Aw, that sounds really uncomfortable! Nine months is quite a while na to be experiencing pain ulit, so I'd really suggest checking with your OB or lactation consultant kasi sometimes kung may small cracks or irritation, pwedeng lumala if hindi properly managed, a few of us experienced something similar and found out we needed a bit of intervention. In the meantime, try Mama's Choice Nipple Cream, which is breastfeeding-safe and actually helped my friend's cracked nipples heal faster, plus it's gentle enough to use regularly between feeds. Make sure din na you're latching properly when you pump or nurse, at if you need to take a break, okay lang yan para makaramdam ang nipples mo.