After 11 months of successful and pain-free nursing, I have suddenly developed a very painful nipple crack. I have been using Lansinoh for 5 days now after every nursing and pumping, but it is not healing. Sam still nurses on the affected side. It really hurts when he first latches on, but after a minute or two the pain isn't so bad. He nurses three times per day now -- morning, mid-afternoon, and right before bed.

On days that I work, I pump at lunch time to substitute for the missed feeding. When I begin pumping, I notice that there are a few drops of blood! I am guessing that Sam is getting this blood when he nurses, too. Is that bad for him? Shouldn't this crack have healed by now? Should I stop nursing on the affected side for awhile? Why has this come on so late in our nursing relationship? Is he just too big of a boy to nurse? Help!




 

No, he is not too big or too old to nurse. Don't stop nursing on the affected  side, unless you cannot stand the pain and can't find anyone to help you.  Find a lactation consultant, and ask her to find and give you a product called Hydrogel. It is a great healing aid for stubborn, deep cracks, which must heal from the bottom up, but usually semi seal from the top down when the breast is not being used, only to reopen when the baby nurses. Call La Leche League or your pediatrician for a referral for a qualified professional. Good luck, and don't stop breastfeeding.

Debbie Rabin, OTR, CLC





 

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