Lansinoh for Breastfeeding Mothers--Major Irritation!!! Definitely not a Must-Have
Written: Mar 30 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Seems to help cracked nipples
Cons: Allergic reaction, EXPENSIVE, not really any better than hypoallergenic lotion
The Bottom Line: Try hypoallergenic lotion. Will probably work as well for a lot less money. Be warned that an allergic reaction is still possible. Definitely not a necessity, even with cracked nipples.
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| heatherhh's Full Review: Lansinoh For Breastfeeding Mothers |
My second child had a problem with latching on incorrectly during the first couple of days nursing. After that her latch was corrected, but the damage was already done. I was sore and cracked, and it took over a week for the damage to heal, while I winced at every nursing. I never used lanolin cream during all of this.
Then, came my third child. She also didn’t latch on well for the first couple days, and I started to get sore and cracked again. This time, my husband picked up Lasinoh lanolin cream. It was $16 or so for a little tube, but it would be worth it if it helped.
About Lasinoh Cream
This is made from pure lanolin and is meant to be applied to the nipples and areola. It’s especially intended to help with cracked nipples, but can be used preventatively. It’s supposed to be safe to apply and then leave on when you’re going to nurse your baby. Only a small amount of this gel is needed, and the scent is minimal. This is supposedly hypoallergenic.
The Good News
The Lasinoh did help. The cracking looked less severe, and there seemed to be better than expected improvement over the first 36 hours.
The Bad News
Unforunately, at that point, after less than 2 days, I had a red prickly itchy rash over both nipples and areolas. So much for hypoallergenic. The whole reason it was worth spending the money on this cream was that it supposedly wouldn’t cause irritation. I had to discontinue using it and was as miserable as I had been before, plus I itched. It took a few days for the rash to go away.
A Caveat
I do tend to have somewhat sensitive skin. Growing up, there were a couple types of detergent my mom could use, and when she switched (without my knowledge), I’d complain about my skin itching. In the winter, my hands will sometimes end up dry with a red rash on them, and moisturizer makes them itch like mad. I have to use hair conditioner and then rinse it off after a couple minutes. So, I am somewhat sensitive. This is the whole reason I thought it'd be best to use Lansinoh.
Really Better Than Other Options?
But, I really question whether this is that much better than other options. The main selling point to me was the hypoallergenic, but I really think a hypoallergenic moisturizer would have done as well. And, if I could have an allergic reaction and irritation, my baby certainly could as well. If using this, I would definitely recommend applying immediately after nursing, not right beforehand. That should minimize the amount of exposure baby has.
In Summary
This did seem to help with soothing cracked nipples for about 36 hours, at which point, I broke out in an awful rash. So as with my previous experience with cracked nipples, it resolved on its own without the help of Lansinoh.
While this product is potentially helpful if you're not allergic, it’s certainly not a must-have for nursing moms. If possible (if you have the product before it’s needed), I would highly recommend testing this in advance to make sure that it’s compatible with your skin.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
heatherhh
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Member: Heather
Location: Illinois, United States
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
Christian, wife, mother at home w/ 4 children under 7; #5 due Jan '09
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