White Spot on Nipple?

I had that happen a couple of times. I think the milk somehow dried inside the opening to the duct and clogged it up. Standing in a hot shower with the water beads hitting the clogged duct, and then rubbing the spot with a hot wet washcloth did wonders. In fact, once after doing this I squeezed the duct with my fingers and saw the clog pop out like a tiny white cork - and then I shot milk 7 feet across the bathroom! Crazy - but oh, sweet relief!

It is a milk bleb (milk dried in the milk pore and plugged it). Soaking your breast, using a clean fingernail to try and open it (I have used a boiled needle over the bleb to open it) and lots of massage and nursing will clear it. I used the needle technique, jumped in the hot shower afterward and massaged the heck out of it and did some manual milk expression in the shower and nursed that side like crazy (switched my son's position from cradle to football) and within 24 hours it was gone.

Lecithin is a supplement that can help prevent future milk blebs. Loads of water, sometimes olive oil and changing nursing positions on occasion can also help.

Let me know how it goes :)

PS - Needle only the white bleb.

Sounds like a bleb aka milk blister. I have had them 3 times. What worked best for me was to put an olive oil soaked cotton ball in my bra w/breastpad too so the oil doesn't stain your bra or shirt. I left it in there for a day or two.
Also putting a warm green tea bag in your bra is really helpful, this helped the pain too. As some point you may be able pick it off, but be careful because it is tender new skin underneath. But if that happens you can treat it like a scab using antibiotic ointment and lanolin. Just try to keep it really moist.

The first one I had went away quickly. The other two were more stubborn.

Hi K.,

Could it be thrush? Check the inside gums of your baby, if they have the same spots, call the doctor.

R. Magby

It sounds like a milk blister. I would either look it up online, to make sure that is what it is, or go see your ob/gyn or a lactation consultant.

Try getting in a hot shower and massaging where you feel the clogged duct. I have used my fingernail to open up the white spot. Good luck!

It very well may be a plugged duct. Warm (very warm) cloths should help, if that is the case.

If you find you have a sharp pain, though, one that, frankly, feels like someone is shoving a knife into you when nursing, it may be thrush. If it's thrush, you'll probably see a white fuzzy substance on your baby's tongue, or even little white spots on his/her gums.

But if it is thrush, it is easily cured. All you need is some regular vinegar. Mix five parts water to one part vinegar, and dab the solution on yourself just before and after nursing, and any time you feel a twinge. In a day or two you will feel fine, but keep doing it for at least a week.

If it's a plugged duct, though, it could get infected. Be sure to check for redness or swelling, and I would suggest a trip to the doctor.

Good luck!

I had the EXACT same thing happened with one of my babies (I have 3). After trying everything and the pain was getting unbearable...I examined the spots closely and realized it was just a film over either puss or milk! I was SO DESPERATE I would have gladly chop off my boobs to escape the pain. Anyhow, I decided to "experiement" so I poked the white spots with a sewing needle (AFTER sanitizing it with hot water). It was INSTANT relief AND release of milk! Apparently, it was exactly as I'd thought....just backed up milk with a film over. Do NOT worry...it is NOT painful and does NOT hurt ...AT ALL! Either that or any pain from that was overlapped by the pain I was experiencing from the back up milk! The worst that can happen is you pricked your skin with a needle which never have lasting effect so....give it a try. After that....just make sure you wipe you nipples with a warm towel after feedings/pumping to avoid this from happening again.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out if you try this. I'm expecting my fourth in December and will DEFINITELY try this method again if this happens.

Hi there - funny that that you posted this now since I just got over the same thing. I thought it was a nursing callous or something. I used heat for the pain and what seamed like a plugged duct - I have one of those lavendar pillows you can heat in the microwave that works really well. I also made sure to keep it really clean - I changed nursing pads often, used a little alcohol on it after I showerd. Mine actually started bleeding so I used Neosporin on it just for a couple days (and made sure to clean it off before I nursed my also 10.5 month old). Everything totally worked and it went away in about a week. Good luck!

That sounds like a bleb. I had one of those and boy did it hurt. You need to go see Dr. MaryAnn O'Hara. She is a breastfeeding Dr. in Seattle. She actually biopsied it off of my nipple. It sounds like it would not be the best thing, but let me tell you, I was really really happy that I did it. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

I have read that if you have a clogged or swollen milk duct that you need to message that area while pumping or breast feeding. Also, you are suppose to start with that breast every time to get the flow going again. It seemed to work for me. If you develop a fever, go to the doctor because then it might be mastistis (sp). They will give you a antibiotic then. I hope that it goes away soon.

It could be a milk blister. Check with a LLL leader or an IBCLC.

It sounds like a plugged duct. A couple of things worked really well for me to get the plug free and to release the milk trapped behind. First, a warm bath, not too hot and massage your breast on the sore area toward your nipple. Also, have your baby help you. This took a little coordination, but reposition your baby so that his lower jaw is along the sore area where the white spot is. I found that using a bobby helped to do a football hold for the outer breast or side lying for the lower part of the breast. Nurse this way until you feel relief. This process actually worked the best to get the duct unplugged, but the warm bath and massage helped a bit. I just couldn't get enough expressed that way to unload the milk in the sore area. Baby did best.

Be careful, this could lead to mastitis. Watch for a fever. If it is really painful, go the the local lactation clinic or your OB.