordered for me...but magically my pain resolved itself over the weekend and I never went to pick it up. I never believed it when people told me that the pain of breastfeeding suddenly goes away but it is kind of like that...you are in pain for weeks and suddenly the pain isn't so bad. </p> <p>Have you talked to your local Le Leche League group...they usually have helpful suggestions too. Hang in there and good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648830 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:42:33 +0000 SAHM0811 648830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Instead of a nipple shield, you could use breast shells in between feedings. These allow your nipples to be open to air when not bf'ing. you put them in your nursing tank or bra in between feeds. Cracked and sore nipples need to air out to heal, so these help with that! They totally helped me bf successfully with #2 (whereas I wasn't so successful with #1 and I didn't know about them back then). We used the Medela brand shells. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648767 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:26:35 +0000 MusicaV 648767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have eczema, but my nipples are full of gashes from DS. We're still trying to figure out why (DS has a good latch), but in the meantime I was using a combo on Lotrimin, triple antibiotic, and hydrocortisone ointment. It seemed to be helping to heal, but I still was feeling pain - and more bleeding than before. I'm going to try olive oil again tonight - it's not going to help heal, but it will soothe.</p> <p>I also tried breast milk, lanolin, and gel pads. They didn't help me at all either.</p> <p>When DS was born, I used the nipple shield because he wasn't opening his mouth enough to get a good latch. I'm not sure if a shield would help or not in your situation. I hated the nipple shield because it took longer to start the feeding and was generally a pain to use. I weaned him after about 2 weeks on the shield.</p> <p>Are there any BFing support groups in your area where you can talk to an LC for free? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-feeding-amp-eczema#post-648730 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:47:27 +0000 shopaholic 648730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know there have been a ton of posts (even recently) on breast-feeding, but I'm having an issue I hope maybe someone on HB here can relate to and has experience with?</p> <p>I've had eczema all my life. It actually makes my nipples crack very easily and quite often most of my adult life. I have to use a pretty strong steroid ointment to heal it when it happens. I KNEW this would be an issue with BF'ing and sure enough, my nipples are cracked and the first few minutes of BF'ing are always extremely painful. The Lactation Nurse in my BF'ing class suggested breast milk and lanolin to moisturize the area. It's simply not enough. I've bought Hydrogel pads, cooling pads, and various nipple creams. But with the constant BF'ing, they just can't heal. I didn't want to use my prescription steroid medication, but finally today, had to use some and was VERY meticulous about wiping it off before feeding. But even that part was torturous!</p> <p>K doesn't have any problem latching and I was told by several of the nurses (all certified LC) that she has a great latch. I feel like if I go see another private LC, it will be a waste of $. If I go see the dermatologist, it will just be about what medication to use. </p> <p>I wonder if a nipple-shield during feeding would help the nipple heal? But I also read about nipple shield weaning and I don't have any other problem related to normal nipple shield use. </p> <p>Anyone else suffer from this problem and did you find a solution? </p>