Sore Nipple

When I was pregnant I took a breastfeeding class and I remember them talking about different things you might get/experience. One of the things they mentioned was a little bump like you described. I don't remember what it was called but I do remember they saying not to mess with it, try to pop it, etc. It should just go away after a little time. Sorry if I'm not much help, but I just wanted to at least pass along the "don't mess with it" part I remember from class. :)

I get blocked skin ducts all the time in all different places. Try putting hot compresses on it to try and make it come to a head. If you are able to do that it should be able to be easier to squeeze and get the goo out, or it'll dissolve. If it doesn't do either one in about a week then maybe go to the dr. and have them take care of it.

WOW...God bless you and your baby. Please consult with your doctor. It could just be a clogged milk duct but it could also be a breast infection which is very painful and requires antibiotics.
Since we are on the subject of breasts and this is breast cancer awareness month...recently I received an e-mail informing me of IBC (inflammatory breast cancer)This is a very aggressive form and symptoms are very different from what most of us think of when we hear the term breast cancer. To all ladies please google search and be aware!

Hi M.,
I had exactly the same thing happen (twice in one month!). I poked the white area with a sterilized needle. It sounds much worse than it is - but this will unclog the duct and the pain will go away quickly. Good luck!

OWWWWWWWWWWW! M., I feel for you, sweetie! BEEN THERE! I went to a lactation consultant at Penrose (the old Community one which has since closed when they moved to their new location on Powers but I am sure they have a lactation consultant there and maybe one at Penrose Main? I also went to one at the Memorial Hospital downtown at a different time (different insurance plans) and was VERY pleased with both places...ALSO, Annie Peterson is a local lactation consultant and VERY good and I also went to Darryl in '95-CANNOT remember her last name for the life of me but if she is still practicing, La Leche League might know-as of a few years back, I know I saw something about Annie being around still...my baby is now over 11, so that let's you know how much time has passed!)

ANYWAY, the consultant massaged my nipple and we were not able to get the blockage to loosen (she said that sometimes they will spontaneously and it will look like a piece of spaghetti-sometimes happens with nursing) and she told me that she could tell my OB/GYN how to open it with a needle (sounds MUCH worse than it was!) but that she couldn't do it herself as she wasn't a practitioner. And that is what we did, I nursed the babe immediately after and it never happened again.

BUT! This sore was on the tip of the nipple, not on the side-I think you are describing something similar to what I had, but wanted to be sure. I would call a lactation consultant TODAY and ask them to take a look. And don't be afraid to ask your OB/GYN for help if they suggest opening it with a needle-the consultant talked to mine on the phone and told him how to do it. It was really quick and in comparison to the pain I had had, it was NOTHING.

Congrats on the baby and on your health! GO, MOM! HUGS to you! Nursing should not hurt, once baby gets a bit older (past a few days, I found with my three) and you are smart to keep the nipples lubricated-I SWORE by Lansinoh (also olive oil, if you are out of the other) and a warm wet tea bag can also help with the pain. Don't let a doc tell you this is normal (which happened to me-never saw her again as a patient as I KNEW it was NOT).

Have to go wake kiddos for school, but let us know what happens! And kiss that babe for me!

C.

p.s. a girlfriend who had mastitis said that her lactation consultant advised using a disposable diaper that you have run hot water over as a compress against the breast that is affected...could work for a blocked duct, too, me thinks, at least for pain relief...and the internet has lacataion consultants listed for Colorado Springs area...

First off, I can feel your pain. It sounds like you have what is called a milk blister. I too suffered them and know how extremely painful they can be. You can check some websites that suggest heat therapy, or of you are brave enough to actually pop it with a sterile needle. (eek!) Unfortunately for me I tried it all and the only thing that really helped was time. In 2-3 days althougth the blister was still visible the pain decreased gradually. Also, for me I do think it was due to poor latch, it first appeared as I tried a new position (side lying) which I do not think my daughter was big enough for. It started happening again when she became more alert and wanted to nurse then pull off, nurse again and pull off, etc. I always tell people that I would rather go through 10 labor & deliveries if I did not have to expeience 1 breastfeeding pain. But if you can beat cancer I know you can beat the breastfeeding pains too. Hang in there, it should get better!

I would have your doctor take a look at it. Mastitis can happen so quickly and is considered serious. Why take a chance?

This happened to me....Lansonoh did not work at all. What it ended up being is a yeast infection on my nipple AKA Thrush. My son has no symptoms and so no doctor would help me. So I asked other moms. What worked for me is I took...Monistate (yes, yeast infection cream) put in on my nipple with in one day I felt better Just make sure you wash it off before you nurse. I stuggled with the pain of breastfeeding my son with this yeast infection for almost 3 months. It was awful. I almost gave up. I would recommend also getting on a pro/prebiotic. Get in in a capsule not liquid.

That sounds so very painful! Call your OB right away, if you have an infection you need to take care of it immediatley. As for pain relief, I used hot/warm tea bags and the hair dryer.( I know, wierd, but it helps.). Also try La leche for a resource. Good luck and congrats on your baby joy!

You have a few responses already, so I won't elaborate... but from my experience, I would bet it is a "bleb" or "milk blister". They are very painful... not the same as a clogged duct. But it kills and will hurt until it pops or you pop it. I was afraid to pop it, and it was the teeniest, tiniest thing, but so darn painful. Hot compresses with a wash cloth covered with a towel(as hot as you can stand) for about five minutes then directly to nursing seemed to help soften it and the baby sucking would usually work to get the milk flowing through again. I feel for you. That hurts.

Hi, M.-- You are a trooper! Nursing in a variety of positions is smart, to help keep milk flowing through all the ducts. Let me just remind you that ibuprofen is compatible with breastfeeding and may help you stay more comfortable while you heal.
This sore could be a blister from Baby sliding off the nipple and slurping it like a straw instead of coming at it with a big open mouth, but since you are confident in your latch, I doubt that's the trouble.
It could also be thrush, but thrush often hurts all the time, not just with nursing, and the entire affected area is red, shiny, or covered with tiny blister-like sores. Sometimes it is white and has a mother-of-pearl sheen and also looks like a milky coating inside the baby's mouth. Moms describe it as feeling like an awful sunburn on their nipples. It needs to be seen by your health care provider if this is it, since it's hard to kick without a prescription treatment.
But what I think this is, is a "bleb." Here's the information on blebs from the Breastfeeding Answer Book, which is La Leche League's medical text:
"White spots on the nipple (also called "blebs" or milk blisters) have been observed for as long as women have been breastfeeding but have not yet been fully explained. Some think they may be caused by a plug, such as a granule of thickened milk blocking the milk flow near the opening of the nipple. Some think they may be caused by a thin layer of skin blocking the opening of a milk duct from the outside. In 'The Breastfeeding Atlas,' Wilson-Clay and Hoover observe that sometimes mothers notice a bleb after the baby has bitten the nipple and suggest that they may be a wound over which a callus has formed. Ruth Lawrence, MD, suggests that it may be a small pressure cyst formed at the end of the milk duct.
Many have observed that these white spots sometimes coincide with bouts of mastitis, but the cause and effect is unclear. Either the bleb itself causes the mastitis by blocking the flow of milk from the duct or perhaps the bleb forms as a result of the mastitis, which caused the milk to thicken in a blocked duct.
"If the bleb is painful, consider applying wet heat, either with warm compresses or by soaking the nipple in warm water. Another approach is to wear a cotton ball soaked in olive oil in your bra to soften the skin and then attempt to peel away the thickened layer of skin. Then, attempt to express from the nipple any remaining material by compressing the nipple behind the plug. Sometimes it is possible to express a thickened string of milk, which will help open the duct and keep it open.
"If the above treatment does not bring quick relief, consider going to your health care professional to open the blister. (If you try to open it yourself, it may result in an infection.) In some cases, opening the blister will cause the milk from behind it to start flowing and bring relief. In other cases, the bleb will be dry. If so, continue the previous treatment to help express it out until you get some relief.
"Once the blister has opened, take steps to prevent infection. . . avoid strong smelling soaps which may casue baby to reject the breast. . . .consider applying a thin layer of topical antibiotic ointment sucha s Bactroban or Polysporin after feedings alternated with ultra-purified lanolin, such as Lansinoh to prevent the formation of more thickened skin. Because the antibiotic ointment is only minimally absorbed into the skin, almost none passes into the milk. . . If you continue to experience recurring blebs and/or plugged ducts, some suggest reducing or eliminating saturated fats in the diet and taking a lecithin supplement."

Mastitis is a generic name for any infection taht settles in the breast tissue. You can avoid it by nursing often and having excellent self-care--good food, resting, etc.

I hope this helps! I am sorry nursing is hard right now--this is just a speed bump and you will be enjoying your snuggly time with you baby again soon. I notice you are in Syracuse--I am in Ogden and if you have other breastfeeding questions I might be able to help you with, you can find my number on the La Leche League Web site at www.llli.org. All phone help and other services are completely free.
Best wishes!

Try warm compresses to the sore, that should open it up some. Good luck.

only thing I didn't see was a possibility of thrush? has your child had it at all? We passed it back and forth for a while. I had to get an antibacterial cream for my breasts and my dd had to go on an antibiotic to get rid of it. I'd go to the doc and have it checked out.

It sounds like a bleb. I had it a couple of times while nursing my son. Hurts like crazy. Try to peel back or pop it, just be sure you have clean hands when you are doing it. As soon as it "pops" open, it goes away and pain goes away. Also, try to keep dry as possible, run around wihout a shirt or bra on. But, 5 minutes before you nurse, put a hot washcloth on your nipples. Once, just doing this, softening it before my son nursed, poped it while he was eating. Good luck and hang in there!

Hi, M., sorry you're going through this - it's pretty common though. When I had a clogged ducts, I held a warm, wet washcloth against the side that was clogged as often as I could and let my baby nurse as much and as often as possible. It might take a couple of days, but should clear up. If you develop a fever, though, see your doc because it could be mastitis and you'd need antibiotics to clear that up. I hope it clears up soon because it's just not fun, is it?!

Sounds like a "bleb" or a milk blister. Kellymom has GREAT info on it, check this linkhttp://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplebleb.html and it will tell you everything you could possibly want to know about it. Plus it has a photo of one, so you can have a visual to make sure that this is actually what it is.

I had this happen to me as well. It is a blocked duct right at the surface. It is so painful! What worked for me was to apply a hot washcloth (as warm as I could stand) to the area at least 15 minutes before feeding. Try to do this prior to every feeding and also in between if you can. I did this for a few days and it went away. It was very sore so I tried to do my best to relax while my son was eating on that side.

My thoughts on trying to keep this from occuring again is to continue to monitor your son's latch (making sure he is not just sucking on the tip of your nipple but bringing your areola in his mouth as well). This also may seem like DUH but also keep your breasts clean and wash your nursing bras regularly. Also change your nursing pads regularly if you are experiencing leakage. Applying the lanolin cream is also great as it not only soothes and softens but also forms a barrier. Good luck!

How old is he? The first month is a time of learning for both of you and an improper (though maybe now corrected) latch-on could have caused the sore. I remember a few really raw spots when I was first nursing that looked almost like they could be infected, but they went away after a few weeks.

If you think that there could actually be puss in it (like a whitehead) I would call the doc - yours or baby's - and make sure it's not a concern for either of you. That's a sign of infection. Same if it is red around the sore (more than other areas) or feels hot to the touch.

tea bag... as hot as you can stand and then put it on your nipple and then after 1/2 hr or so you should pump... I always found that pumping was less painful than nursing in that situation. So try that and best of luck

I just went through to this and the lactation consultant said warm compresses and massaging while nursing with the baby's nose towards the clogged duct. I ended up on antibiotics for mastitis anyway, but it did help with the pain. If you start to feel sick, don't wait to see how it goes. Mastitis is horrible and can progress to a systemic infection very easily. Congratulations on your new little one!

first, i would recommend stopping by the nursing clinic at your hospital and let one of the lactation consultants take a look.

I am thinking it is not a clogged duct (those aren't visible.. just a hard lump in your breast... nursing, massage and hot compresses usually help with those)

have you tried using a nipple shield for a while to protect it while you let it heal? also have you tried putting some breast milk on it and letting it dry? breastmilk itself does wonders for sore nipples.

Another thing to try is warm compresses and keep nursing to help it drain. If you start noticing redness around the area, streaking or getting achy fever symptoms, then it could be developing into mastitis and should see your doc. Good luck!

A clogged duct will not really be sore at the nipple. It will be a bit out from it, and it will feel harder than anywhere else, because it's full of milk. I think what you're supposed to do is to rotate your baby so his top lip lines up with the clogged duct.
Hot showers also helped, as it usually causes let-down and you can spray the whole shower down :) When/if that happens, massage the part that's hard and sore.
Lansinoh won't help with a clogged duct. That's just for feeling raw. Although I highly recommend putting it on after ever feeding so you don't GET raw!
Sorry, I don't know what hydrogels are.

Hi M.,
First of all congratulations on being a cancer survivor!!! I had clogged milk ducts with my first child. The only thing that helped me was taking a hot (as hot as you can stand it) shower and massaging my breasts under the hot water for at least five minutes right before breastfeeding at least twice a day. If I could not manage to get in the shower because my husband was at work and I didn't want to leave the baby alone, I would put a very hot wet washcloth on my breast and massage the area that had clogged ducts. I hope this works for you.

ugh this brings back nursing pains. With my son i cracked and bled and it felt like piercing needles every time he ate. I dreaded it when he got hungry but i was persistant and it got better, nursed for 14 mos. With my daughter i had the clogged ducts, mastitis and on going thrush. It was 7 1.2 mos of pain but i didn't want to switch to formula until i couldnt take it any more. I also had a bleb (didnt know what it was until after i quit nursing her) I remember pumping at work and it would pop and sometimes i would end up with pink milk it was gross. The bleb would come back and was there when i quit nursing. I left it alone and it stuck around for MONTHS after i was done. My husband is a diabetic so i did some research and decided to pop it myself with one of his sterile syringes. Granted it did drain and its been gone for a while now. I wouldn't ignore it and if it doesnt go away i would go to the doctor and have them drain it. Best of luck to you I loved nursing, although painful at times it is well worth it.

Hi M.!

Congratulations on your baby! You've had quite a journey getting to this point, it seems!
I am sorry to hear about your breast issues- how very uncomfortable!
I suggest Wishgarden Herbs Mastitis Remedy... yes I know you said a sore on your nipple and not mastitis. This tincture is awesome at taking care of infections of all sorts. This remedy is really amazing. This is one that I think every breastfeeding Mom needs to have in the medicine cabinet at all times!
To help draw out the infection, I recommend a compress- either Wishgarden Herbs Mastitis Compress or Motherlove's Breast-ease. This will help draw out the infection and speed healing.
Also, I am not a fan of the Lansinoh, maybe trying a natural, herbal salve would help, I personally like the salves from Earth Mama Angel Baby, Motherlove Herbal and Wishgarden Herbs.
To find all of these products, go to http://www.naturalchoices4baby.com/catalog.php?category=58 And as luck would have it, all Lactation Support Products are on sale this month!
I hope you find relief soon! If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know!
H. Gaitten
Owner, Natural Choices
www.naturalchoices4baby.com

I had the same thing. It sounds like a "bleb" or sometimes called a "milk blister". The only thing to help it is warm compressions. I took (very) warm showers, which helped to ease the pain and tenderness, as well as help reduce the size. I'm in the medical field, and there really isn't anything else to do to make it go away. It'll do it on it's own. If the thought of breastfeeding makes you cringe, maybe a little pumping inbetween to keep the milk flow, but ease the pain. If that isn't an option, try warm compresses before feeding time. Also, I wouldn't keep apply the lansinoh, because it may be a part of the problem by clogging that area, but still apply it around the nipple, away from the sore to help keep your nipples unchaffed, or even better -just use breastmilk (probably better to use), then let your nipple dry out. I hope this helps.

I had that happen a couple of times with my first child. You know it is a clog if your breast has a hard part where the milk is backed up from the clog. If you have a fever or the breast feels feverish to the touch, you may have an infection which requires antibiotics. For the clog, I would just apply hot compresses (as hot as you can tolerate) or shower in hot water and then pump or massage the breast firmly from back to front and eventually the clog would work its way out. The two times I can think of, my breast gushed milk when the clog was loosened.

Don't use Lansinoh or probably anything but breast milk on the nipple. Just let it dry out completely in between feedings. Believe me, I'm on my fourth nursing baby and I have had a load of problems in the past with sore nipples. After some time, I realized that if my nipple was constantly moist, I had even more problems. Then I read up on it and actually found doctors who said the same thing. It needs to stay dry as long as possible in between.

It has been a long time since I nursed my kids, but one tip that I feel was critical is to air yourself out (go topless) for a bit after breastfeeding to help the nipples heal. I also remember heating up tea bags, ringing them out and sticking them on my nipples (use pads as they will stain your clothes). Air out afterwards. Use the cream as well. Don't give up.
Good luck.
S.

I feel your pain! If it looks like a bunch of little white bumps, it could be thrush. My son got thrush in his mouth and then transferred it onto my breast. That was a horrible pain. It actually made my nipple crack and split open, but I continued to nurse, with my fingers and toes curled from the pain. Our pediatrician actually prescibed a cream for me and oral for him, and that took care of it. I don't know if that's it, but maybe check the inside of your babies mouth for white spots just in case you can't find another solution. Good luck, and keep up the nursing!!!

It sounds weird, but put a cabbage leaf on your breast. Chill the cabbage and just put a leaf in your bra. You can replace the leaf as soon as it gets warm or just do it a few times a day (which ever works best for you). It will relieve discomfort and swelling and will help loosen a clogged duct. Hang in there!

Good luck. I remember pushing a lot on that side of my breast after my daughter had breast fed and having milk gush out. Call La Lacha or your hospital they showed me how to do it.

I had a cyst on my nipple awhile back. It would occassionally pop open and ooze, and it was VERY painful. I had to get antibiotics because of infection, and put heat on it to try and draw all the puss and such out. I know a lot of people have mentioned milk blisters, but if it seems like it's more of an infected looking thing, then you need to get some antibiotics, and use heat, it will help draw all the gunk to the surface so it can release.