skin tag (or similar) on nipple making feeding v v painful - anyone else had this, it is driving me mad

[laughorcry]

I have got a tiny, white, skin tag on one of my nipples and it is making bfeeding incredibly painful on that side.

I'm a bit depressed about this as ds is only 2 and a half weeks and I had thought I was getting the hang of things.

Has anyone had/heard of this? Should I stop feeding from that breast or carry on?

Would be really grateful for advice.

Was the skin tag there when your ds was born? Or has it just appeared?

I know skin tags are more common in pregnancy. I'd talk to a BFC-type-person, ideally in person, so they can see it. I know skin tags are not very hard to remove, but you'd want to speak to a breastfeeding specialist. (You may also be able to reduce the pain by feeding in a different position on that side? Have you tried a range of positions to reduce the pain?)

(Are you sure it's a skin tag? It's normal to have little bumps all the way around the areola, although I don't think they generally hurt.)

I'm sure tiktok or mears will be along with a more informed opinion. Meanwhile, congratulations on the birth of your ds, and on a successful start to breastfeeding. Things do get better after the first few weeks, generally.

i had one with dd,mine appeared while pregnant and then it got bigger about the size of a lentil,the doctor told me to tie a bit of thread around it and leave it for a few days i did and it dried and fell off,mine was on the side so it didn't affect breast feeding,is it big enough to tie it?

Thanks NotQuiteCokney and whymummy. I'm not certain it's a skin tag, but I'm pretty certain it wasn't there before (although I have to admit I've spent rather more time looking at my nipples recently than ever before!). I've tried various positions, but they all seem quite painful - it's a bit like a little pinch each time he sucks.

It is white rather than pink, so wonder if it is possible that it has milk inside it?

Not big enough at the moment to tie with string, and unfortunately it is pretty much in the centre of the nipple. I have got the midwife coming on Thursday, so will probably wait until then. Am not sure how I would get in touch with a breastfeeding specialist.

Laughorcry, I think I had something similar with ds in the early feeding days - sory of looked like a tiny white sac at end of nipple. Not sure what it was - I thought it may be a blister or something. Anyway, it went (can't remember when) - it was definitely only there when feeding was painful at the start. Not much help, I'm afraid!

laughorcry, it could be a sort of blister. I doubt it has milk in it - it probably is white from being sucked on?

Where are you? Finding bf specialists isn't generally very hard - you can find them through the NCT, La Leche League, Breastfeeding Network, or Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. I need to go to bed, but finding numbers for these shouldn't be hard ... previous threads have all of them. (I suggest all four organisations, as different areas have different coverage - we only have BFN where I am, for example.)

They should be able to find you a breastfeeding drop in, or baby cafe, or similar event, or hook you up with a local breastfeeding counsellor who you can maybe arrange to meet.

Or, if you give a good idea of where you are, one of us can probably websearch something up.

Thanks again, NotQuiteCockney. I'm in Surrey - near Croydon. I looked up the Laleche website and have sent an email query about counsellors, etc. Am also awaiting call back from NCT. Could be white from being sucked on - but stays lighter than the rest of the nipple even quite a while after a feed.

Dinny - that sounds exactly like it. It is good to hear your experience. Gives me hope that it might just go away.

Laughorcry, I'm in Mitcham and have often been to see the bf counsellor at St George's, who is FANTASTIC. I know she does a drop-in clinic in Balham on Thursday mornings... Think there is also a good clinic at the Mayday hospital.

Laughorcry - do you think it might be \link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplebleb.html\this? There is a link to a picture. If it is the article explains what to do. HTH.

link

ow ow! can so vividly remember the pain! hope yours goes soon, Laughorcry

Thanks for the link Mears. I don't think it is the same thing as that article. It is more like a tiny flap of skin than like a spot/pimple. Still useful to read the article though. I think it may need to be "lanced" (am wincing at the thought). BUT, things were definitely less painful today, so am fingers crossed that it might just sort out by itself.

Dinny - thanks for the info and the sympathy. I had the baby at Georges so will give them a ring about the bf clinic and maybe try to go to the drop in next week. I wouldn't mind someone checking the latch as well, just to be sure it isn't that that is wrong.

At the moment, I'm making myself start with the breast with the tag/blister and managing between 10 and 20 minutes before swapping over, so hoping that I won't have done any irrevocable harm by waiting to see if it sorts itself.

oooh, if you go on Thursday am in Balham (Bedford Hill) may see you there as am taking ds!

Dinny - sadly that is when the midwife is coming. In my new baby filled life there is no way I cold have an appointment with a midwife and go to Balham in one morning. That's about a week's worth of activity at the moment .

Maybe meet you there another time?

how's your boob now, Laughorcry? Hope it's getting better. Prob won't be at bf clinic again soon (fingers crossed!) but a few of us meet up in Tooting area if you fancy joining us some time. Dinny x