new problem...

[ltille20]

so i have been breastfeeding for a little more than 9 months, and there has never been a problem....until now. my son has started to feed more agressively, and i dont know if that is why this happened, but there looks like a little red scab on one nipple, and everytime he feeds from it, it starts bleeding. not to mention how painful it has become. how is it suposed to heal? do i stop feeding him from that side? and if i do that, will i stop producing milk on that one side? please help!!!!

[rickip]

Owwie, owwie! Been there and you have my sympathies... my daughter (baby #2) did this to me except she was only a few weeks old; wasn't latching properly. First, after bf'ing, express a little milk and let it airdry on your nipples. Let them air dry when possible and change your nursing pads frequently so they're not damp. When my scabs actually broke and started oozing, I went to the dr and got a prescription for an antibacterial and an antifungal cream, but you can just use over-the-counter antibiotic & antifungal ointments; HOWEVER, wipe cream off before you nurse the next time- not good for him to ingest lots of that although a little won't hurt him. Lansinoh also works for soothing and is baby-safe.

Latching her soon became too painful, so I pumped milk (I was so engorged!) and bottle-fed her that for a few days (yes, it was exhausting!) and followed all the above steps. It's worth it for me to mention again how great air drying is! :) Soon I healed enough to have her latch again; but while your 9mo may be nursing less frequently than a newborn, he may not agree to switch to something else! He might be not latching far enough back, (he's trying to be lazy!) so you may want to try to re-teach him latching on...

If you do stop on that side for a while, you will need to pump or hand-express the milk, or you will be painfully engorged. You won't stop producing milk on that side for a couple weeks at least. Good luck!!!

[lismom2]

I second rickip's advice. My ds went through a phase around 8 months when he was just so interested in the world around him that he wouldn't latch well and it sometimes caused sore nipples. Hugs mama :)

[ltille20]

thank you guys so much for the advice! i did not think about pumping, i will try that :)
he never has had a latch problem, and i dont think thats whats going on now, he is just sucking harder sometimes, and on the one side, i have the scab now. also, i have been using the lanonin creme, but i will try the breast milk! i sure hope this heals fast, because he is as stubborn as it gets, and will not drink from a bottle or a sippy cup. just breast feeds.... sigh, ha!

[ltille20]

i just wanted to give you guys an update, and the expressed breastmilk to heal worked wonders! it healed so fast, i wish i had done it sooner. thanks again :)

[lismom2]

You'd be surprised with what a little bit of breast milk will do ;) Good to hear you're feeling better!

[cutiejoe]

i have sufferes with the same problem and figured out that the baby at this age is in teething process.
hence he sucks moe aggressively.
if it hurts try changing the breats from left to right or vice versa.
or stop for a little time.