[dlr]

I have a cracked nipple and it hurts SO bad, just the thought of him latching makes me cringe. Anything to help it heal fast? I put breastmilk on it. But, anything else? He also has a bit of a yeast problem in the mouth, I think I have a little bit too on my breasts too. Dr. said to use a topical cream on me and just to watch his. It's not affecting his eatings so no antibiotic or anything. Any suggestions? I am very uncomfortable.

[angelic_ky]

i use Lansinoh (it's the only thing i found at my local chemist) but i know Val said there's something better than that

[erinellakal]

I loved Lansinoh too. I had a cracked, bloody nipple when i was bfing #2 and I went thru alot of lansinoh(they sell it at walmart or target).
I feel your pain! good luck!

[dlr]

Also, to increase supply with fenugreek and blessed thistle, can I get more details about these? How much, how many times, etc.

[LeanyBean]

Late last winter I had this problem. I used a lot of Lansinoh and ate yogurt every day for a month. All symptoms went away. It took a couple of days for my nipples to heal and about 2 weeks for Gabe's thrush-like stuff to start to clear up. After a month it was like none of it ever happened.

[twinzplus3]

Oh boy girly. . .that's alot!

I too like lansinoh but I am really a big fan of something called smoothies. They are gel like things and you put them in the fridge and then wear them in your bra. It keeps the material of the bra from rubbing against your nipples. I wouldn't ditch the lansinoh but the soothies will help you feel better.

Regarding the yeast--this you need to get on top of immediately. If the baby has yeast in his mouth, then the yeast will enter through the crack of your nipple and you'll think that having cracked nipples is like eating candy. A thrush infection in the breast is very, very painful. I will second the advice on eating yogurt daily and in fact, in your case because your nipple is cracked I'd say eat it at least twice per day. However, if you start to feel a burning or stabbing kind of pain--you need to get your doctor to prescribe an anti-fungal and NOT an anti-biotic. The sooner you deal with it the faster it will get better.

Regarding the cracked nipples--this is always related to latching problems. Either the baby isn't latching on correctly or he's not latching off correctly. You need to fix that. I can help you figure out what's going on more later. Just be aware of it. My first suggestion, since it's just one of your nipples, is to hold him in a different position to nurse on that side.

Regarding increasing your supply with galactagogues. Yes, you can do that and yes, it works. However, I would strongly recommend that you deal with the issues that are leading your supply to be lower rather than doing galacatogogues. There's no harm in them. . .but you don't "just have a low supply". Given that you have a cracked nipple, I'm guessing that something in the way the baby is nursing is not going right--and that has to be fixed. Otherwise you can take them until you're blue in the face and it won't help. They have to work in conjunction with a good latch. Make sense? Also, if you're not working on that latch issue, then you are likely sabotaging yourself by increasing your supply--if you give me more details we can talk about this further. HTH

[dlr]

I can say that it's getting better or it seems it is anyway. I've using lanolin stuff with an anti-fungal, I meant this in my first post for some reason antibiotic came out, at night on myself. During the day using the lanolin and a hydrogel thing, I assume it's like a smoothie, cool, gel pad type thing, prevents rubbing on clothes. I bought some yogurt today with live cultures, will try that too. I changed positions of the latch when it hurt, even DS mouth is looking better. I have noticed that I feel like I have more milk now, he's eating better and is seeming more satisfied after a feeding. Thank you so much I appreciate the advice and wouldn't wish a cracked nipple on anyone.

[twinzplus3]

Yay! Do you have anything to treat the baby with? You don't want to pass the thrush back and forth. Thrush can be such a pain to get rid of. (But the yogurt will help!) If you still feel like you want the fenugreek let me know and I'll tell you how to use it. That's what I used with the twins to increase my supply.

[krasnaya]

ouch - I really feel for you dlr. I know just how painful a cracked nipple can be. I too had one with my son - latching probs. I thought I had it all sussed, having successfully b/f for 2 years with my daughter. It was so different with him. The crack led to mastitis. So I am really really happy for you that you got on top of it!
Fenugreek can change the taste of your milk - but is very good to increase your milk supply - blessed thistle is prob better, because it does not taint the milk. Either way, if your baby is latching on well, and seems satisfied, then the best way to increase milk supply is demand feeding. . . but you probably know that anyway

All the best - and congrats for getting on top of it.
Ks

[dlr]

I don't have anything for DS, Dr didn't give me anything and just said to watch it and see if it clears up itself, which it does look better than the other day. I assume that beings that DS was eating that it wasn't painful for him and didn't go on strike completely that's why the dr didn't prescribe anything? But, it there anything to use on him, OTC, or do you have to have something from Dr?