cracked and dry nipple while breastfeeding?

rub your breast milk on your nipples

it will heal them

and make sure your baby is well latched

I'm so sorry you are going through this! Breastfeeding this far along should not be painful. It sounds like you have thrush/yeast infection. Does your son have white spots on his tongue, cheeks or roof of his mouth? Most babies get this when they're s he's weeks old and some when they're past 6 months. And thrush could be passed on to you easily and cause excruciating pain and cracked nipples. I suggest you get you and your son treated with nystatin, which you need a prescription for.

EDIT: I forgot to add that if you have yeast than you should not use any kind of creams besides nystatin or other antifungal creams that your doc prescribes, because warm, moist, and dark environment will promote the yeast infection to grow.

However, if there's no symptoms of thrush than you can squeeze some fresh milk after each feeding and air dry your nipples. That should help a lot. Also you can use some lanolin cream. And avoid soap or alcohol as that will dry the nipples and make things worse. Good luck to you.

1

You are, kind of. Bad latching, bad positioning, thrush, having very sensitive nipples can cause cracking, blistering, and soreness (note: soreness is normal, the other problems aren't but they do happen). Milk getting on the nipple and drying there is actually a very effective way to heal cracks and blisters, not cause them. I would not register for nipple shields. If you have troubles with nursing then it's best to get help from a lactation consultant. Nipple shields can create problems of their own and should only be used as a last resort with guidance by a lactation consultant.

One of the main reasons for sore or cracked nipples is improper positioning of the baby while breastfeeding. It can leave both the mother and the baby frustrated. Make sure the baby is latched on the entire nipple areola to prevent nipple soreness and ensure continuous milk flow. You may contact your local La Leche League if you need help in getting your baby to latch on properly.

You also need to pull away gently. Be gentle when unlatching your baby from your breasts, like when the baby is not latched on properly or when he has fallen asleep at sucking. Instead of letting the mouth tug at your nipples, place your finger at the corner of your baby’s mouth and gently press on it to let some air in. Doing so will break the suction and make the baby open his mouth.

Let your nipples aerate after each feeding. This will prevent sore or cracked nipples from trapping moisture which can irritate them and harbor fungus or bacteria. Stay away from tight clothing and don’t let your nursing pads get saturated with milk leaks.

Moisturize with milk. Before air-drying your nipples after feeding, it’s also good to spread some leftover breast milk over them to let the good stuff protect them. It’s easy for nipples to get dry and start cracking especially in dry climates. The hind milk contains Vitamin E that will help moisturize the nipples.

Keep feeding. Continued breastfeeding will cause the nipples to naturally toughen up. It will be painful, but remember that it will not last long. That’s why mothers need not worry about sore and cracked nipples once they’ve eased into breastfeeding.

Try to vary you and your baby’s nursing position to prevent straining the same part of the nipple throughout the feeding. Also, avoid giving in to your child’s ‘favorite’ side of the breast. Alternate breasts between feedings to make sure both breasts receive less amount of stress.

You may also use a shield. The use of nipple shields or shells can be a life saver for those mothers with low pain tolerance. Shields protect the nipple from further friction and this is helpful if the breast is already injured. Nipple shields are made of silicone which is the same material as most bottle teats

Hope this helps!

Vaseline is a horrible product to use. Go to your local drug store and ask for nipple cream. It will give you a lot of moisture, and help heal, and it is safe for the baby.

Have you tried some cream i think Medela makes one that is made for nipples..dont use vaseline!!!

could it be thrush?yeast? use the nipple ointment and nipple 'hardshell' for the pain also