I have a hole in my boob- picture included

[apmomma2my3girls]

So, I have a 6 1/2 week old. We've had our share of troubles getting started but nursing is going swimmingly now. She was tonguge tied then we batled thrush for a month. I had severely damaged nipples. Now one side is healed!! yay!! The other has a big gapping hole that will not go away away. We have been completely thrush free for almost 2 weeks now. I have tried everything. Compared to the pain I lived with through the thrush, I shouldn't even complain because that was hell. My nipple hurts now when she latchs on, but so long as she has a good latch then it doesn't hurt at all while she nurses.

I bought the expensive silverette cups hoping that would do the trick. They didn't work. I wore them 24/7 for 2 1/2 days (60 hours) and only removed them twice to take a shower and while I was nursing. I even wore them when I went out in public and they aren't very descreate but I did have to take my kid to kindergarten. I don't even think they had a small difference. I did the baking soda paste on them every time I removed them (for a shower or before returning them after nursing) I put a drop of milk in them every time. I didn't use anything else on my nipples. Why didn't they work for me?

I've been using APNO cream on them (the Jack Newman stuff) my LC got perscribed for me. I express some breast milk and let it dry before putting the cream on. I didn't use the cream for a one day to see if that helped but it feels better between feeding if I do because otherwise it starts to scab over and attach itself to my bra or nursing pad.

What else can I do? Very occasionally it does bleed a lot (it use to bleed every time she nursed but not since we got rid of the thrush). I only nurse one side per feeding, so it gets longer rest then normal.

Oh, I only pumped for 48 hours worth of feedings on that side and gave her a bottle for those feedings, and that also made no difference. It doesn't hurt at all to pump and she takes a bottle fine. I have a nipple sheild and I tried to use that, the problem is she bites it, every time, and that hurts SO much when she does it, I would rather not use it at all because I live in fear she will bite it, it hurts more when she bites it then when she latches on.

I did have a crack on my other nipple that finally healed this week, but it was actually a crack, this side is a hole, not a crack! I have included a picture so you can see what I'm talking about.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=244205979/PictureID=5790143153/a=8019064_8019064/t_=8019064

[KatieLou]

Your pic link did not work.

We battled thrush and TT so I feel for you.

I had a hole in my breast once after DS bit the crud out f me. It would start to heal, but then each time I would nurse DS it would break back open. It took weeks to heal.

The only thing that would takw the pressure off of it a bit was a differant nursing postion for DS.

[apmomma2my3girls]

not sure why I can't get the link to work, here's the link: http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=244205979/PictureID=5790143153/a=8019064_8019064/t_=8019064

[KatieLou]

Ouch. I don't have any advice for you, but i know that it is painful. (((hug))) It is right in the center to, my was more on the side, so a differant nursing position would help slightly. Hang in here, and hopefully someone will chime in.

[Joyto5]

Do you know when it happened? I'm not sure why it's there.. I am missing part of my nipple from my 2nd child. Bad latch that I didn't correct soon enough. I'm not sure if that's missing nipple or an open sore.

[majubee30]

oh my goodness! that gave me shivers! I really feel for you! I am guessing your LC has seen it?

[Brianna]

Ouch. That looks so painfull. Hang in there.

[Jacksmommy]

The only thing I know of that is supposed to help speed healing is silverette. Other things may help with pain, but it sounds like you're actually improving. Maybe just keep using silverette for a while longer and see if it helps? Hope you're better soon. Oh, you're still taking vitamins, right? Good nutrition and vitamins, I think, help with overall healing.

[gravel10]

I am so sorry, I feel for u! I have a a piece missing from my left nipple, never came back :( my LC told me to do sea salt and water dips. I also had saline wipes I used. Salt water did wonders for my cracked nipples. she said to do them 4-6 times a day. I never had that much time so I did them like 2 a day. Good luck I hope you feel better soon.

[Amy_G_]

It looks like at one time your nipple was pointing toward the roof of baby's mouth while nursing. the tip of the nipple was getting rubbed and injured. Does that still happen?

I would do airtime, sunshine (no flashing the neighbors!) do one side feeding for 1 to even 2 feedings in a row during the day (pump if needed) and consider neosporin on the owie during it's "off time" with a warm water soak right before latching with a slight patting dry to remove residual neosporin before nursing. if the creme you are using isn't helping, try straight lanisoh, or try just rubbing breastmilk into the owie and letting air dry.
Use a non-stick bandaid over the tip so any scab won't stick to your bra. You could try using adaptic over the nipple, it is a "wet" dressing used on burns and like road rash or other things where bandages stick to the owie and then peel off a layer of healing tissue.

still try changes of position so that perhaps you can identify a position where babe minimizes any further damage to the nipple. Be sure you are holding your breast far enough back that you aren't turning the nipple upwards toward the roof of baby's mouth with your hand pressure. be sure to not use the cigarette hold, and use thumb on top, 4 fingers underneath the breast to support the breast.


It will get better, honest!

[apmomma2my3girls]

no it's an open sore. That's right after she nursed, when she hasn't nursed for several hours it looks different the skin kind of folds down, if that makes any sense so the hole looks smaller. I started with nipple damage on that side only in the hospital. Intially I had a really hard time getting her to latch at all on that side. Anyways, she has an excellent latch now on both sides, but that damage was there, then I got thrush and it just got worse and not better, and now it seems to struggle to heal. Yes, an LC has seen it, and they give me all the normal advice, about expressing milk and letting it dry (she's the one that runs the bfing support group I attend), my other LC recommended all the stuff I was already doing and then she suggested I pump for 48 hours to give it a rest, that didn't help, then she suggested the nipple shield until it healed. Also, they've both seen her latch on both sides and both said it looks great, it should be healing. Also, I nursed my last two girls both for about a year and half, so it's not like I don't know what a good latch looks like. Ugh, I feel like it's so damaged it will just take a long time to heal but now that the thrush is gone, I want it to at least show some minor progress in the right direction because it hurts.

[apmomma2my3girls]

oh well does this mean anything, since you were saying how I should be holding my boob, I'm actually very small chested and while nursing am a B cup, with my last two I didn't even have to hold my boob after I latched them on. But I HAVE to hold my boob, especially that one, the entire time she is nursing, and I have to hold it firmly otherwise it hurts. It hurts when she latches on and then the pain usually goes away fairly quickly, however, if her latch becomes at all bad, then it hurts a lot. Also, any position but the cradle hold hurts. like the football hold hurts and the side lying position, I don't even try on that side because it's hard for me to get a perfect latch the very first time in that position. I usually have to adjust her while she's nursing. The side lying position was my FAVORITE with my last two, and practically didn't have to wake up at night, however, I have not been able to nurse this baby that way comfortably.

[Nipple_nectar]

You've got to change positions:( If you are favoring one position, it allows for the same part of the areola to be abused the most and does not allow for different angles to promote healing.

Also, I have had personal experience with the silverette, they will work but it takes time, certainly more than 60 hours. I am going to guess that if you wear the silverette constantly, only breaking to shower and nurse, you may see improvement within seven days. That is serious nipple trauma and will probably take weeks to heal.

Honestly, I have seen nipple trauma that serious heal without the use of added creams or concoctions. If you use a heavy barrier cream like an APNO or Lansinoh, in addition to the silverette, you are not allowing the silver to have direct contact with your skin, does that make sense?

SOmething else that tells me your healing may be slower than most is the position of that gash. I agree that if it were on the side, it would have more contact with the healing properties of the silver. If your nipple indents at all while being covered, this will impede progress. There is nothing you can do for that, you just need to be patient and have faith that the silverette will eventually work.

Tips for pain management include motrin (up to 800mg) a half hour before nursing and also using www.soothies.com before/after each nursing session, you can heat or chill for your own comfort level.

The most important reason to change up your latch is if your baby on a certain angle switches to a shallow latch, she is causing more damage in that traumatized area. A variety of positions will ensure this not being the case.

Oh and wearing a nursing pad over the silverette will help you look less conspicuous;-)

[Amy_G_]

When latch starts to hurt, your nipple may be pointing upwards toward the roof of her mouth. try pushing in just a little bit on the bottom of the breast, and don't push so hard on the top, sometimes you can angle the nipple the right way. This will require a bit of experimentation, but you might be able to help her latch til she gets a little older this way.

Also, if she latches perfectly on one side but not the other, latch her onto the perfect side first, and then move YOURSELF (not her) over so that she's now nursing on the sorer side but she didn't have to move. I'd even consider nursing on the perfect side for about 5 minutes, so her suction will be slightly less, and then move yourself over and put her on the sore side. also, help let down on that side by unhooking the bra flap, bend over and give the boobahs a shake with gravity pulling on em, also starting on the other side with the sore side's bra flap open may help get the milk flowing easier on the sore side, so again her suction may be slightly less.

[ima062002]

Has the tongue tie been corrected? I wonder that if not this could still contribute, even if your baby got better at nursing.

Not that I have experience with this, but the mention of a nipple shield didn't sound that bad. Have you tried that? Poor momma. I hope that your nipple can slowly but surely heal.

[JennMomof3]

good lord that looks pianful, makes me hurt! not sure what else to tell you beside what the other ladies have said. ouch