I thought I was the only one with this problem until I went to WebMd and found many women have this, but there is no answers on what to do to make it go away or to fix it. Ever since I had my children the little bumps around my nipple on the aerola have become more pronounced and they even started to get extremely sore. I let them go for a long time but they would get bigger and bigger and more sore and started to look like a pimple. I went to show my husband one day and in the process of squeezing one of them, it popped kind of like a pimple. This white almost puss like kind of watery like milk came out of it. The pain went away in that bump and it flatened back out. I thought that is all that needed to happen, just remove what I thought at the time was backed up milk and they would go away, well that didn't happen, they continue to keep doing it, and I quit breastfeeding a year ago. Does anyone else have this problem or know someone with this problem and know what to do about it. I don't want to have to keep emptying them and scaring up my aerola's and be embarresed to take off my shirt in front of my husband. I just want it to go away.
I'd go to my Ob/Gyn and talk to her about it. It probably is some of the stuff they've been talking about here, but I'd want to know a professional opinion, especially when it comes to the breast.
Those bumps are called Montgomery Glands and they are a natural sebaceous gland. Their purpose is to prevent your nipples from becoming dry, cracked and swollen, and prevent germs (and yeast) from contaminating/infecting the breast/nipple. They enlarge with increased hormones and stimulation. They are the reason soaping your breasts is unnecessary (and ill-advised). DON'T POP THEM - you can cause infection! They will eventually reduce on their own. And, certainly your husband didn't marry you for your breasts - though they have a wonderous ability to adapt through the years. That's what they're doing now. I've known moms who still produced a little bit of milk at the sound of a baby crying up to 5 years after they'd stopped breastfeeding their own babies. Just as it took time for your body to prepare to have a baby, to develop a baby, to feed a baby, your breasts will take time to get back to "normal".
If you're having pain, you should seek medical evaluation - they aren't supposed to hurt. If you've been popping/poking/squeezing them, you could have an infection.
I quit breastfeeding over a year and a half ago and still lactate. I have all of the same symptoms you have. I would love to go into detail, but this forum is kind of open. Feel free to message me here or at my email... ____@____.com As for what your hubby thinks, he doesnt care, he always thinks you are sexy...and probably finds this interesting, not a turn off!
Feel free to message me, I would love to compare notes, cuz I thought I mite be the only one out there with the same problem!
Hi A.! Treat it like a swollen vein, try Preparation H.
The areola is the darker area surrounding the nipple.
The size and colour of the areola differs greatly from girl to girl. It can be small as a euro or big as a beer mat, while the colour varies from light pink to brown and black.
In the breasts are no muscles, except for the one around the areola. When you are cold or excited it contacts, decreasing the size of the areola and making your nipple stands out. This also happens with breastfeeding, making it easier for the baby to hold on to the nipple.
Around the areola there are hair follicles. So most girls have some hairs around the nipples. If you don’t like them you can pull them out. This is easily done with a pair of tweezers.
The little bumps around your areola are the glands. They can increase a little bit in size during the second half of your menstrual cycle, making them somewhat more visible.
Info at http://www.sexdictionary.info/areola.html
Hey, I have the same thing!! I breast fed my daughter for 2 and a half years....afterward I have had the same thing! I am not really sure if they ever really go away. My son is about 6 months now....my daughter is 4...and of course I am breastfeeding again and the bumps are still there, they just don't get big now. Anyhow I assume they will be back when he's done too! If ya get anymore info on them let me know I am curious as well!!
I'd suggest either talking to your OB/Gyn or wrapping your breasts tightly with an Ace bandage (to help dry them up). Also, don't stimulate your breasts in any way. Good luck.
Like you read before these are glands and mine still get irritated by synthetic bra liners, sweat and hot water. I learned to stop washing my breast with the soap I use everywhere else. Treat them like your face and use gentle face products. Just be careful that you husband doesn't injest anything that might not taste so good by washing up first.
Shifting hormones does make it worse.
A., I never had that problem but I know of a website where women have. They could probably offer some advice on what they did. The website is www.fertilethoughts.com
click on parenting, then bulletin boards, then select parenting from the next list. When the boards come up, select breastfeeding. You can post what you wrote and get responses probably within 24 hrs.
hope this helps.
OMG I just noticed the same thing, but this time aroung while breastfeeding. Ithought it was because my daughter breast fed till she was 2 and a half. mine are flat when my nipple is soft, mostly. And raised and bumpy hard when my nipple is. I personally think it is milk entirely, not sure why it got directed her all of a sudden. BUt when my son has not fed on a side, the liquid that i can squeeze out at any time is more watery, and when he has nursed on the side, it is creamier. Some of the bumps will seem to pop, and I even noticed one with thicker gluey substance, like a clog one time. but for the most part just a dot or two of milk will sqirt or deposit on top. Strange. I have an ob visit this friday, so I will ask and let ya'll know my findings :)
C.
p.s. mine are not sore ever......yet
I had the same thing while I was breast feeding and the truth is they were pimples. the extra oils from your baby's month will cause them. I have recently weaned my son and they have stopped.
