https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 29 May 2026 15:51:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-784922 Thu, 16 May 2013 06:58:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 784922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like you are healing nicely for only being 2 weeks out. </p> <p>I know this sounds crazy, but sunlight is amazing for healing. Do you have a back yard or a sunny window where you could let them air out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-784773 Thu, 16 May 2013 03:46:37 +0000 lamariniere 784773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had terrible, painful cracks. I used apno for awhile on the lactation consultant's recommendation and then, honestly, I switched to Neosporin. Neosporin really sped up the healing to a few days. All of this was probably before LO was 8 weeks. Breastfeeding did not get "easy"/pain free until he was about 10-11 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783526 Wed, 15 May 2013 13:57:34 +0000 MamaJ 783526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It felt like forever. I think they healed around 8 weeks or so. I only had it really bad on one side and used a nipple shield on that side until it healed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783507 Wed, 15 May 2013 13:48:40 +0000 COmom 783507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel for you, my cracks took about 8 weeks to heal doing pretty much everything you mentioned and multiple follow ups with a lactation consultant. They were so painful that I was more afraid of that pain instead of labor when I got pregnant with my second. The good news is that my 2nd daughter is here and my nipples only hurt for the 1st week and no cracks appeared! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783273 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:32:15 +0000 hilsy85 783273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hergreenapples: I know what you mean--I 100% thought that my nipples would just be painful and cracked forever. But it does get better! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783268 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:30:56 +0000 ladyfingers 783268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple of weeks, I think? They definitely did heal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783241 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:24:22 +0000 heartonastring 783241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hilsy85: @LemonLong: @shopaholic: Okay, all this info actually makes me feel better! I was starting to worry that if they weren't healed by now they never would be. Glad to know that they should heal in time even with continuous BFing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783164 Wed, 15 May 2013 12:03:50 +0000 shopaholic 783164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hergreenapples: I had REALLY bad, deeply cracked nipples on both sides. To the point I asked my OB at my 6 week pp appt. if they could/would need stitches! (The answer was they don't do that, if you wondered...) But even the OB was like "wow! that is pretty bad! I've just kept at using the APNO and the pain finally started subsiding around week 7-8. I just noticed this week (10) that they have seemed to start healing a bit. </p> <p>I think a lot of it had to do milk supply and baby no longer sucks very hard. Actually, she sucks so gently now and takes her time eating. Whereas before she would suck really hard (but had a proper latch) but eat for only 5-7 min. </p> <p>I have hope that it will eventually heal entirely, though I wouldn't have thought that 2 weeks ago! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783143 Wed, 15 May 2013 11:57:36 +0000 LemonLong 783143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took me six weeks before breastfeeding became bearable. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-783133 Wed, 15 May 2013 11:54:25 +0000 hilsy85 783133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took about 5-6 weeks for my nipples/breasts to look mostly normal. I had major cracks/bleeding/scabs, and with the help of APNO and motherlove nipple cream, they were better by 5/6 weeks. They were still sore/painful, however, until about 8.5/9 weeks. </p> <p>Sounds like you're doing everything right! It just takes time, especially as, like you said, you're breastfeeding constantly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-badly-cracked-nipples#post-782663 Wed, 15 May 2013 10:20:22 +0000 heartonastring 782663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...how long did they take to heal?</p> <p>I posted about a week and a half ago about our struggles with BFing on account of pain/cracked nipples. I've since met twice with an AMAZING LC (the third one I've seen since DD was born three weeks ago), and we made some small positioning and latch changes that have made a huge difference in BFing.</p> <p>The problem is that I'm not sure if the cracks (which were described by the LC as "deep trauma") are healing. BFing only hurts for the first couple seconds now, but the cracks are definitely still there.</p> <p>I'm using APNO (although not so much now, because it can thin skin after extended use and I've been using it for two weeks now), Motherlove ointment, and sometimes just coconut oil. During the day I wear breast shells to keep my clothes from rubbing on my nipples. I try to let them air dry after BFing. </p> <p>I feel like I'm doing all the right things, but am starting to really worry that so long as I'm BFing they may never heal.</p> <p>What was your experience with healing time? </p>