Aloha,
I just subscribed to this list to see if I could get any insight to help
this mom.

She had reduction surgery and is now nursing a 5.5 month old.  Baby is bf
exclusively, but mom has had a lot of problems (mastitis, thrush) and has
had only one pain-free nursing day (I just found that out).  Lately the pain
is much worse though.

Now, one of her nipples looks like it is coming off.  There is a 200 degree
split which looks much worse after baby nurses.  It looks like it's hanging
off by half.  A lactation counselor looked at it and said she should wean
her off the breast immediately,  but the mom is so determined to bf for a
year- she is crushed.  Mom went to a surgeon who told her that she had a
"Cleft nipple" and that she should pump and or manually express for 1-2
weeks while it healed some.  He also told her that the nipple would not come
all the way off and that it also would not heal all the way back.

She feels that the surgery probably changed the nature of her nipples
somehow and that baby has to nurse differently to make it work... They
definitely look "smushed" after she nurses.   She also thinks that changing
positions- particularly nursing lying down is what has damaged this nipple.

Oh, the other important info is that the affected breast the the better
producer, so she is really reluctant to let it dry up.

Any advice would be helpful- she is desperate for information.  Has anyone
ever heard of a cleft nipple??

Thanks again,

Karen Akiba LLL Leader

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