what causes the tissue at the tip of the nipple to turn completely white? it does not have to happen during or immediately after. somtimes, it is just spontainious. it usually happens in the shower. it hurts.

anyone know?

By Kate on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 06:34 pm:

Probably a blocked milk duct. I've heard you can actually sterilize a pin and 'pop' it. Not advising it, exactly!

By Kaye on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 06:46 pm:

Sounds like yeast. Check the littles mouth and see if you find thrush spots, looks like milk inside the cheeks.

By Frasersmama on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 08:01 pm:

Personally, I don't think it sounds like a blocked duct or yeast, because it happens spontaneously and then (if I'm reading you right) it goes away. A blocked duct or yeast would get worse. BTW, you can't "pop" a blocked duct with a pin so don't even think about it Whenever skin turns white, I have to wonder if it is a problem with circulation. I would call your health unit or doc and ask. Do you notice anything else when it happens? How long has it been happening and how long have you been breastfeeding? (Sorry, former post-partum nurse here who loves to get to the bottom of these things) I used to get let-down in the shower all the time, the warm water does it. I also found my let down somewhat painful. Do you find milk leaking when it happens? Do you feel when you are having a let down? Does it feel like that?

By Dana on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 08:34 pm:

My let downs really don't work well (yes I am certain of this...I use a nursing scale to weigh DS before and after feeding to measure intake) I don't think it is related to letdowns, but not sure. I am certain it is not yeast and not sure about the clogged duct (but I thought that happened further into the breast tissue under the soft of your skin). Yes, it looks like lack of circulation. The skin acutally goes pale and becomes sort of see thru right at the tip of the nipple. Just like your finger would look if you squeezed it really hard and right at the tip. It is not milk leaking (I very seldom leak at all). And it hurts...almost a burning similar to a yeast infection burn.

By Frasersmama on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 09:09 pm:

You are right about the blocked duct, I would say it is not that. I would get it checked out. Call your doctor or public health nurse if you haven't already done that. If you don't mind, let me know how it turns out, you have me curious. I would say maybe put warm compresses on to dilate the blood vessels if it is a circulation prob., but then it happens in the shower, unless you take really cold showers

By Fraggle on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 09:23 pm:

Do you think maybe your nipples are just sore from nursing? This sounds like what happened to me when I was nursing my oldest DD because I was pumping at the same time to increase milk production (she had a lot of trouble latching on). I used a cream to help relieve the soreness-I can't think of the name of it now, but it was not harmful to the baby.

By Annie2 on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 10:16 pm:

Could it be from moisture? I think if I remember correctly mine did something similar. Maybe compare it too being in the tub too long?

By Pixie on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - 11:35 pm:

Ditto on Yeast (aka Thrush) or a clogged duct - have you heard of Lansinoh brand pure lanolin - thats the only thing thats safe to but on your nipple when nursing I lived for the stuff, if its THRUSH you will need a perscription for both your skin and the babies mouth. Is the babies mouth white on the inside? That is a symptom of thrush/yeast. If indeed it is yeast the lanolin with cause it not to breath and with yeast being a fungus it thrives on moist conditions and will grow worse.

Let us know how it goes....your doc will have to diagnose thrush and I wouldn't recommend waiting to terrible long bcz if you do so it can be so painful. If it is thrush - I battled it harsh with youngest DD so I have a few tips on that if you need them. GOOD LUCK! Don't give up on nursing!

By Dana on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 02:30 pm:

I found the answer. Here is a link for anyone interested. It is lack of circulation (duh) but it has a name. Just posting the answer incase there is someone else with the same problem. It offers ways to work with it.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug99p120.html

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 02:40 pm:

Wow. I never heard of that!

By My2cuties on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 03:18 pm:

that's a pretty cool site thanks.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 06:26 pm:

Glad you found the answer. LaLeche has been around a long time - I found them helpful when I was nursing my first child back in 1961. They are very good people.

By Frasersmama on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 07:42 pm:

Thanks for keeping us posted Dana, I have been wondering what you found. Glad you checked it out. I gotta say, you certainly got the nurse in me thinking, and I had a feeling it was a circulation problem. I guess I still got it