I'd tried a number of things prior to seeing the LC. Branded nipple creams, branded nipple lotions, ice packs, hot showers, hot washcloths — I'd even dipped my battered boobs (I had small 1mm cuts on them) in piping-hot salt water because the internet told me to. When I told the LC this, she waved her hand at me as if to swat these bad ideas away. Instead, she told me to cover my nipples in a thin coat of olive oil before pumping as it was safe. She also sent me home with petroleum jelly and explained that it would help promote healing.