Pumping and cracked nipples

I’m strictly pumping for my baby girl. She latches but was born at 37 weeks and 2 days and gets so tired at the breast she wasn’t gaining weight…… its so painful to pump on my left side it seems like my nipple is cracked and dry. Ive been using the Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream… but it doesn’t seem to be helping that side. I dont know what has caused the difference between my breast.. but I feel like someone if trying to cut my left nipple off anytime I try to pump… Im a first time Momma and dont know what to do… 😭

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

I was having some problems with my nipples from pumping and I’ve recently started using less suction on my pump. I have to do some more massaging when I pump, but it’s really been making the experience better. I have a spectra pump and I never go higher than vacuum level 5

Ive got the MomCozys12pro and the Lansinoh… and I have a different wall pump… Ive been using my MomCozy during the day cause it seems to work better and my wall pump at night… I’ve not made any difference than what I had been doing… but apparently something changed. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I’ve not used Lansinoh nipple cream. I use coconut oil and that helps a lot. You can also rub breastmilk on it. You might also rub coconut oil on the flange of your pump to reduce friction.

If you have the resources please see a lactation specialist!

What have you tried so far?

1. You can adjust the flange size or buy a variety pack of inserts to try. Measure your nipples immediately after pumping to find the right sized flange. But also my lactation specialist said that the measurement is a start spot, go off of what feels good.

2. As others have said, try really really backing off your settings on the machine and don’t go too long. Start on a level 1 and only only only move up if it doesn’t cause pain. Don’t go up just to get more milk. My LC said she doesn’t like people to go over 20 min ever.

3. Try different creams and nipple covers. I swapped to the Lansolin nipple balm and I LOVE it. I let my nipples air dry after pumping or breast feeding and then slather a huge layer of this cream and then put silverettes or a reusable pad to protect from any rubbing on the bra.

Good luck!!

Use hot compress before pumping!! And nipple silverette!! I am also exclusively pumping 3 weeks pp!! I had similar problems!!

Flange size can make a huge difference. It’s possible that your nipples are slightly different sizes (most people don’t notice because it’s off by mm). Pumping was extremely painful for me when the flange size was wrong and it was causing bleeding and cracking.

in our community

When does it get better?

I was crying on the phone with the perinatal mental health team today and the lovely lady, bless her, kept assuring me that it gets better. I kept telling her I hope so because people have been saying that since having my LO and it just feels like it keeps getting worse. She assured me it gets better....

Rant/WWYD

My sister (youngest, 24) has two kids, 4 & 1, and i (oldest, 30) just have my one who’s 6mo old right now, so i ask her for advice or call her to vent about things sometimes. Well im tired of her turning around and telling my other family members that I’m “losing my sh*t.” Literally have not lost my sh*t nor have i ever freaked out to her about my baby, i just call her to talk and tell her what stage my baby is in or talk through how im feeling, but she chooses to tell people that im like a complete nutcase or something which worries me that my family is going to start being judgmental about me as a mother or looking at me funny like I’m some fragile ticking time bomb.

What would you do in this situation? I’m already pretty much decided that I’ll stop telling her anything about my struggles, but I’m almost at the point where i feel like it should be confronted because she, of all people, should understand what I’m going through.

i just want someone to talk to😔😔😔😔

when things get hard i have nothing not any support from my partner im convinced he doesn’t even love me anymore but thats another story
I have a 3 yo and a 2yo that are in bed sleeping only just now. I have a 1 yo that’s been sleeping from 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock. I just gave her her milk and she would’ve gone back to sleep if it wasn’t that
I lost her dummy earlier in the day when I went out
so now she won’t go back to sleep and she won’t accept any of the other dummy’s i have!😔😔and it’s 10 o’clock and I’m gonna be up until 3 o’clock with her and when she does want to go to sleep i won’t have any dummy to give her she will accept and she won’t sleep without it i just wanna cry 😔i have nobody to talk to and i feel so alone i get no support from anybody i’m so tired and i don’t feel well to top it off😔

Has anyone died their kids hair a fun color and have any recommendations for kid friendly hair dye that actually works and stays in the hair for a bit? 👀👀👀

She has 3b brown hair and wants kpop demon hunter purple

Sleeping bag

8 week old in sleeping bag for first time as big enough! Do you feed your child in the night whilst in the sleeping bag or taken them out, feed then transfer back to sleeping bag before putting down?

Not drinking

I’m going crazy. Baby born at 2.26kg. Slow to put on weight. This last week hasn’t put on any. Been trying to feed him at night and he’s not interested at all. Fast asleep. During day he will have 5 minute gulps and that’s it. He don’t cry for milk. I’ve got to keep offering to him. I try to offer it every hour but I don’t know what I’m doing. HV said nutrition comes after 5 minutes so I should pump first and then give him. I find it so hard. I tried to pump one boob nothing came. The other abit came. Tried giving him express he’s not interested in that too. Sometimes he will go for a longer a feed but not long at all. He’s 4 months and is currently 5.46kg. I have no family or friend support here and wish I had a cook, cleaner and nanny to help with everything so I can concentrate on the little one. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but I’m loosing it. It doesn’t help that my also stressed generally about my relationship and life circumstances. Any advice that will work. Any comfort you can give. I’m fed up. Is this regression - not feeding. He’s fast fast asleep. I’ve been trying to push the nipple in but that mouth is closed shut. I took some clothes off. Changed his nappy but he’s still asleep. Please help