A nurse at our hospital said that another hospital
>she worked at had  blow dryers on the post partum wards so moms could
>blow dry their nipples before "putting their breasts away" She said that
>moisture and friction could cause soreness. But to me, blow drying sounds
> like an excellent way to cause chapped cracked nipples. Look what
>happens when your face gets wind burned. I can understand not wanting to
>trap moisture with plastic lined breast pads  but wouldn't just a not too
>tight bra dry the nipples well enough with out over drying them?
>I hadn't heard of this blow dryer thing before.
> Mary Graden LLL Idaho

If I remember correctly, older editions of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
mentioned using a blow dryer to help aid in healing sore nipples and to get
them dry after feedings.  The 1997 edition says "drying sore nipples and
using a sun lamp are no longer recommended treatments.  It has been shown
that moist wound healing is more effective in treating nipple soreness as it
allows healing to occur without the formation of a scab." (pg.117)

I think that applies to a baby's sore bottom as well.
Janette, LLL Beaverton, OR