Bleb
Bleb, milk blister, white dot, inflamed duct.
Symptoms
Pain during nursing, after nursing or both.
Usually only on one side, but can be on both.
Diagnosis
White dot, yellow scab, blood blister, bloody scab on nipple tip.
This is usually preceded by having had a blocked duct deep in the breast in the week prior to the nipple discomfort. Or the baby may have pulled off abruptly, bitten or damaged the nipple in some way.
Treatment
There is no easy fix for this. The pain may take weeks to improve if you continue to nurse, but will eventually subside. It will go away faster if you make sure the latch is good at every feed. Baby should only be on that side to feed. No comfort nursing on the affected side until the pain improves.
****If the pain is excruciating, it will help to stop nursing on that side for 5 days and pump at every feeding.
- Use a slightly bigger pump flange (27mm or30mm) so there will be less pressure on the nipple during pumping.
- Use a little olive oil on your nipples during pumping to decrease friction and decrease discomfort.
- Start pumping at minimum suction and slowly go up on the vacuum. Do not go up on the vacuum if it becomes painful.
- Consider renting a hospital grade pump for one week. Hospital grade pumps are much more comfortable than the others.
- Pump for 10-15 minutes at every feeding (approximately every 2 to 3 hours. Stop 2 minutes after the flow stops. Massage breasts during pumping to help the milk come out faster so pumping will take less time.
- Pumping should not be painful. If you were having pain after nursing, that same pain should not occur after pumping. If you do experience the same pain during or after pumping, consult your doctor.
- If you are nursing the good side and pumping the painful side, offer the pumped milk in a bottle to the baby.
After 5 days of pumping, reintroduce the baby to the breast for one feeding on the 6th day, two feedings on the 7th day, three feedings on the 8th day, etc. It should not be painful to nurse on this side. The white dot may still be there but the pain should not be. If it is, call your doctor.