Mothers with sore, cracked or bleeding nipples or a sore on the breast due to a bite can be in excruciating pain. The pain can continue in spite of trying different remedies to heal the affected area. I was in that situation once. Nothing worked. I tried everything that La Leche League recommended and I was still in pain. What to do?
The fastest remedy for sore nipples was given to me by a doctor’s wife who was very active in LLL. She found the only relief for her sore nipples was applying warm air from a portable hair dryer frequently, but not harshly, to the nipple or breast area affected. I tried her recommendation. I kept the hair dryer plugged in so I could use it often. I applied the warm air after each nursing and even between nursings. Within 24 hours, I was healed!
I recommended this method recently to a nursing mom who was bitten by her toddler and had a sore on the breast as a result. The sore would not heal. She figured this was because of the wetness from the child’s nursing. She was in pain for a few weeks. She tried the “warm-air-from-a-portable-dryer” method and experienced healing rapidly.
May this method give speedy relief to nursing mothers who are experiencing sore nipples, a frequent occurence for new moms after childbirth.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor
Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood