Still sore nipples at 3 1/2 months

Jai - posted on 01/26/2009

makke sure you are applying lanolin to your nipples after you feed the baby.  Whenever you can, leave breasts open to air dry.  Don't give up...it gets better.

Jai - posted on 01/26/2009

makke sure you are applying lanolin to your nipples after you feed the baby.  Whenever you can, leave breasts open to air dry.  Don't give up...it gets better.

Staci - posted on 01/26/2009

I agree with the other moms that it is probably just a latch issue, but you also want to check if your child is "tongue tied"...if the string on the bottom of his tongue comes all the way to the tip on the tongue instead of just half-way, it makes it nearly impossible for them to get a good latch.  My daughter had this and we went to a Ear Nose & Throat Doctor who was able to clip that string (called the frenulum).  It made a world of difference.  It is a pretty common procedure.  Just a thought...

Sarah - posted on 01/26/2009

Quoting Jenna:

I think that you are experiencing what I did. It is a constriction of blood vessels, causing lack of blood flow in the tip of the nipple. This is also called blanching of the nipple it is caused mostly by improper latch pinching the blood flow off. Although there is also a medical condition that can cause this- Raynaud's phenomenon, generally though you would have already noted lack of proper blood flow to other entremities (fingers, toes) and it isn't very comon.

But blanching of the nipple due to improper latch obviously is easily treatable by correcting latch. Finding the cause of improper latch may or may not be easy. I was seen by numerous public health nurses and lactation consultants and all thought my latch and positioning were perfect. It almost looked as though the tip of my nipple was going to fall off, it was that damaged.

What did the Doctor end up suggesting? I have been having similar blanching and blistering problems...

Kristin - posted on 01/26/2009

Thanks for all the advice and support! I have been paying better attention to his latch and correcting it and that is starting to make a difference. Still not sure what the spots were but they are gone now. Thanks again!

Debbie - posted on 01/24/2009

you may have thrush ... check this out ... http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Candida...

Jenna - posted on 01/24/2009

Quoting Kristin:

Yes, it is the end of the nipple that has hard white spots, and they are painful, but not in a burning sort of way. Following the advice of the other posts, I've started paying more attention to his latch again and it's hard to say yet whether it is helping. I would appreciate any other ideas! Thanks.

I think that you are experiencing what I did. It is a constriction of blood vessels, causing lack of blood flow in the tip of the nipple. This is also called blanching of the nipple it is caused mostly by improper latch pinching the blood flow off. Although there is also a medical condition that can cause this- Raynaud's phenomenon, generally though you would have already noted lack of proper blood flow to other entremities (fingers, toes) and it isn't very comon.

But blanching of the nipple due to improper latch obviously is easily treatable by correcting latch. Finding the cause of improper latch may or may not be easy. I was seen by numerous public health nurses and lactation consultants and all thought my latch and positioning were perfect. It almost looked as though the tip of my nipple was going to fall off, it was that damaged.

To help with pain associated with blanching, immediately apply a warm compress directly to nipple after feeding. This will help circulate blood and not allow tissue to die.

Also an extremely little known fact is how an overbite can affect the latch. This was actually the case with me.After about 10 weeks a doctor who specialized in lactation was my savior, or I would've given up breastfeeding. She diagnosed my son with an overbite in about 30 seconds of being in her office. Just for piece of mind look in your baby's mouth and see if the top and bottom gums line up. If they don't ,post again and I'll give you help that no one else seemed to be able to  give me except this one dr. Hope this may of helped!

Lorilynne - posted on 01/24/2009

http://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?t=...

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/...

Here are two links I found that could be what the white spots are...I'm thinking the second link from kelly mom is probably what you're experiencing...

Tiffany - posted on 01/24/2009

I would definitely suggest lanolin..... it may also be that you are getting thrush... you may need to check your baby also to make sure he is not getting white spots in his mouth...

Kristin - posted on 01/24/2009

Yes, it is the end of the nipple that has hard white spots, and they are painful, but not in a burning sort of way. Following the advice of the other posts, I've started paying more attention to his latch again and it's hard to say yet whether it is helping. I would appreciate any other ideas! Thanks.

Jenna - posted on 01/24/2009

By white spots do you mean the end of your nipple being white? And is it painful or burning...turns white after the latch is released? Msg me back if so....I may have an answer! Believe me it took me 10 weeks to find it out. Bleeding, blisters, pain and tears for 10 weeks.

Carmen - posted on 01/23/2009

I have the white spots also and they're actually blisters. I use lanolin and lily pads constantly and I rarely, if even, get blisters any more.

Jenny - posted on 01/23/2009

He may not be latching on correctly.  Mine did the same thing and it was because he had started on a bottle at daycare and started latching on to me differently.  He wasn't getting the same amount of milk when he fed, so he was hungrier more often.  I switched bottle nipples and now he's latching on better.

I also tried different positions when feeding him.  This really helped because there wasn't the same pressure on the nipples each time.

Don't give up though. My son is now 4 months old and we're doing much better at breast feeding.

Lorilynne - posted on 01/23/2009

You probably need to correct your latch.  He's probably not taking in the full nipple and just getting the tip and thats why he's hungry more often and you're in pain.  Try this: take your nipple and run it from the tip of his nose down to his chin.  This will make him open his mouth very wide and then stick your nipple in his mouth.  Make sure his lips are splayed out (kind of like a duck) and that he has the whole nipple and surrounding area in his mouth.  You may feel a pinch of pain as he gets going but it should ease once he's chugging away.   If he doesn't get the latch right, just unhook him gently and try again.  If that doesn't work, maybe try holding him in a different position and then getting him to open wide again.  If all else fails and you're still having pain see if you can get a visit with a lactation consultant or go to a la leche league meeting and they should be able to help correct that latch.