All purpose nipple ointment

All Purpose Nipple Ointment Contains :

mupirocin 2% ointment (5 grams)
nystatin 100,000 units/ml ointment (5 grams)
clotrimazole 10% (this is the vaginal cream) (5 grams)
betamethasone 0.1% ointment (5 grams)

The best treatment of nipple soreness is prevention. The best prevention is
an early start to breastfeeding and a good latch. More than minimal nipple
pain in the first two or three days after your baby's birth is due to a poor
latch, no matter who tells you the latch is fine. Get help.

Sometimes nipple ointments such as LansinohT, PurlanT and others can be very
useful for mild to moderate pain, but fixing the latch is still the best
treatment. Sometimes a "good-for-all-things-don't-know-why-it-works" nipple
ointment can also be very useful.

You may be prescribed such an ointment (which works better than a cream). It
will contain: One or more antibiotics. Almost all cracks and erosions have
bacteria growing in the base. Whether they are actually causing infection,
or whether they merely delay healing is not known. But it has been known for
many years that antibiotic ointments help some mothers' nipple pain get
better.

An antifungal agent. Candida albicans can cause nipple soreness and
cracking. Sometimes it is not easy to tell what contribution this fungus
causes to breastfeeding mothers' nipple soreness.

An antiinflammatory agent. Often it is the inflammation associated with
infection or injury which causes the most pain. The antiinflammatory agent
(a steroid) decreases the inflammatory response.

In Canada, KenacombT (more easily available) or Viaderm KCT (less expensive)
ointments contain the above ingredients. Ointments can also be made up from
individual ingredients. In the USA, mixing MycologT ointment with 2%
mupirocin ointment results in a similar concoction.

How to use? Apply the ointment sparingly each feeding. Do not wash or wipe
it off even if the baby goes back to the breast within minutes. Most of the
ingredients are not absorbed from the baby's gut and will do him no harm.
Once you are feeling better (usually within 2-5 days), you can gradually
decrease the use of the ointment until you are not using it at all. For some
conditions, the mother may have to use the ointment daily or twice daily to
keep pain free. This is not a problem and you may continue the use of the
ointment for weeks or longer, if necessary.


Cindy Curtis,RN,IBCLC
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/cindyrn



Cindy Curtis,RN,IBCLC
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/cindyrn

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