If you have no experience of breastfeeding, you would probably not be able to imagine that one day, mysterious little white spots would appear on the breast nipples, causing breastfeeding mothers to panic.
This mysterious little white spot is well-known in the breast milk world. Although it is small in shape, its appearance is enough to make breastfeeding mothers feel like they are facing a great enemy and their nerves are tense. What exactly is this little white spot?
How do the white spots appear on breast nipples?
In fact, the “little white spots on the nipples” are a sign that the very last opening of the mammary gland in the breast is blocked. The white, bubble-like things are filled with breast milk that cannot be discharged.
If this opening is not kept open, the milk cannot be discharged, and when the breast milk continues to accumulate in the milk ducts, the breasts will have lumps and swelling, and in the most serious cases, mastitis will occur . So in simple terms, if small white spots (small white blisters) appear on the nipples, it means that your breasts are blocked.
What does your chest feel like when white spots appear on breast nipples?
Generally speaking, breast obstruction is easy to detect. It usually occurs in one breast. A lump can be felt near the areola. When the lump is felt, sometimes a small white spot can be found by carefully observing the nipple; sometimes it takes a few days for the small white spot to appear on breast nipples.
How to deal with small white spots on breast nipples?
1. Prick with a needle
The general method used by mothers to deal with white spots is to first apply a hot towel to the small white spots, and then use a sterilized needle to carefully prick the small white spots (blisters) to allow the blocked milk to flow out, which can make the lump in the breast disappear.
However, you must be very careful when handling it, and do not hurt other parts of the nipple. Some doctors also recommend that after pricking the white spot, you can apply antibiotic ointment on the wound for 1-2 days to prevent wound infection. If you are not sure that you can handle it perfectly, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor or nurse to handle it for you.
2. Cold pressed olive oil hot compress
If you think it is too dangerous to prick the white spots with a needle, you can try the milder “olive oil hot compress method”.
The method is to take a basin of warm water, drop a few drops of cold-pressed olive oil, dip a gauze towel in warm water, and gently rub the small white spots to dissolve the blocked small white spots and let some milk flow out.
Finally, let the baby suck the breast to slowly make the lump disappear. Or you can directly apply cold-pressed olive oil on the white spot to soften the cuticle on the white spot and nipple, and then let the baby suck, using the force of breastfeeding to break the white spot.
3. Unrestricted Breastfeeding
In addition to the above two treatment methods, when you find small white spots on the nipples, let your baby suck the nipples as much as possible without restrictions, and massage the breast lumps, slowly pushing them from the outside of the lumps toward the nipples to help keep the mammary glands unobstructed.
How to prevent white spots?
1. Express as much breast milk as possible, breastfeed your baby unlimitedly, or express breast milk.
2. When breastfeeding, let your baby drink breast milk from various angles and postures to help keep the mammary glands unobstructed.
3. When you feel a lump in your breast, let your baby’s chin rest on the lump to suck milk, which can help the lump dissipate.
4. Instruct your baby to suck milk in the correct way. When the baby is sucking milk, his mouth should be wide open with the lower lip turned outward, the chin should be against the breast, and the upper areola should be exposed more than the lower areola.
5. Reducing the intake of meat or dairy products with high animal fat content can alleviate breast blockage.
