So I'm exclusively pumping for our 3 week old using a Freestyle. One of my nipples is really cracked (like 4/5 of the way towards a complete circle around the nipple).
I've been slathering lanolin on it after each pumping session but it isn't seeming to get any better. Is there anything else I can do to help it? Thankfully they aren't bleeding (yet) but they really hurt whenever I pump.
nectarine / 2705 posts
Owie 
Hugs! Can you try to put a little breastmilk on it? That always seemed to be the magical healer for all things boob related. Also make sure that the pump phalange size is not too small.
ETA: I'd see a lactation consultant if it persists.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Can you ask for some APNO cream? It has a steroid to speed up healing. It was awesome for me
grapefruit / 4355 posts
@sweetooth: I rub breast milk on it and let it dry before adding the lanolin. I've checked my flange size and, based on the images I can find online, it seems to be the right size/fit. Maybe I should try an appointment with the LC at our peds office.
@blackbird: Is that a prescription? Or can I just go pick it up somewhere?
clementine / 856 posts
also, what brand lanolin are you using? i started off with Medela and it was terrible. I thought the Lansinoh was much more effective.
pear / 1639 posts
Are you using the pump at full suction? If so, try turning it down. I did that in the early days thinking stronger suction=more milk but turning it down didn't change my output and saved my poor nipples!
squash / 13764 posts
@Mrs.KMM: you need a prescription for APNO and it needs to be made at a compounding pharmacy, but it is magic!!
pear / 1697 posts
Are you lubing up your flanges? You can use olive oil, lanolin, or any other "nipple butter" that doesn't need to be washed off before direct breastfeeding
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@Mrs.KMM: it's a prescription that my OB wrote me but I've read you can make your own mix with an anti fungal and neisporin and something else?....yours might be willing to just prescribe it over the phone. I got mine in the hospital (they have a compounding pharmacy) and my OB never saw me. It was $25 without insurance
grapefruit / 4355 posts
@BabyTsMom: I'm already using the Lansinoh.
@gentlelunette: I'm not sure what you mean by the base of the nipple vs on the surface? The almost circular crack runs millimeters outside of the very center point of my nipple.
@lilyofthewest: I haven't been lubing the flanges but where the crack is never touches flange. Do you think it would still help?
@Mrs. Taco: nope - I'm actually using one of the lower levels of suction.
@Mrs.Someone: @blackbird: @hilsy85: Sounds like I need to get my hands on this APNO!
pear / 1696 posts
@Mrs.KMM: You need to put lanolin (or coconut oil or olive oil) on your nipples *before* you pump, ever time. Also it sounds like the cracks may be at the base of your nipple which probably means the flanges are too small. Go up a size and see if that helps. You could hand express your milk while your skin heals:
http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression.html
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/130/how-to-manually-express-breastmilk---the-marmet-technique
kiwi / 698 posts
@Mrs.KMM: I had a crack that was at the base of the nipple, where the nipple starts and aereola ends, that was about 2/3 of the circumference. It took 9 weeks to heal, two refills of APNO and a product called MediHoney Wound Paste. So if your crack was at the base, I'd be saying 1) How are you still pumping?! You must be a warrior because the pain I felt was out of control; 2) Get some APNO, but also invest in the medihoney. It really sped up my healing and is safe for baby to ingest because the botulism has been radiated out of it.
grapefruit / 4355 posts
@gentlelunette: Where do you buy this MediHoney wound paste? As for still pumping, I take ibuprofen and battle through. The pain is worst during the first couple minutes but once I hit letdown and get the slower suction, it isn't bad.
kiwi / 698 posts
@Mrs.KMM: I was only able to find it at one naturopathic store near me, but they sell it on Amazon. It's not cheap, but it goes a long way. I alternated between medihoney and APNO, and it still took 9 whole weeks to heal (it was also very deep).
Good luck... you ARE a warrior. I couldnt pump (and still can't) off that side. Nursing was painful enough!! Hope you heal quickly!
http://www.amazon.com/MEDIHONEY-WOUND-PASTE-Size-1-5/dp/B002GO73CQ
kiwi / 698 posts
@Mrs.KMM: I should also mention, the medihoney was recommended to me by the lactation consultant I saw at the Jack Newman Breastfeeding Clinic when I went. I was reluctant to use a honey based product, but they assured my it's safe for baby to ingest in small quantities and they recommend it to women with really bad cracks.
pear / 1548 posts
@gentlelunette: my LC recommended medihoney to me yesterday! I ordered the gel on Amazon, not the paste based on reviews. What do you think of it so far? I've been using APNO, but she thought Medihoney would be worth trying.
kiwi / 698 posts
@Boopers: honestly, I think it really helped speed up the healing process. My crack was so deep, so the medihoney filled the wound and healed it from the inside out. I also wore Medela TheraShells exclusively for the 9 weeks though so that my clothes wouldn't rub off the APNO/medihoney.
pear / 1548 posts
@gentlelunette: interesting! Did your LC mention having to wash it off before nursing? From what I read you can use it on all sorts of wounds and even on pets! It seems handy to keep around the house even after the cracked nipples have healed. I ordered it the other day and I'm waiting for it to get here.
kiwi / 698 posts
@Boopers: The LC didn't mention it, but I would wipe off any excess. I never went so far as to wash off with each feeding, though. If it was handy, I would wet the cloth so I got more off, but if not, I just got as much as I could. I finished my tube, but I agree, it would probably come in handy in the future!
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