Couple of questions -bleb & choking on milk

[nona]

Hey!

Ok I had a small bleb yesterday but managed to get rid of it I thought using warm compress and scratching it. Well, looks like its coming back. It does not hurt yet but think if i just alternate nursing positions that will help?

Also my nipples are sort of sore today and I noticed dd seems to be clamping down harder. She was choking on my milk and I haven't noticed her choking as much in the last 12 hrs so I'm sure she is  clamping down to control flow. U think my nipples will be ok or shd I change something up??

[kellyincali]

Whenever one of my sons was choking on milk and started to clamp down, I would pump (or hand express) a little bit before a feed so the milk wouldn't come out as fast. I'm sorry I don't know much about blebs, but alternating nursing positions always helped ease the soreness of my nipples.

HTH!

[~Sara~]

Sorry for being obtuse...what are blebs?

When M was younger and couldn't handle my letdown, I actually shifted her so that she was more on top and gravity wasn't working against her.  I found that laying back in a reclining position was really helpful for that.

As for soreness, I found that I was sore just because she was eating so much (like any newborn).  So, give your gals some time to toughen up...oh, and make sure she's got a good latch (even if it means re-latching a ton, which I had to do).

[nona]

A bleb Looks  like a  little whitehead on your nipple but filled with milk

I was sore at first then it completely went away for awhile so this is a new soreness from her clamping down. I feel she is latching harder the last 24 hrs. I shd try leaning back but not sure how I would do that without killing my back.

Well my little milk addict wants my other boob now. I hope this a growth spurt. She is on me like glue!

[Roseii]

Prob a growth spurt Yep agree with a bit of hand expressing beforehand and lying back, but be careful not to do the lying back thing for *too* long as you're at risk of blocked ducts etc.

[Fiver]

With the bleb, I just fed fed fed.  Probably tried to make more of an effort to get positioning and attachment right and her sucking action alone cleared it.  Pretty painful, though, so my sympathies.

[nona]

Mine doesn't hurt .....yet

[Fiver]

Lucky you

[~Sara~]

I shd try leaning back but not sure how I would do that without killing my back.

Do you have a recliner?  I also would use some pillows on a slant.

And, yes, I agree with Charli about not doing it too much.  I basically would only do it for as long as my letdown was really flowing fast.

[nona]

No we don't have a recliner - maybe I shd lay down and let her nurse.

[Erin M]

Here's some kellymom info about milk blisters:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipplebleb.html

I had one on and off for a month or so a few months back -- never really bothered me all that much, I would just scrape it off and eventually it stopped coming back. 

[nona]

yea I've read that several times now! funny thing is that the one i had originally is gone now i think i have one popping up on the other boob! annoying! Dh brought home some sterile needles in case i need to "operate".

[Erin M]

I was able to take care of mine by soaking it while I was in the shower so it was quite soft -- fingernail worked fine, never needed a needle.

[nona]

Yep other boob is problem now. I used a sterile needle and had her nurse shortly after but it is not completely gone. Hopefully a warm shower will help.

[Erin M]

Have you got some Lanolin?  That might help too while your boobs get used to the feeding.