Recurrent milk blister

[Dorisdolalee]

Has anyone got any advice on this. I've had a milk blister for months. It gets quite sore sometimes but I really don't know how to get rid of it? I can't pop it and I try and scrape it but nothing changes. Plus it's painful digging around, as opposed to blocked ducts which I can sort of squeeze till they burst. Sorry that all sounds horrific!
Anyway any help
Appreciated.

[Dorisdolalee]

Bump on the off chance
Calling all experienced breastfeeders!

[BugPlaster]

Persist with trying to pop it. I scraped with a clean nail - it took some doing but I was desperate.
Apart from that, you have my sympathies. It did my head in and after having mastitis 1st time around was keen to avoid 2nd time and I couldn't understand why I was getting blocked up.

[LucyMouse]

Sorry to barge in but I think I have a milk blister - it looks very much like the pictures from the Kelly Mom website - but I'm only 34wks pregnant and I haven't even started leaking any milk yet. Does anyone have experience of this while they are still pregnant? Should I leave it alone, or should I try to pop it? As with the OP I have tried but nothing seems to have worked when I try to squeeze it.

[figginz]

OP have you tried hot flannels and massage? As well as trying a different position to see if you can get a better latch?

No idea Lucy on your situation sorry

[PersisFord]

I have had the same one on and off for weeks!! It started with a blocked duct and now the blister just comes and goes. I got desperate on New Year's Eve (DH working a night shift), got in a shower as hot as I could stand and gouged it with a sterile needle. There was milk and blood everywhere, I nearly fainted.....but it hasn't been nearly as bad since.

[PersisFord]

It was a bit drastic though.

[LucyMouse]

Persis that sounds very brave. The thing is, if it was something on DH's body I would have gouged it long ago, but the thought of prodding away with a needle makes me feel a bit sick.

[PersisFord]

I had funny blobs on my nipples when I was pregnant too now I come to think about it but creamy rather than my milk blister that was white.

[Dorisdolalee]

So I guess it's a case of ongoing maintenance. I do shower & flannels & scraping. & digging & needles. Sometimes it goes but I think a combo of bad latch and missing feeds ( baby is. Nearly 12 moths) causes it to blister over occasionally.
It's not nearly as satisfying as popping a blocked duct.

Lucymouse if it doesn't hurt I'd just leave alone. Because you often need suction from baby to help relieve things.

Persis your NYE sounds like a whole load of fun!

[PersisFord]

I was a bit worried the bleeding wouldn't stop and I'd have to get the kids up and go to A&E with all the party people.

[Dorisdolalee]

It's actually much better today which I think was a combo of scrapping and hot shower and a day of non stop feeding. Little bugger was attached all day!

[PersisFord]

I am jealous of you popping your blocked duct - how do you do it? Mine just decompresses a bit when the baby stops being a prima Donna and agrees to feed on that side (he has ishoos) but I wanted to pop it like a massive spot and it just wouldn't!

[Dorisdolalee]

Yes I think I has blobby white bits too on nipples when preg. Nothing came out for ages though despite me trying. Is everyone a squeezer or is it a certain trait that Only some people have ?!

[Dorisdolalee]

Persis I stand in a hot shower and massage and squeeze and squeeze till I locate the duct then keep squeezing till it pops. Man, it feels good.

[PersisFord]

How do you stand the pain? When I have one I can barely touch it! I am very, very bad at pain though.....

[figginz]

OMG Persis
And Doris too
All this popping is putting me off my tea

[Dorisdolalee]

Sorry fig! It's a bit gross and grisly.

But I do think if more people knew about what to do there might be less mastitis cases. I mean bf just is a bit gross at times. In a normal way I mean.

Anyway... Persis I am extremely determined. And the relief is immense. I also take ibuprofen. It's happened about 5 times now. Across 2 babies. So I'm
A total pro!

[PersisFord]

I had mastitis when this baby was little. I never had a jot of trouble first time round but this little drama llama is a different ballgame. Because I had BF before I assumed I knew everything, and before I knew it I was shaking and shivering with a temp of 40.

I know NCT is wonderful and all that but because I had been to their special BF class I assumed I knew everything, and that if I did enough skin to skin it would all magically sort itself out. I sometimes think I should start some more down-to-earth classes - popping, picking, bleeding, pumping, cluster feeds, growth spurts, tongue tie......the less fluffy side of it!!

[PersisFord]

And next time I get a blocked duct I will take some ibuprofen, have some wine.....and SQUEEZE!!!!!!!!

[Dorisdolalee]

Yes exactly Persis!
There needs to be more encouragement to be aware of changes and what to do. When I start to get a blocked duct my body starts aching- like I'm getting flu. That's when I know I've got to get my squeeze on!

It's so much more that skin to skin and comfortable positions isn't it?It's so hard sometimes but so easy the rest of the time...

[Gloryjones]

So glad i've seen this my dc3 is 5 wo and I've had a recurring white spot since my milk came in. I've tried popping it with a needle 5 times now but it just bleeds and doesn't actually go away and no milk comes out. I can see it filing it with milk but can't find the duct that's blocked. Going to have another go at popping it Doris and persis you've inspired me! But but how do you know if it's a blister or a blocked duct? So painful and I've already had thrush and mastitis grr was fine with the other 2!

[Dorisdolalee]

So glory
The blocked ducts tend to come with a hardness and soreness. All over boob. But especially in the area you think is blocked. I get a hot shower on it and massage and squeeze till I locate the blocked duct.

This blister is different. It's almost a bit of an itchy irritating pain just in the nipple ( not thrush though)

I look under a strong light and I can see the skin that's formed over the duct. With a blockage you dont see anything till you get the pop

[Dorisdolalee]

Glory I did read somewhere ( whilst doing google research !) that someone used daktArin on a white blister on nipple and it worked.

Which makes me think it can be thrush related. - not sure how that only happens on one boob. But perhaps seeing as your baby is so new ( congratulations!) it may be worth checking with doc...

[Gloryjones]

Interesting thanks Doris hmm sounds like it could be a blister in that I can see the skin over the milk. Although the pain is like a stabbing through the whole Breast rather than just nipple.

Have been using daktarin cream for 10 days or so thrush has cleared but the spots still there. Doctor had no idea what it was have also seen a bf councillor who was helpful generally but couldn't tell me how to get rid of it.

The joys of breastfeeding eh! Hope you manage to get rid of it I've been hoping mine will just disappear on it's own wishful thinking?

[PersisFord]

It is. And sometimes it's wonderful and sometimes it's horrible!