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The first few weeks of breast feeding can cause severe irritation to the nipples. The amount of nursing baby does in the beginning keeps the areola damp, and along with the constant suckling, these are prime conditions for chapping. Doctors have been known to prescribe Lanolin for the condition, but there is a better, quicker, and all natural remedy.
Express your own milk, spreading it around the entire nipple and aereola, leaving it to dry. Do this OFTEN, as often as you like, as often as you feel irritation. You should notice improvement within a few hours, and a great deal more after 24 hours. Continue doing this after each feeding even after you have healed.
Keep in mind, you'll want to rinse baby's saliva from the nipples after each feeding. Saliva contains enzymes which start to break down proteins in the digestion process.
If this method doesn't heal the nipples, it's possible that you have another common problem as well, yeast. About once a day, break open an acidophilus gel capsule and spread it around the nipple area. I have found that the inexpensive drug store acidophilus works best. The combination should work.
The prescription lanolin, or any other product that you put on your nipples are undoubtedly going in baby's mouth. If you are like me, you will taste first what you make baby taste. This is not something I would put in my baby's mouth. It may not be pleasant tasting to baby, and if you are already having difficulty getting him/her to nurse, you don't want to compound the problem. My doctor had told me that the Lanolin would not harm my baby, but the label does read that it is not to be taken orally. Still want to put it in Baby's mouth? Heal thyself.
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