Barb, I have a few ideas.  Have you thought of trying steroid ointment?
This could be an allergic reaction to something.  In my experience, someone
can get an allergic dermatitis even when there has not been a change in
anything coming into contact with their nipples.  Sometimes this is because
of some other allergen, such as to pollen or a food that the mother is
eating.  It can also be from direct contact with a food that the baby may
have some of in his mouth when he goes to the breast.  I, for example, am
allergic to soy, and the way I figured that out was when I tried to use soy
formula in the Lact-Aid, with three of my adopted babies.  It was like
pouring acid on my nipples!  I also found that, when my kids were taking
other foods and still nursing, there were several things that would burn my
skin, if they nursed with any residue of it in their mouths.  I found it
helped to at least give them a drink of water before they nursed, and always
rinse my nipples after they got done nursing.  I also found that different
thrush treatments (ointments and gentian violet) would give me dermatitis.
If this mom is having a reaction to something like that, some hydrocortizone
cream should make an immediate difference in it.
I have also seen Vit. A and E supplements help heal any kind of nipple
damage.

As far as the nipple stretching, that can certainly cause a crack and
prevent healing.  It can be from teething, and trying different positioning
can help.  I would like to hear what happens with this mom!

Best wishes,
Darillyn Starr


"First, a year old baby, no previous nursing problems, no sign of thrush
in baby or mom, in a Northern climate, nursing 2-3 times a day.  Nipple
is dry, flakey, and has a 1/3" crack around the base of the nipple.
Extreme pain with nursing, little pain inbetween.  Good latch but baby
stretches nipple by bringing head away from mother which, before the
crack was not a problem."






_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html