Unusual nipple discharge and itchiness - anyone else had this?

[mumtobefeb2021]

I've had issues with my left breast for a good couple of months now. The nipple/breast area is very itchy and is unbearably uncomfortable if I'm not wearing a bra (eg if the breast is rubbing against a t shirt). The nipple itself weeps and can be wet to touch. I've recently started wearing breast pads which has helped improve comfort levels during the day but I have to sleep with a bra and pads on in order to be able to get any sleep as the itchiness/tingling sensation can keep me awake otherwise (plus my breast gets stuck to what I’m wearing and I have to physically peel off my nipple away from the garment which is very painful and unpleasant!). I've tried attaching some photos of what the discharge looks like in the breast pad but as I’m new Mumsnet, it appears I’m not able to just yet so I’ll try to do it in the next post if I can! The discharge is a sort of yellow colour - it’s not like normal colostrum and it smells like sweaty skin :-(

I've been to my GP and have been prescribed a couple of different antibiotic creams which didn't help at all. I've also been referred to my local breast clinic and was advised by a specialist that the problem I was experiencing was 'just one of those things' and to ride it out (not very helpful!). Every midwife I've spoken to and/or shown the problem to seem a bit baffled and have said they've never come across anything similar before, so it'd be great if I could hear from someone who may have had something like this during pregnancy before? I'm 33 weeks tomorrow and although the breast clinic specialist said I shouldn't have any problems breastfeeding when baby is here, I'm not sure I'm totally convinced as I get so much discomfort right now!

Many thanks in advance for your replies, ladies 😊 x

I can only tell you my experience of having a discharge from my nipple which then became bloody.

A trip to the docs saw me prescribed antibiotics and a referral to the breast clinic.

The consultant at the breast clinic couldn't understand why I'd been given the antibiotics. He said the usual course of treatment is to remove the milk ducts and send a sample off for biopsy which I had done really quickly. All came back clear (thankfully). He said the majority of cases will come back clear but it's the best way to rule anything sinister out.

I'd agree with PP- you need referral to a breast clinic. It is possible for pregnant women to get breast cancer (not saying that's what it is at all, don't worry) so it's very remiss of the doctor to send you away with a shrug of the shoulders because he doesn't know enough about body changes in pregnancy. Get a second opinion, OP.

And also lasinoh nipple cream.

Please please don’t leave this. My very best friend has just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and her only symptom was a weepy nipple.

Of course I hope yours is completely innocent, and pregnancy related but I couldn’t not reply.

In first trinester I had an episode of left nipple becoming very itchy red and the area all dry and flaky when the other one was normal.
The midwife just told me to use some bepanthen with an antibac agent but it made it worse.
Then went to the dermatologist who didn't know what was the issue and scraped off some skin to look for fungus but that came back clear.
He gave me a cream with cortisone for the itching but i never used it.
Weirdly enough after my visit the nipple fixed itself.
And that was weeks after it started.

Mine wasn't leaking, so can't comment on this but it was just one of those things...
Very weird. And very uncomfortable so you have my sympathy.

@TopBants

I'd agree with PP- you need referral to a breast clinic. It is possible for pregnant women to get breast cancer (not saying that's what it is at all, don't worry) so it's very remiss of the doctor to send you away with a shrug of the shoulders because he doesn't know enough about body changes in pregnancy. Get a second opinion, OP.

And also lasinoh nipple cream.

Thanks TopBants - In my original post I mentioned I've been to the breast clinic already and the specialist said it was just one of those things and has said it's not cancerous. I am thinking about going back to the GP though to get a second opinion (not for cancer but in case it's something else!).

@Milkand2sugarsplease

I can only tell you my experience of having a discharge from my nipple which then became bloody.

A trip to the docs saw me prescribed antibiotics and a referral to the breast clinic.

The consultant at the breast clinic couldn't understand why I'd been given the antibiotics. He said the usual course of treatment is to remove the milk ducts and send a sample off for biopsy which I had done really quickly. All came back clear (thankfully). He said the majority of cases will come back clear but it's the best way to rule anything sinister out.

Thanks for your reply. I feel I'm at a bit of a brick wall because I've seen the specialist at the breast clinic and they're the ones who said it wasn't anything to worry about. With Covid and everything it's hard to get seen by anyone so it's frustrating that I've been discharged already.

Thanks TopBants - In my original post I mentioned I've been to the breast clinic already and the specialist said it was just one of those things and has said it's not cancerous.

Whoops, sorry! This is what I get for speed reading. I don't know about it in pregnancy, but I've had bleeding, sore nipples when breastfeeding and tried a number of treatments- for what you describe, I'd get some silver nipple shields off Amazon. They won't stick to the actual nipple because they form a dome over it, they're antibacterial so will speed healing and they'll prevent any sticking to breast pads (put the shields on and wear your pads as normal). Hope it heals soon.

Also, colostrum is yellow, so it could be normal leaking combined with an infection?

@TopBants

Thanks TopBants - In my original post I mentioned I've been to the breast clinic already and the specialist said it was just one of those things and has said it's not cancerous.

Whoops, sorry! This is what I get for speed reading. I don't know about it in pregnancy, but I've had bleeding, sore nipples when breastfeeding and tried a number of treatments- for what you describe, I'd get some silver nipple shields off Amazon. They won't stick to the actual nipple because they form a dome over it, they're antibacterial so will speed healing and they'll prevent any sticking to breast pads (put the shields on and wear your pads as normal). Hope it heals soon.

Also, colostrum is yellow, so it could be normal leaking combined with an infection?

Thanks so much for the silver nipple shield idea - I've tried some rubber ones which mums use for feeding, but maybe the silver nipple ones will be better for healing/added protection! Thanks again x