Why can breastfeeding be painful?
Breastfeeding can have some of the weirdest side effects, as Sandra, our lactation consultant, knows all too well. Unfortunately, pain is also part of it and unfortunately the reason is not always as clear as if the baby is teething. Some mothers also complain about the formation of milk blisters on the nipple. In today's breastfeeding advice you can find out what is behind this and what to do in this case.
What do milk blisters on the nipple mean?
There are many different reasons why a blister can develop on the nipple. Often a small skin forms above a milk duct on the nipple. This is accompanied by a tingling sensation in the breast and pain when breastfeeding. The milk is hindered in its flow by the membrane and can even lead to milk stasis. After breastfeeding, a white spot or milk-filled blister often remains on the nipple.
If you're lucky, the bubble will pop open on its own while breastfeeding. You can support this “self-opening” before breastfeeding with warm, moist compresses.
If this is not enough, the blister must be opened with a sterile cannula/lancet. Opening the milk duct with a cannula should be done by a specialist due to the risk of injury and infection. It is preferable that the baby is then placed directly on the breast so that it is emptied correctly.
If the spot on the nipple is more of a yellowish-white dot, we are talking about a fat plug on the nipple and a greasy plug can also clog a milk duct.
How to unblock milk ducts?
Unfortunately, some mothers repeatedly suffer from blocked milk ducts. Lecithin is recommended in cases of chronic milk congestion and also clogged milk ducts. So, if milk blisters appear, you can simply massage the nipples with liquid lecithin after breastfeeding.
Please do consult your local health professional, midwife and lactation consultant for further medical advice.