When does an antibiotic (ointment or by mouth) help heal a nipple wound?
If you have nipple damage from breastfeeding which has resulted in an ulcer, you might notice that the surface of the wound exudes a thick or watery yellowish, greenish, or greyish fluid. This is a normal part of your nipple skin's healing process, and is not a sign of infection.
You need only to allow the water to cleanse it in the shower. It won't hurt your baby. If you have such a large nipple wound, and so much exudate that you are concerned about your baby swallowing it, I recommend that you see a breastfeeding support professional or an NDC Accredited practitioner. It is likely that you need to give your nipples a break, so that the wound can heal, before you continue with further breastfeeding.
Needless to say, it is very important that the underlying nipple and breast tissue drag which causes repetitive microtrauma to your nipple is dealt with. You can find out about this starting here.
Sometimes the exudate from your nipple wound might become particularly smelly and copious. Sometimes, the area around the wound becomes inflamed and painful, as one of the bacterial species that are inevitably present in the wound begins to dominate and spread. Please see your doctor for assessment, if this is the case. Your doctor may decide to use an antibiotic, either as an application or as an oral dose.
The woman with the ulcer shown in the picture at the top of this page had continued to breastfeed using nipple shields, seeking help from multiple breastfeeding support professionals before she came to me. We decided that she needed to rest her nipples for complete healing before we began to work together on the getalt approach to fit and hold. She went on to enjoy a pain free 18 months of breastfeeding her little one.