blister covering milk duct & another visible milk duct sealed - shall I get a pin out?

[absandme]

DD nearly 4weeks now & I have been through hell & back breastfeeding!

Todays problem (one of them) - It started as a clear blister & you could see the milk duct (white dot) under it - blister now yellow coloured - have googled this & it's also called a 'bleb'

Another area of nipple just has a white round dot like a duct that has skin over it.

Do I go to the GP or nurse or do I just attack it with a clean needle myself?

PS. I'm very fed up tonight, past history includes 50% skin loss on each nipple, severe mastitis infection, expressing every 2 hours to increase milk before DD got tongue tie done & re-latch & now trying to ensure she ain't hungry & needing a formula top up which is driving me mad not knowing if I'm feeding her enough - demand feeding and more.... I'm trying tonight to avoid top up as hoping I'm doing ok & that she will demand & then I will supply!

I have no useful input but just wanted to say you deserve a medal, I know BF isn't often easy but when you're having a tough time with it it's all encompassing as it's just you responsible for it day in and day out.

Like I said, no helpful advice, just wanted to say hang in there and give this a bump for you.

You could try a fairly hot damp flannel and leaving the flannel over the bleb for a bit to see if it softens up then gently rubbing with the flannel to remove the over grown skin and/or expressing (hand/pump) to see if that breaks the softened skin layer.

Needles/pins are best left to HCP in case of infection/going in too deep.

Sorry to hear it's all a bit much at the moment, it sounds like you and your DD have been through a lot to get to get to today. Hope the bleb/blister eases soon.

ThisOnce - cheers, that made me cry!!

TruthSweet - I'm off for a flanel - which HCP do you reckon I see if the flanel & express gives no joy? Nurse, Doctor, Midwife?

Thanks you two!

Truthsweet has given the sensible answer, but as one of lifes squeezers I'm afraid I'd have the sterilized needle out. You do deserve a medal, all that and only 4 weeks in? You're amazing.

This took me back. Also had several bouts of mastitis and had to be really vigilant about checking there were no blocked ducts with all 3 of mine. It's a real pain but the thing that helped was to do hot and cold flannels after each breast feed.

Only once did I resort to a needle and that was when I could see the bleb. I sterilised a needle, popped the bleb and milk spurted out at high speed.

I always thought that showed the agony of blocked milk ducts - that I would rather stick a pin in my nipple than feed through a blockage.

Eek!
No needles!
Hot flannels are you friend here. Warm baths etc.

Hope it gets better soon. Mastitis is an absolute bitch-whore, but it will get better.

You've got determination, which is the best aid to bfing ime.

All the best.

Wow, you've worked bloody hard at bf! I'm afraid I am another of the piercers as I found the needle needed only to be very superficial and gave instant relief .

I'd go with Dr or practice nurse (who ever has any experience with lancing boils or similar) as then they would do it with sterile equipment and using gloves etc. Last thing you want is a staph infection or similar! Really hope the hot flannel works.

Hot bath and get your nipple in the water and hand express. I had blocked ducts and they hurt like a bastard. When they "go" it's such a relief! You poor thing. Try not to pop with a pin bug keep at the hot water and feeding, it really will work eventually.