Milk bleb? Please can I have some advice.

[Leafy2018]

Hi,

I am breastfeeding my 8 month old baby - it has been absolute hell and it's a miracle I'm still doing it. She has always had a bad latch and no matter what man handling of my boobs by various health professionals occurred it made no difference. Anyway - on Monday the underside of my boob was really painful, wouldn't drain properly. That seemed to resolve itself over the course of the day. Then on Wednesday feeding on right side was really painful and I noticed a small white dot on the end of my nipple. Not big but noticeable. I looked on google and it pointed to a milk bleb or blocked duct. I went to doctors as feeding was agony. Doctor agreed but was useless and just went googling.

I had a call from HV who suggested using a needle to try to pop it for some relief and then see the breast feeding councillor next Tuesday. I tried the needle but there wasn't anything to pop as such. No fluid came out. I've just made it sore and it's bled inside my bra. I get the occasional burning feeling when I'm not feeding but it's not too bad - just agony when I am.

I just feel so hacked off. It's been a complete battle to feed and has only felt remotely ok for the last two months so I don't want to give up now. I also had to go for a scan as I had a lump under arm on same side which they said was accessory breast tissue. Of course I'm now stressing that they've missed something and this is all something more sinister.

Has anyone got any experience with milk blebs and how long they take to go?

I'm exhausted with this, baby, new house which needs constant management and two older children. Could really do with some advice! Thank you.

I had one of these and it was agony so I feel your pain. I went for a hot bath and lay on my side so that breast was submerged in the water and then hand expressed from that side whilst still under the water. I then used a clean fingernail to gently scrape at the white bit and then repeated. I also made sure baby fed from that side after this even though it was really painful. I think within a day of doing this most of the pain had gone.

Thank you for replying. I will try this. Might not be able to feed afterwards as about to put baby to bed. Was yours fluid filled? Mine is more like a thickened white/yellow skin. Nothing came out of it when I used the needle. Will definitely try bath, thank you.

Mill blebs are horrible! I had one too, a d yes, pretty much all you can do is let the baby feed as much as possible on that side until it loosens. It's excruciating, I know! I gently scraped at mine too with a finger nail, it was like a little hard white dot. When it came out, it had a tiny hard yellow tail. I know this because it was whilst gently scraping that I finally dislodged it. I feel your pain! I hope it goes quickly. We'll done on keeping your feeding going this long!

Try looking on the lll or Kellymom websites for advice.

It was almost like a hard white grain on mine and then once I scraped it away there was a small build up of milk behind it. I think I might have also put Lanolin in between feeds to try and soften it so you could maybe try that as well? The hot bath and fingernail definitely worked though. Good luck - hope you can clear it soon cos it's just so horrible!

Application of an electric toothbrush or er... other vibrating tools is reportedly quite effective

Thank you so much. I will see what results the fingernail technique yields! Sounds disgusting/satisfying.

I don't know why but I could just cry over this. I think I've internalised how hard breastfeeding has been. I always know I'd need to break through the 2/3 week barrier like I did with my first two babies but this has felt relentless at times. I was referred to an infant feeding specialist at 8 weeks and then I didn't hear anything for 3 months, by which time I felt it was all a bit late and I just got used to struggling.

My baby still feeds at least twice in the night too so I don't even get a whole nights sleep to recover.

I am sat feeding in the dark, dreading changing to the right hand side. I will treat myself to a bath after this.

I'm just using here to let out my feelings - no need to reply!

@WonkyDonk87 interesting! Although brushing my nipples sounds fairly right now!

Breastfeeding is hard! You've done really well to make it this far especially when you've found it difficult. Have a nice long bath once you can (and some chocolate!) and you'll hopefully feel better again once this clears and the pain goes.

And it's definitely ok to feel demoralised by it. I've had a relatively straightforward time breastfeeding but still have a love/hate relationship with it, especially towards the end of the day.

Thanks both. Really appreciate the positive words. I've had a bath (and a shower as bath doesn't have handheld shower for hair rinsing ) and I've put Lansinoh on later. No bra, just vest top. Going to do some glamorous saltwater nipple dipping in front of the television. Tried fingernail technique but it just looked a bit raw underneath, no milk, and feels sore. Fingers crossed it resolves soon. Thanks again for advice and support - it really is a labour of love this time!

Am I allowed to post a photo of it on here? I would appreciate opinions on whether it is definitely a milk bleb. If not that's fine - don't want to break any Mumsnet rules.

I don't think you'd break any rules. There's enough photos of people's bloody shows on here - (not envy)
Well done for getting this far, I'm only 3 months in and some hours I think it's easy and some hours I feel like it's sucking the life out of me.

One for Sporner Corner? Hope you get it resolved soon OP, happy dangling!

Oh and if you're on facegeek there's an excellent advice/support group which might be worth joining (that's where I got the 'toothbrush' trick)