Breastfeeding and Breast/nipple Creams

Updated on April 02, 2010
T.W. asks from Keller, TX
29 answers

Any one know of a good breast/nipple cream to use while breastfeeding? I am due tomorrow and want to have it on hand. My girlfriend is using Lansoinoh and says it smells bad. Which one do you like and why?

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

I only used Lansinoh and didn't notice the smell, but it does take a while to dry...it helps a lot,don't be afraid to use it! Good luck with breastfeeding!

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D.W.

answers from Dallas on

In my opinion lansinoh is the best, I believe it's made from sheep oil. I really liked it because it healed my nipples when they were really painful. I have 2 small bottles of lanolin that I just didn't need, I got free with my breast pump. If you want them, I will send them to you.

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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

I too used Lansinoh. I never noticed an odor and it didn't bother either of my babies. I liked that it had lidocain in it and helped with pain.

Updated

I too used Lansinoh. I never noticed an odor and it didn't bother either of my babies. I liked that it had lidocain in it and helped with pain.

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K.C.

answers from Seattle on

Thats the one thought worked the best. Also use disposable breastpads, as it can stain your bras and clothes.

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S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Lansinoh saved my life and I had no problems with it. Also let your nipples soak in hot water in the shower! Lansinoh also worked great for any stretch marks!

K.C.

answers from Barnstable on

The very best (and one many midwives and doulas use) is made by Earth Mama Angel Baby's Nipple Butter. I have had women I counsel with terrible breastfeeding issues (cracks, soreness, etc) and they said it was a Godsend. It has an almost immediate impact. I advise all my moms to start using it twice a day 2 weeks before delivery and consistently after every feeding for the first 3 weeks of nursing. This keeps your skin hydrated and supple enough to help defend against cracking due to dryness.

It is all organic and uses pressed olive oils. Approved safe for baby to ingest. You can even use it on diaper rash or chapped lips!

Lansinoh I was never a fan of - too chemical.

Trust me - you will be really impressed (and your girlfriend will be switching!).

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/product/breastfeeding-s...

EDIT: Thought I should include some research on Lanolin use actually causing sensitivity problems (another big reason I advise against using it). Basically, in some people, use of it can make the breasts more dependent on the lanolin, rather than work to heal the breast.

"In 1996, Wolf used the term “lanolin paradox” to describe four clinical phenomena.[64] The first two were similar to those outlined by Fisher for parabens (“paraben paradoxes”): (1) medicaments containing lanolin can sensitize patients, especially those with eczema, whereas lanolin-containing cosmetics are generally less sensitizing; and (2) lanolin-containing medicaments can cause an allergic contact dermatitis when applied to ulcerated skin, but those same patients will not develop a reaction to lanolin-containing cosmetics. Wolf reasoned that lanolin is a weak sensitizer in normal skin whereas damaged skin is easily sensitized. The third lanolin paradox is that lanolin-sensitive patients often have negative patch-test reactions to pure lanolin; this may be due to a low concentration of allergens. As the fourth paradox, Wolf concluded that just as Fisher stated that using only a paraben mix is not a reliable method to test for paraben allergy, the use of only 30% wool alcohols to test for allergy to lanolin is insufficient"

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S.D.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I used the lansoinoh because that's what they gave me in the hospital. I didn't ever notice a smell at all to it. i thought it was a bit sticky, and yes you have to warm up some, so while i was nursing, i had the tub under my leg, so it was easier to spread.

I did get a sample of the medela and i liked that as well, but I could never find it in the stores to buy it.

I would say when at the hospital ask them for some samples, and they may have several kinds and you can see what you like the best

I know for me, I barely used half a tub of the lansoinoh cream, as i didn't have a need for it. So you might get lucky and not need any. Another thing you can do, after you are done nursing, just squirt a little milk on your fingers and use the milk. that will work

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

I know some women have said that Lansinoh is really thick. I have to say the CVS generic brand of lanolin is thinner and spreads more easily. My hubby happened to have bought it for me for DS2 and I like it better.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Lansoinoh worked great for me and my little one! Didn't notice a smell and it was a good lip conditioner for him!

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A.C.

answers from Houston on

Lansinoh is just refined lanolin (comes from sheep's wool)...a completely, naturally occurring product and works great. It is sticky, but I did the same as the mom previous and warmed it with my body while nursing.

It doesn't have a nice, but it certainly doesn't smell bad--and it isn't like people are going to be able to smell it on you. It is widely available and you likely won't even go through a whole tube. I would use it from the very first time you nurse. I rubbed a little breastmilk in, ensured they were completely dry (use a hairdryer on low....feels so good!), and applied the lansinoh. Maybe I was just a lucky mom, but this is what I did in the first 6 weeks of nursing and was never particularly sore and never had a single crack. After 6 weeks, I wasn't nearly as consistent, but never had any problems.

You can use the leftover on cracked heels and elbows!

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I used Lansinoh and did not notice any smell. in fact it did not have any scent whatsoever.
I have also used Medela Lanolin cream, which was exactly the same as Lansinoh.

Good luck!

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K.K.

answers from Boise on

There were a couple of other women that said this, but in my experience, (I used Lansinoh with my first DD) the cream made the pain worse and didn't allow my nipples to heal. I was severely cracked and bleeding with DD#1 that I had to completely give up breastfeeding (and then just pumped) at 3 weeks old. This time around with DD#2, I have never used any nipple cream and have had no problems whatsoever. If you still use some cream, try to let your breasts dry out for 5-10 minutes after you feed the baby before you apply it. And make sure you're using breathable nursing pads. I never noticed a smell with Lansinoh cream though. Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Lansinoh is the best, the smell is not strong and does not last long. Plus it is under your clothes so that helps too. It is all natural and can be used for other dry skin issues as well.

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

The hospital should have a sample of lansinoh to give to you. Through two kids, I never noticed a smell to it either - perhaps she had a bad tube of it?

You may not even need to use it - one thing that helped me much more was using the wound pads (you can get them at any pharmacy or ask at the hospital) that you put in the refrigerator and then into your bra when you're particularly sore.

My other recommendation (that you should ask the pediatrician about in the hospital) is Aquaphor. Our son sucks his thumb and gets it severely chapped every winter. Our pediatrician said Aquaphor was safe, but he was about 18 months at the time, so I'd suggest you try.

R.G.

answers from Dallas on

I've been nursing for almost 3 weeks now and haven't needed any creams. I read somewhere on this site to just rub a little breast milk into your nipple after baby nurses and let them air dry 5 - 10 minutes. That's what I've been doing and it's working quite well. No chapping/cracking/bleeding at all. Good luck!

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R.D.

answers from Dallas on

I nursed both of my children and never used a cream. I used breast milk and didn't have sores, cracks or pain. It is free and very handy.

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J.Y.

answers from Abilene on

I like Palmers cause it smells good ( cocoa butter almost fragrance) and u don't have to wash off before u nurse.

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

i used melena i think thats how its spelled no taste or smell so it did not effect the baby. I only had to use it for a short time so now i use it on my hands lol why waste it? hope this helps

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

I know you have lots of information on this but I am from a huge family & the best thing we have found is Utter Balm Cream. You can get it at walmart in the lotions I think. Be sure if you try it to get the tube not the tub. Not sure what the difference is but it is . Put it on everytime after you nurse & then just use a cotton ball with warm water & wipe it off before you nurse. It works great.
God bless you & congratulations on your little one. You are so blessed.
LOL... remember that at those 3 & 4 o'clock feedings. Take care.

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H.R.

answers from Abilene on

I used Lansinoh pure lanolin and it had no smell. It worked great and really helped soothe my nipples during those first tough weeks of breastfeeding.

S.M.

answers from Dallas on

i had dry cracked nipples with my first, (trust me my whole nipple was scabed over and it was incredibly painful) but by two weeks into BF I was fine I did use Lansinoh, and it helped but I found a better option for baby #2. the lactation consultant gave me Soothies when she saw me start to get dry and crack, they are a silicone breast cover for after you feed, they were amazing I didn't dry crack or bleed with #2 or #3. Target has a similar brand item if you can't find "soothies" brand, or you can get them at the maternity store, but it was a LIFE (or nipple) saver, I wish I had known about them for #1!

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B.K.

answers from Detroit on

I used Lansinoh, I didn't notice a smell? It is thick but ot works wonders! I use it when my older kids nose gets red/sore from blowing it too much and it works great for that too! They call it the nose medicine

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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

I loved Bella B Nipple Nurture Butter this time around (I think Motherhood carries it now). It's derived from natural plant products and not derived from sheep's wool. Plus, the 1st time around I felt like the Lansoinoh made me more sensitive. I didn't use much with either kiddo but it helped when I felt like I was getting a little raw and my bra was rubbing wrong occasionally.

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A.H.

answers from Boston on

I liked Medela's nipple cream because it softer and smoother, easier to spread on sore nipples. I also tried Lansinoh which works but its thick and sticky and you have to warm it up between your fingers before you can spread it which is annoying. I didn't think it smelled too bad, though not great either.

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

Earth Mama Angel Baby. Look at Sprouts and Central Market.

C.S.

answers from Charlotte on

I used Lansoinoh as well. It doesn't smell that bad, and believe me, when those "girls" get sore, you won't care how it smells :) Wishing you a fat happy baby!

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K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I agree with all the answers you've gotten so far. If I were to buy one, I would buy Earth Mama. But I received free samples at the hospital, and I never even finished one of the sample tubes. I did try just putting milk on my nipples, but that really just made mine more dry and painful. The thing that I didn't think about was breast pads. A friend of mine loves Johnson and Johnson ones, but my favorite are the Lansinoh disposable pads. I tried the reusable ones, but they could all be seen very clearly through my clothes. Also, they didn't really absorb anything. (I produce a lot of milk.)

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

I'm currently bf and was using Lansinoh, but when i ran out i bought The First Years Nipple Butter (i got it at Target, not sure where else it's available). I love it, it's made of natural sugars and oils, rather than Lansinoh which is made from wool (i believe...) I haven't noticed any smell. It's almost like an exfoliant (because of the sugars) but it's thick. I'll buy this from now on. Also, i agree with the breast pads. They will keep your bras dry.

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R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have to back Kate C up with what she said about Lanolin causing more sensitivity. The cracks I had on my nipples never healed until I quit using Lanolin ( I was using Lansinoh, but it's all the same if it's Lanolin). You need to have some breathable breast pads at first too. Try Johnson's ultra thins, and when you go out you can use Lansinoh pads which absorb more. But if you use Lansinoh all the time, your nipples won't get any air on them because they have a plastic liner. Therefore they stay damp and moist and can never toughen up and heal. I used the Johnson's at first whenever I was not worried about leaking through my shirt, like at home, otherwise I put on the more heavy duty ones. Good Luck with your little one!!

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