Home Forums Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Cracked and Bleeding nipples

Hello,

I have been pumping for three weeks now (picking up babe in 2 weeks) and in the last two pumps my nipples have bleed into the breastmilk - I've had to throw it out which is VERY frustrating!!!!

They are cracked and sore - what can I do? I am using the PIS...

Thanks,
Karyn

Africa, first you don't have to throw out the milk because of blood. I know it seems like you would. But if your baby was here and nursing he would be getting the blood along with the milk. Second breastmilk is a living organism just like blood, the blood is not harmful in any way.

Now for the cracked and bleeding nipples. That shouldn't be happening. You may be pumping on too high a setting. Can you tell me what you have it set on? Cracking and bleeding happens while nursing if you don't have a good latch. So that could be the problem too, are your nipples centered in the opening of the horns when you pump? You can use lanolin on your breasts and it doesn't have to be wiped off each time. They sell it by the nuring stuff in most stores like WalMart. It is in a purple tube call Lanisoh. That should help them to heal quickly.

Thanks Lalle, glad to hear I don't have to throw out all that hard won milk!

I am pumping at the highest speed - highest vacuum, so maybe that is too much - it just seems like the most effective way to get the milk out. But I'll turn it down a notch.

My nipples are centered, but it seems like after 5 minutes of pumping they are so big and swollen that they take up the entire opening - is that normal?

You should not pump at that level. Medium is the highest setting you should use. You could be damaging your nipples. Yes they will fill up the opening but you have the suction WAY too high. I think setting the speed up is fine but not the suction.

Hi,

According to research by Peter Hartmann, Ph.D. it's frequency of pumping rather than duration that matters most.

It's very important that you not subject your breasts to the highest setting on the highest suction. That can cause damage to your breasts and make breastfeeding uncomfortable. We suggest speed 3 and medium suction for 20-30 minutes at a time. Let down can time but it's not a race.

By the way, breastfeeding should not hurt either. If it does, then baby needs to be latched on deeper.

Best,

Thanks to both of you for the information - I'm so glad I asked as I thought sore nipples were just par for the course...why do the pumps come with that high a level if we aren't supposed to use it - kind of confusing!

I have turned it down a few notches and I'm sure things will get better in the next day or so...thanks again for the insight...
karyn

Karyn, I have often wondered that myself.

The idea is to start slow and low and then increase but even then, it can cause damage so keep it in the realm of comfortable and you should be ok.

Best,