Kathy wrote:

"For any crack/wound at the base of the nipple, wearing a breast shell for
inverted nippled can hold it open between feedings to allow it to heal by
secondary intention.  If mom just puts it in her bra between feeds, it
tried to heal together, only to get ripped apart again at next feeding.
 
An antibiotic ointment is also a good idea until healed.  My most recent
bite wound a mom had had for weeks healed in 3 days."

I wish I had known this, 18 years ago, when I had deep cracks at the base of both nipples. I struggled with that for about two months. 
I did find something that worked, finally.  It might not be appropriate for most moms, but I am sure I'm not the only one. I had lost my gall
bladder, three years earlier, and was concerned that I might have a deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins.  I started taking some Vit. E and A.  
The cracks started getting smaller within 24 hours and were mended in a few days.  I nursed that baby for about 20 more months, and my youngest
child, after that.  For all that time, as long as I kept taking the supplements, they were fine but, if I went more than a few days without them,
the same spots would start to open up again. 

I also know what should NOT be done about nipple cracks. A friend of mine who was nursing her one year old went to an older GP, here in town,
hoping he could help her heal her cracked nipples. He put silver nitrate on them! Needless to say, she was miserable for almost a week and her 
daughter weaned. So frustrating!
 

 		 	   		  
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