Suddenly Sore and Very Itchy Nipples

Hi there, when I had the same problem, someone told me about vitamin E capsules, there was a fluid inside, so I poked a hole in the rubber capsule, with a needle and squeezed out the oil, or fluid, and rubbed this on my nipples and they healed in no time at all, I can't remember how long it took, but it worked very well. ask at a reform house or healthfood store or a pharmacy about vitamin E capsules.

Sounds like yeast/thrush to me. I had it with both of my kids. Don't put lotions on it because yeast THRIVES in a moist, warm environment (in your bra is warm). Go see your doctor. Mine cleared up quickly with Nystatin. Good luck!

Hi K.,
It may be a ductal yeast infection. I had one and boy, did it HURT!!! the itching was the tell tale sign. You can use over the counter monistat on your nipples topically after you feed and/or see your doctor for a systemic antifungal and make sure that is what you have. You don't have to wipe the monistat as it absorbs very quickly. They also treated my son for thrush, just in case. He never got it, but I have him nystatin for a week. Hope this helps!

I had the same problem, went to the doctor, found out it was mastitis (a nipple infection), and got a lotion that made it feel so much better in a day. I was so relieved. Go see your doctor.

I'd say latching issues... maybe the baby is getting lazy... I don't understand at this age. Teeth? The best piece of advice I was given.. don't use creams or soap or anything ... just cover them back up when you're done and let the breastmilk remain on the nipple. I have never had any problem with soreness or cracking or anything!

Hi K.,

I had the same problems while I nursed my last two children. I let my symptoms go to long and ended up with a sever case of mastitis. Not Fun! There is also something called thrush that can have simular symptoms.
Have you considered talking to your doctor to rule out thrush or mastitis? I can relate to your pain though OUCH! For myself the sore cracked itchy nipples was a result of the baby not being posistioned correctly on my nipple. Have you tried reposisitioning the baby or considered trying a different nursing hold? Try hot showers and expressing a little milk onto your nipples?
I was able to work through the pain with the help and support of the Brestfeeding Clinic here in Redding. The ladies over there were a god send. They had so many wonderfull tips and suggestions for me.
This may be an option for you as well.
I wish you the best.

I agree with Kirstin. I had thrush for 4 months and was itchy and painful everytime I fed my son. I tried all the natural stuff (Gentian Violet) but the only thing that worked for me was Diflucan prescribed by my doctor. Don't let it go on too long, I thought it was latching problems too and took the pain for WAY too long. After 6 month you should not have latching problems. Go to the DR before it gets any worse. Good Luck to you.

Have you checked your baby for thrush?

I had a very similar problem and I saw a lactatin consultent and he helped me figure out that it was I was producing to much milk, and the baby was chomping down on the nipple to slow the milk flow, which caused the soreness and cracking. If you think this is the problem, you can feed the baby in a more upright position (you leaning back or with a rolled up wash cloth under your breast) so the milk doesn't flow as fast and ice after you feed to slow the production just a litle bit.

I would check with your doctor regarding the itching to ensure you don't have some sort of infection.

But for future reference, I really liked the Soothies (www.soothies.com). I purchased them from the Lacation Center at Valleycare and I swear by them! They are gel pads that are kept in the fridge, you put them on when needed and they are cool and refreshing. All my cracking and bleeding was healed within 24 hrs! The best part is they are reusable so you just put them back on their holder and place them back in the fridge for next time!

Good Luck and I hope that helps!

Jen

Hi K.,

My name is J. and I am a Lactation Consultant. It sounds like you have thrush - thrush is a yeast overgrowth and can come on very suddenly for some moms. It causes sore, burning, itchy nipples that crack and bleed because the tissue is so fragile from the overgrowth of yeast.

This is Not mastitis (a breast infection), nor it is baby being lazy, nor is it oversupply of milk. Vit E treatment is something that used to be done until it was realized that a baby nursing on a breast coated with Vit E can get an overdose of it and have complications. Lanolin does nothing for yeast.

Treatments for thrush include: Gentian Violet (purple liquid that works quite well for most), Miconozole cream (the vaginal yeast cream), Nystatin (usually pretty wimpy these days), and Diflucan (BIG guns for yeast, works well but you must take for 2-4 weeks).

Baby MUST be treated too as if you have it so does he.

Going into how to treat is a LONG letter - please feel free to call me at ###-###-#### so we can go over treatment options. Or, find a lactation consultant in your area who can help you. I know a gal who is close to you - e-mail or call me and I can give you her information if you like.

Hang in there - this can be overcome!

Warmly,

J. Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM
www.breastfeedingnetwork.net
____@____.com
###-###-####

K.,
Are you releasing the pump every so often when you are on it? There are air holes at the top that let the pressure
release, this will help ease the soreness, and other
symptoms you are having with dryness. The itching, might be what the other moms are saying.
W.

Sounds like the classic case of yeast infection on your nipples. check your child's mouth for white patches as most likely he/she may have it as well. see your ob and pediatrician and both of you will have to be treated at the same time or else you give it back to each other.

Hi K.,
It sounds like you might have a yeast infection. You should definitely go to your doctor for an exam and treatment. If you do indeed have an infection your son will also have to be treated for thrush (yeast in the mouth).
Good luck,
-M.

Sounds like thrush, which requires a trip to the doctor. Take a look at your baby's tongue. If it has a white film that can't be scraped off, then you'll confirm the thrush.

My baby had it, but it never transferred to me. It only took a few weeks to clear up, but I hear it can be trickier when both mom and baby are affected. Make sure to keep everything clean and sterilized, including your pump, so you don't reinfect.

You have thrush - classic case, which means your little one also has it inside his mouth. If left untreated, both you AND your child will suffer (and it will only get worse the longer you leave it): your nipples will continue to itch, hurt, crack, and bleed and your son will have increasing discomfort in his mouth and may even develop blisters and show an aversion to nursing and/or eating as it can become very painful. "Thrush" is just another word for a yeast infection - it is caused by a fungus called candida.
An untreated case of thrush got so bad (I didn't know what it was either, or that my daughter and I both had it) I actually had to stop nursing my daughter at 6 months because, despite the topical medication both of us were prescribed and using, we just kept passing it back and forth to each other via mouth to breast before the medication had a chance to heal us. I was bleeding into my pumped milk as well as when I directly nursed the baby, who was starting to spit up blood tinged milk from me. It hurt so terribly (we went untreated for several months) that I stopped nursing as often, and my milk supply dwindled. By the time we were diagnosed - your son will be prescribed Nystasin, which is topical - and you should ask your doctor for a prescription of Diflucan, a one dose pill that will cure you within 24 hours time. Pump a days worth of breastmilk, then call your doctor/ped and make an appointment to confirm the diagnosis - then you will be able to treat yourself within a day, and continue to breastfeed.
Good luck!