The oil is being used for lubrication. I'm concerned like Heather, about the need for olive oil in the maternity unit. Positioning and latch is what is most critical in first few days. There seems to be a "normal" amount of soreness as the nipple is stretched in first few days, but outright cracks in the hospital? Leads me to think you need to help moms get babies on better. Sometimes the damage is done at that first fumbling feed, so care needs to be taken then. I've always preferred normal saline soaks if they are so tender or cracked in first few days. That said- I recommend olive oil or salad oil, if mom has no lanolin in home for use in between feeds when mom is using Nystatin. I find Nystatin is very drying to the nipples. Oil applied after a feed won't be there by the next feed. My favorite line is that they aren't buttering bread, use oil or lanolin sparingly, rub in. Sincerely, Pat in SNJ *********************************************** 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