Breastfeeding and Blister?

Updated on October 20, 2009
A.H. asks from Franklin, IN
31 answers

My 2 1/2 week-old son is solely breastfeeding. He is doing wonderful (my third attempt and best yet) and gained over a pound in just a week and a half! I was thrilled. However, he has developed something like a blister on his top lip in the middle. Has anyone had this happen to their breastfeeding infant? If so, do you have ideas on how I can correct the problem? I hate to change things too much since he's doing so well but I hate for him to have this blister. It doesn't seem to bother him. And I thought we had gotten rid of it right before his 2-week check-up so I never mentioned it to the pediatrician. I would appreciate any tips! Thank you in advance!!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Wow! Thanks so much for all of the helpful responses! Obviously it appears as though this is normal. I appreciate all of the input and encouragement. I love the convenience and information this website provides!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I never thought about it before but my kids did have it and I never asked anyone about it. It went away eventually. I may have put some vaseline on it when it bothered me. They are so cute at this age. My kids are older than 11 now. Boy I feel old.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.N.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi A.,
It is very normal for a breastfeeding baby to have a blister on their lip. Both my boys developed them at different times while being breastfed. Keep up the good work on raising healthy happy children!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.K.

answers from Dayton on

My babe did, too. It sounds completely normal. I think it means he's doing a good job with breastfeeding! Worry not. It should go away on its own. :)

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.P.

answers from Cleveland on

It's just a nursing blister. His skin on his mouth is suddenly being used and abused, just like if you suddenly started raking leaves a few times a day for 2 weeks in a row. :) It will come and go for a few weeks and then should just stop happening. You might even see the top layer of skin come loose and "flap" there, fall off, and be replaced by more blister. As far as I could ever tell, it didn't bother either of my kids. I wouldn't worry about it. It's totally normal. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.N.

answers from Dayton on

Hey A....congratulations on your baby and breast feeding success!..good for you. I am a lactation consultant and have seen this many times in breast feeding babies. It is often caused my just the frequent friction of the babies sensitive skinned lips against your areola with frequent feeding. Most of the time this poses NO problem at all and will correct itself in time. It's called a suck blister. As long as breast feeding is comfortable for you and baby is gaining weight then I wouldn't worry. Sometimes if you are able to "flange" the baby's lips out wider before you latch it will help; again, it usually corrects it's self in time. Good luck, and congratulations again!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi, A.! Congratulations on your new baby boy! I'm sure you and your family are loving him to pieces! As for his lip... totally normal! Don't stress over it! It's no big deal, and like you said, he probably doesn't even know it's there! Enjoy him!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Cleveland on

My breastfed baby had this too! It is just what happens when they breastfeed. It doesn't bother them and it does go away! I think at around 6 months or so it went away. Just ignore it.

Congrats on breastfeeding! Its the best thing for them!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.D.

answers from Columbus on

Yes, it's actually nothing to worry about and at times the blister might just be there for more than a day. My son had it too and and I used the cream for healing breastfeeding cracked nipples. It disappeared overnight like a charm. I don't need the cream anymore, my son is 10 months old and still breastfeeding. I use it every time My lips cracked and viola , it's healed the next day.. powerful stuff, that cream.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

I think this happened to me in the course of six kids who nursed and I would say do not worry about it especially since it is only bothering you.
It will go away in the course of things.
When they are that little it always seemed like any little thing is magnified.
Keep up the good work, I am glad that things are going well for you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.N.

answers from Columbus on

My very good friend calls it "nursey mouth." Obviously from all the other responses its normal. My kids would get them and they would go away between feedings, them come back right after they ate. It's just a little water blister that develops from loose skin rubbing against something. Good job for both of you!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

Completely normal...lasts about a month. doesnt hurt the litte one eiher. Congrats on your little miracle

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

If I'm not mistaken and understanding I believe what you are talking about is kind of like a calus on the lip due to sucking on the breast and is prefectly fine and normal.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.G.

answers from Columbus on

Every breast fed baby I have ever seen has this and it goes away eventually. It is perfectly normal. It is caused by the sucking action, it will come and go away many times. Congradulations on breast feeding I wish more new Mom's would do it for thier children, it is so much more healthy.
Debbie

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

It is Normal!! Both my boys got a nursing blister at one time or another. I never asked anyone about it. It didn't seem to bother either of them, and it went away on it's own. I don't know if it has something to do with how hard they are sucking or what.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Columbus on

I think both of mine had that, too. We just kept going and it resolved itself`. I guess the little lips just have to toughen up a bit. Good for you for nursing and managing three!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.D.

answers from Columbus on

no worries, it's a nursing blister!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Columbus on

All 3 of my children got this when they were tiny. Sometimes it would go away, sometimes the skin would separate and come off on its own. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. If it isn't bothering him and he is thriving don't worry. If you need further reassurance call your lactation consultant- they are a valuable resource. I'm glad you are able to nurse your little guy- it is a wonderful thing for both of you. Keep it up as long as you can. Good Luck!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

As you have seen by all of the other responses, yep, it's normal. Congrats on the little one and the successful nursing!! Enjoy!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.T.

answers from Dayton on

Normal. My mom calls them breastfeeding blister. They all get them. Just ignore it and it will go away eventually. Glad you were successful! My 1 week old is doing great also!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Dayton on

Its normal and will go away in time

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.T.

answers from Indianapolis on

It's totally normal and harmless. It'll go away on it's own so there's nothing you need to do. Almost every breastfed baby I've known has had it. With my kids, they went away at various times but it seemed to be around 2-3 months old.

Our pediatrician calls it the 'breastfeeding button' and takes it as a good sign that breastfeeding is going well -- because they are nursing plenty.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Cincinnati on

It's normal, and not a problem.
God Bless!
M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

This happened to my kids when I nursed.... like you say- it doesn't seem to bother them and I'm sorry- I cannot remember ever getting to show it to the doctor or what they would have said... but I know exactly what you're talking about and I don't think it really lasted very long.

Congratulations on your success in nursing. My firstborn was a preemie and I didn't even get to see her for 3 days, then couldn't nurse for 2 more days and though I nursed her for several months, I ALWAYS had to supplement. With Baby #2, I thought if it was going to be like that, I'd probably just switch to the bottle. Baby #2 weighed 10#11oz and was full term and seemed to know what to do... it was such a joy to nurse without a struggle. I nursed her for a year and then 6 years later, had baby #3 because I really wanted to nurse a baby again.... I nursed him for 20 months...what a wonderful experience. I was so glad I stuck with it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Cleveland on

My daughter had the same thing as a newborn who was only breastfed and the pediatrician said it's totally normal and doesn't hurt them at all. It will eventually go away on it's own. Doesn't hurt to have them check it on the next appointment but it's probably nothing to worry about.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.M.

answers from Cleveland on

This is totally normal. It will fall off after a little bit, then another one will form, fall off, etc. This happened for the first several weeks, then it went away.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

The "blister" is totally normal and you don't need to do anything different. Definitely do NOT pick at it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from Dayton on

It is actually a nursing blister. Not a big deal. It will eventually fall off. I used to put a little chapstick or Lansinoh ointment on my boys when they got them. It never seemed to bother my boys and my pediatrician told me not to worry.

Congradulations on your newest blessing.

L., mom of 4 boys - 10, 8, 3 and 2

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Dayton on

My daughter's lip did that for the first 6 weeks or so. I honestly think it was because she ate so much. It would just peel off-- I think it happened three times total. Congrats on your good eater, that makes life much easier. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

TOTALLY normal:) If he'd gaining and your nipples don't hurt or anything, don't even worry about it. Just always make sure his lips are flared out. It goes away eventually.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Evansville on

This happened to me with each of my four children I breastfed. It's due to an incorrect latch and sometimes just from having sucked their thumb or being avid nursers-it's nothing to worry about and will resolve itself in time. . LLL groups and online will have information for you. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or Dr.Sears' books are also great resources. If you are near Olney, IL you may borrow my Womanly Art book. I wouldn't worry about it! If your nipples are not in too much pain (some is totally normal for the first month or two!) then I would not worry about it at all.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Cleveland on

yep, its perfectly normal. My daughter had one for quite a while (I dn't remember anymore, as she is 5 1/2 now. It didn't interfere with her nursing and my ped just told us to leave it be and it would go away on its own.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches