white areas on nipple and lot of pain

[whatalongday]

Hello

I am currently on hols so bad time for this so any help appreciated. I have an area of whiteness that has developed on my nipple and I am in a fair amount of pain. 18w old keeps pulling off this nipple and the breast is hard so I need to drain - all compounded by left breast being very poor and I don't feed from it often.

[ParanoidAtAllTimes]

I had something like that- is it a blister on the end of the nipple? The doctor prescribed Lansinoh (also available without prescription) which worked a treat.

I really feel for you- it's so horrible being in pain every time you bf!

[kitpuss]

Is it a really small blob a bit like a spot? If so I agree it sounds like a milk blister (basically a blob of hardened milk)

I have had lots of problems with these, they are SO painful. It is good to try soaking your nipple in hot water before feeding.

I have tried lots of things, including poking with a sterile needle but nothing really seemed to work.

See Kellymom website, it has fantastic info and help for you.

My GP was clueless, just told me to buy a nipple shield, so not all GPs would be good like the above poster's GP!

I wish I had the definitive answer but to be honest I got nowhere with mine and have had recurrent problems with milk blisters and blocked milk ducts ever since - so i would really recommend you try everything you can to get it sorted out - see Kellymom or ring La Leche - they have a free helpline and are great.
xx

[Bucharest]

Could it be a blocked duct? I had one of those, and it was painful and the breast was swollen...the white spot was apparently the end of the blockage...cured it my poking a (sterilised) needle into it. Boob deflated straightaway in manner of balloon having air let out, and pain disappeared too!

[ParanoidAtAllTimes]

I think what I had was a milk blister. Applying lansinoh after every feed softened the skin enough that it burst of its own accord. Sterilised needle was going to be my next port of call though!

[Mummy369]

Could be Thrush - baby doesn't like the taste and pulls off. Reason for breast being hard 'cos baby not feeding well. Why do you not feed much other side? Is it less comfortable? Can you increase feeds on that side (more BF = more milk) while you sort out the 'poorly' breast?

I would suggest a visit to the GP - let him know your symptoms (ie the white coating, is it itchy?) and tell him it's affecting baby feeding. He should prescribe cream for you and drops for the baby. It is important to both be treated at the same time so you don't re-infect each other.