So my LO turned 2 on March of these year. He is still breastfed. He typically only nurses once or twice during the day and then will sleep a good chunk of the night (8pm until about 1-2am, some nights a little less and he is nursed to sleep). I haven't had cracked or bleeding nipples since he was a newborn. A few days ago one of my nipples became sore (just figured maybe he had latched funny and it'd go away). Well it's been getting worse and worse and today I went to adjust my bra and realized my nipple had bled and stuck to my bra. There isn't much info online about what can cause this this late in the game. It's now too painful for me to nurse him from that side. I just bought some lanolin and a nipple shield. He will not nurse with the nipple shield, I haven't been brave enough to try with just the lanolin because I literally JUST put it on about 30 minutes ago. Does anyone know what could cause this? Also any tips? I'm worried he'll stop nursing from that side and it'll become engorged and get mastitis.