Is it bad to pop a clogged nipple duct with a needle?

[hlkm2e]

: I have a white blister on my nipple, it is a bleb? I've been working at it for days, warm compresses, olive oil, nursing positions, lecithin supplements, nothing is working. I think the skin is grown back over it. It is killing me, seriously I'm not sure how much longer I can do this. Is it bad to pop it to drain. Will it help it heal? Any advice would be great.

Thanks

[stellimamo]

It would be my last ditch effort. Did you try pumping? An electric pump turned all the way up and quickly pulled off to break the latch can help sometimes unplug a duct.

If you go the needle route make sure the needle is sterilized.

Good luck!!!

[HelloKitty]

OUCH!!!!

Sorry... I'm sure that's not helpful but... OUCH!

[hlkm2e]

Ouch is right! I feel like I'm going to throw up the whole time I'm nursing it hurts so bad. DH is a dr. and he really wants to do it and says it will be safe, but he doesn't know diddly about nursing so I wanted to check here and see what you guys thought.

[babygrant]

OUCH, hopefully one of the pro's will be around to help you very soon!

[HelloKitty]

OK I just got this from the Dr. Newman site:

If the blocked duct is associated with a small blister on the end of the nipple, you can open it with a sterile needle. Flame a sewing needle or a pin, let it cool off, and puncture the blister. No need to dig around. Just pop the top or side of the blister. Sometimes you can squeeze out a little toothpaste like material from the duct and the duct will immediately unblock. Or, put the baby to the breast and he may unblock it for you. Opening the blister has the added benefit of decreasing nipple pain, even if the blocked duct does not immediately resolve. Come to the clinic if you cannot do it yourself.

ETA Here's the link to the article if you want that: http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.ph...d=33&Itemid=61

[alegna]

My last one I pulled out with a good pair of tweezers. Felt SOOOO much better....

-Angela

[hlkm2e]

Oh thank you, I will print that out for dh so he doesn't go digging around in there. Just get the needle in and get it out!

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by hlkm2e

: I have a white blister on my nipple, it is a bleb? I've been working at it for days, warm compresses, olive oil, nursing positions, lecithin supplements, nothing is working. I think the skin is grown back over it. It is killing me, seriously I'm not sure how much longer I can do this. Is it bad to pop it to drain. Will it help it heal? Any advice would be great.

Thanks

I have had blebs and usually they will go away on their own. I would just leave it alone. If you do want to drain it I would have your doctor do it. I have had some scary brushes with infections, I had a staph infection on my leg from a cyst, and I would hate for you to get a breast infection.

[peypeymama]

I've done it with a needle. The needle didn't hurt because the white skin was dead. No amount of pumping and heat compresses would fix it, but as soon as the needle punctured the dead skin, I started spraying milk.

It could be just the dead skin clogging up an opening.

[Hippiemommie]

I had a ton of these when I first breastfed. I would put a warm wash rag on it then take a needle that I had soaked in alcohol and just scrape the top of the blister off. After that I would put lansioh on and it worked every time.

[Spock]

I did what Alegna did. Just got a pair of tweezers, grabbed the white spot and pulled. There was a little white string attached to the spot and I felt relief instantly. All of the other stuff never worked for me. Good luck!

[Lemon Juice]

I had one once w/ my first nursling (knock on wood! ) and did what a previous poster said: put a flame to the needle and pop! It felt much better after that and I did visit the doc just to be sure all was well too and it was. Good luck! it's NO FUN to have a bleb! : Hope all goes well and you're nursing fine soon!

[BlueStateMama]

I've always popped mine. It's easier after a shower or bath.

[melbb]

I have always used a sterile needle to remove the skin. Otherwise I am stuck with backed up ducts for days and since I EP, I cannot afford the supply drop that results. I would remove the skin with a needle and apply a good antibiotic ointment for a couple of days.

[milk_maker]

I know someone who got her husband to suck it out for her. Might be a little weird for some, but it worked for her.

[Lousli]

Just make sure the needle is clean, and if you can't get anything out, don't continue digging. I speak from experience. I ended up with an open sore that wouldn't heal for 6 weeks! It was near where my daughter latched, and keeping it clean was really hard since it was open for so long. It hurt like a bear too!

[hlkm2e]

Thanks so much everyone. I've been working with an LC and unfortunately things aren't really getting better. The bleb is open, but nothing came out and it's not really healing. I got a hydragel cover to put over the wound and a call into my OB. His nurse knew about Dr. Jack Newman and about his nipple cream and my OB is real BF friendly, they are supposed to be calling back soon to see if I need to come in. I'm hoping the combo of the hydragel cover and maybe the nipple cream can heal this up. This really sucks and I can totally see how if I was a first time bfer and didn't know that it doesn't have to be like this, How I could give up and switch to formula. The thought has crossed my mind, though fleeting, and I can't imagine if I didn't know better. :

[kkar]

It will pass - just have faith! I suffered from terrible clogs while BF my two DDs. I usually dug them out with my nails and felt much better, but with my last daughter I had one that I just couldn't get rid of for about two weeks. I thought I was going to die as it started to look worse and worse! Just keep trying, you get it eventually.

Good luck!

[wahoowhippets]

I had recurring plugged ducts/infections with my DD #1, a lactation consultant told me to reduce saturated fats in my diet and to add soy lecithin. I had been taking calcium supplements at the time and was told to stop those. Massaging my breast *very* hard and after a shower would help to loosen them *sometimes*. I wish you luck, I know how frustrating it can be!