white nipples?...

[Sella]

Hi All,
DD is now 10 weeks old and we seem to be over the initial feeding stresses. My main issues are that she doesn't have a very good latch so boobs are still a little sore but is something I live with as I've tried everything to improve it and it seems this is the best it's going to get. But recently I've noticed my nipples are white on the end and I know it means something but I can't remember what!
It seems such a shame that she still hasn't quite got the knack of it because I think if she did she would feed less often (I still have to feed her loads!) Any advice I know your all great pools of wisdom...!

My nipples carried on having white tips after a feed (as if all the blood had been sucked out) until I stopped feeding DS at 11 months... I wuldn't worry about having to feed loads - in my experience its pretty normal. After about 4 months though he got really efficient and was only taking about ten - fifteen mins to feed, but was still feeding every 2-3 hours.
How often is your DD feeding?

Just saw something about this on another thread! It's called 'blanching' apparently, there's info about it on the Kellymom website.

thanks, feeding on av every 1.5hrs in day bit hard to say coz sometimes she will have 1 let down from each boob 4 times in a row (twice from each side) other times she will have a good feed and go longer. usually has 1 decent sleep in day then at night i feed her around 7.30-8ish then she will have 2 night feeds and 1 around 6-7am, so i'm fine with it really, she doesn't spend hrs on the boob anymore just little and often, just would be nice if she could get the hang of it so my nipples weren't quite so sore.

It could well be Reynauds of the nipple and/or thrush. You should arrange to see a BFing counsellor to get checked out. Both are treatable, so is a poor latch. Feeding doesn't have to be painful. I've had both, for months on end until I went to see a BFing counsellor. Eventually got it sorted and now feeding is completely painless. As is should be.

Hi Sella, my DS is 2 weeks old and I've just developed white tips to my nipples this week. Sounds like he's feeding along similar lines to your DD. I checked that Kellymom site (thanks for the tip Hairymelons!) and I reckon it's poor latch in my case. I went to a breastfeeding support group today and the counsellor recommended using olive oil as a moisturiser to try and soften it (soak a piece of cotton wool/muslin in oil and then slip either over the boob or into the bra for a bit - wiping off any residue before the next feed). I also got some reminders on good latch technique so hoping things will go OK now.

TheBreastmilksonme great name . Just wondering how you got reynauds and thrush sorted? I'd be interested to read your experience (if you don't mind sharing it of course!) as I'm still a little concerned about it.

Hi Sella and Caitini
Reynauds is a circulatory problem - some people have poor circulation to their fingers and toes and for some women this can include nipples too - being an "extremity"!
It can be really painful as the blood goes back to the nipple after babe feeds. If you think you have Reynauds Syndrome there may be some medication your doctor can prescribe (you can carry on breastfeeding if you wish).

If it's thrush, the nipples are more likely to be pale and shiny - all the time - not just after babe feeds.

Either way, it's really important to get your baby to attach properly. Have you tried having a bath and letting babe feed there? This will do several things - help you to relax (and babe too), it will also warm the nipples (helpful if it is Reynauds) and will also give you a good laid back position for babe to self attach. Worth a try..?

I am a little surprised that a BFC suggested anything on the nipples. Are you sure it was a BFC you saw? Not aware of any evidence for olive oil doing anything - except being messy and a faff for you. DO your nipples need softening? Of so, tr a few drops of your milk - much easier and fine for babe too.

Good luck.

thanks i've had thrush so it's not that think it's just down to poor latch have tried everything, self attaching is good but still not perfect - don't get me wrong i'm not in agony just room for improvement... dd disagrees though!

Hi anotherbearlover

I was also a little at the olive oil suggestion but it was definitely a counsellor i spoke to. The logc ws about softening the skin i think. The volunteer gave me the tip of rubbing my breastmilk on it and exposing to air where poss but she insisted i speak to the counsellor bfore i left. Neither seemed to know what white nips but no shooting pains meant. I'm going to try and improve my latch ans see if that helps and rub breastmilk on it.

Don't think it's reynaud's as it doesn't turn back to pink. Alzso don't think it's thrush as my nipples aren't pale and shiny.

ps sorry for typos - one handed typing due to sleeping baby after lovely pain free feed

I've had this and it's just getting better now (baby 12 days old). I'm certain it's due to bad latch an ds squashing my nipple against the hard part of his mouth and it rubbing. I've seen a lactation consultant and she has helped me sort the latch so is a lot better now. I have been applying lansinoh after every feed, it's miracle stuff and doesn't need to be wiped off for baby to feed. They are getting better already, whiteness is slowly coming away to reveal my pink nipples underneath again. I think it's just a sign of nipple trauma tbh.

I'll give you the advice the lactation consultant gave me to see if you can improve your latch at all, it has been a life saver for me...

The position baby should be in depends on the size of your breasts, tummy to mummy isn't always right, if you have larger breasts the baby would be more on his/her back to get the latch right iyswim? Baby should have nose inline with tummy so head not twisted to the side (although I have to fight with Miles to stop him twisting his ... See morehead). You should hold baby at back of neck/shoulders so their head can go back and they can get a nice open mouth to latch on with. Don't lift breast to baby, put baby on to breast so chin touches first and nipple slips under their top lip at last second, start with nose to nipple position then slip baby on when mouth well open as quickly as possible and hold them there for 10 secs to get a good mouthful then relax a little.

She also showed me an 'exaggerated latch' technique as i'd followed all the advice and strill couldn't get him to take a good enough mouthfull.. It means holding the breast with thumb on top and rest of hand underneath well back from nipple. WITHOUT lifting the breast you push above nipple to tilt it back then bring baby to nipple with mouth ... See moreopen and making sure baby gets good mouthful of lower aerola and then slip nipple in at last second and remove thumb. Once on hold baby still for 10 secs to take nipple in then should be latched well.

Here are pics demonstrating the exagerrated latch technique, see pages 12,13 and 14

sella- just because you've had it doesn't mean you can't get it again, white nipples can be a symtom of thrush, I know as I've had them. And the symptoms aren't always exactly the same as the last time. It is wise to explore all the possibilities.

Thanks again - I know what you're saying TheBreastmilksOnMe but I still don't think it's thrush! There are no other signs at all, will keep trying with the latch, she doesn't seem to mind and is thriving anyway...

I had this with ds. I thought for a while it was Reynaud's, but was never sure. It lasted about 8-10 weeks and then improved. I took vit B and evening primrose oil supplements because I'd read that they could help to alleviate Reynaud's of the nipple, and the pain and blanching stopped - but I don't know if it was because of them or just that ds was older and more efficient at feeding.

I remember at the time sitting crying through feeds because it hurt so much - and this was after several baffled midwives and HVs, lots of people checking the latch till he was 4/5 weeks old, thrush ruled out by swab...nobody seemed to know what the problem was or how to fix it. I just carried on...I bfed my dd till she was nearly two, I was damned if ds wouldn't get the same! And he was thriving, so it was just my problem really. I was so relieved when it resolved on its own.

Still happily bfing now at 20 months

thanks jazz great tip happy easter