My first thought on those oozy nipples was eczema. In our small community hospital (360 births/year) we've had one moms with eczema on nipples this year (diagnosed by dermatologist) and also several cases of Raynaud's - most I've seen in 25 years. The babies in my mom's group have also had a bad year for skin. It's been a very long and cold winter here. (Yes, we've been doing dietary changes and etc - but for babies something in the aquaphor family is often suggested.) Bag balm is an old farmer's friend. When I first started as an LLLL, local doctors here in Vermont often suggested it for sore nipples. It is still on our exchange carts on the medical and surgical floors at the hospital as one of our old surgeons has nurses use it on the old-timers' skin -- often they use it at home! Here's the info from Wikipedia: *Bag Balm* is a salve <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salve> originally intended to soothe irritation on cows' <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle>udders. Although the product only mentions use "For chapped conditions and superficial abrasions" it is used as a treatment for chapped and irritated skin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin> on humans and can be found in drug stores <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacy> and ski resorts<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_resort>. It has also gained popularity as a post-tattoo<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo>skin soother. Bag Balm is made by the Dairy Association Co. in Lyndonville<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndonville%2C_Vermont>, Vermont <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont> and Rock Island<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanstead%2C_Quebec>, Quebec <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec>. The product is known for its characteristic 10 oz <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ounce> green tins featuring a cow's head and red clovers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover>on the lid. It has been in production since 1899 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1899>. The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-hydroxyquinoline_sulfate>0.3% ( antiseptic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiseptic>) in a petrolatum<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrolatum>and lanolin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin> base. Bag Balm used to contain 0.005 mercury<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29>`from ethylated sterols`. This earlier formulation was much more effective at fighting infection in wounds and was known to completely clear infected wounds overnight.[*citation needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed> * Dawn Kersula becoming an old-timer in southern Vermont! *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome