Dear Netters,

I posted about a mom with severely cracked nipples and got several wonderful
replies.  Thank you to all of you who sent me ideas.

Basically things are a lot better, although not entirely perfect yet.
 Positioning and latch-on seemed to be key in this case.  Here's what's
happened:

I tried to get this mother to use P-syringes without success.  The
interesting thing is she admits to baby's suck being better after suck
training, but is still using bottles w. Nuk-style nipples upside down when
she isn't putting baby to breast.

I have also discussed positioning and especially trying modified Sims and the
like, and she is willing to do that.

Things are much better.  Cracks are pretty much healed, although one side
threatens to open up.

Mom reports baby clicking and popping on bottle and breast, not on finger,
and when at breast, if she begins making sounds, mom puts her finger in
corner of mouth as if to break latch, baby then begins sucking correctly!!
 Hey, hold that finger there, not even in her mouth, if that helps!!!

None of the various ointments and creams seemed to help.  This says to me
that the entire problem is positional and has to do w. palatal structure-
kind of high bubble like but not unusual.  What helped the most was removing
baby from breast for several days, pumping, and allowing cracks to heal.

The mom is hanging in mostly because she remembers pleasurably breastfeeding
her first child and is hoping to have a good experience eventually with this
one!

Thanks to all of you who responded!

Janaki Costello, IBCLC
El Cerrito, CA.