White Mark on Nipple

Amaris-

It sounds like you have thrush. The best way to get rid of it (although it is messy) is to buy gentian violet from an apothocary. Doctor prescribed antibiotics never worked for me.

Good luck,
C.

I got this too when I was nursing. It is most likely thrush, but your ob/gyn can officially dianosis. If you let it go, your nipples will continue to hurt and crack more. Your baby may also have thrush in his/her mouth. It's very easy to get rid of with the gentian violet which is available over the counter for about $2. (The antibiotics they prescribes us at first for $80 did nothing.) If you take your baby to the pediatrician and they confirm thrush, you can most likely call your ob/gyn and have them prescribe a nipple ointment over the phone (I think I was given Jack Newman's Nipple Cream, funny name, but it really helped). Good luck.

If it's just a tiny white dot that doesn't wipe off, it may be a plugged duct - in which case, the white dot is what's plugging the duct. It keeps the milk from draining, which can be painful and if you don't get it unplugged, can lead to mastitis. If you're feeling a little engorged this is probably what the problem is. Take a hot shower, massage your breast (put soap on it to make your hand slide over it better) and see if you can hand express some milk and release the plug. Once it's unplugged just nurse your baby on that side. It will probably be a little sore for a couple days but should get better soon.

Or, as the other posters said, if it's not this it might be thrush, which is a fungal infection. Your breast and your baby's mouth would both be infected in this case. See a doctor about this one.

My sister frequently got breast infections, called mastis I believe? Keep an eye out for fever, chills... it can get very painful and make you very sick, so please take care!

It could be a few things. If you don't regularly change the position the baby breastfeeds in, then I'd try changing positions first and see if it goes away. If it feels like you are especially engorged, I'd try expressing the milk on that side in the shower, as one person recommended, to clear up any clogged ducts. If neither of those work, check with your doctor or a lactation consultant to make sure it isn't thrush or anything else.

Amaris:

It is called a "bleb". They can be very uncomfortable. If possible when you are in the shower and your skin is soft open it up. If they continue you should talk to a lactation consultant about what is causing them.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

it's totally normal. I've had it many times and then my breast is sore. Just keep on nursing on that breast like normal. Continue like you were before. If it hurts then use lanolin on your breast nipple and showers can help too. Massaging the breast under warm water is soothing for the pain if it gets really bad. But it'll clear up over the next days. Sometimes it lasts longer. Good for you for breastfeeding!!!