Contents:
- Medical Video: Common Breast Complications during Lactation
- Types of breast blisters and nipples
- Friction blisters (blister friction)
- Milk blisters (milk blister)
- Blood blisters (blood blister)
- Can you still breastfeed if you have breast blisters?
Medical Video: Common Breast Complications during Lactation
Breastfeeding should not hurt. But for some new mothers, breastfeeding sometimes hurts. If the pain appears in the first few moments when the newborn starts breastfeeding, this is still normal. However, if the breast or nipple still hurts after several feedings, there must be something wrong. One disruption of the breastfeeding process is the presence of blisters or abrasions in the breast or nipples known as blister. Blisters (blister) is the appearance of a small bag of fluid that forms in the upper layer of damaged skin. There are several types of breast blisters and nipples. Here's the review.
Types of breast blisters and nipples
Friction blisters (blister friction)
Friction blisters are formed from friction or pressure on your skin. When breastfeeding, friction blisters can occur in the breast or nipples. Causes of friction blisters include:
- If your baby's mouth does not stick to your breast properly, this can cause damage to your breast tissue and nipples. This can also cause friction blisters to appear on your baby's lips.
- Using inappropriate breast pumps can cause irritation and damage to your breasts. If the pump doesn't suit you, or the pump suction is set too high, it can cause blisters on your breast.
- If you use nipple shields and breast shells, blisters can form on your nipples.
- Use a nursing bra that is not suitable. Nursing bras or bras that are too tight can make the breasts feel numb. Likewise with bras that are loose and not enough to support the breasts. Therefore, choose a bra that has the right size. In order for your bra to support the breast load steadily, you can use a special breastfeeding bra with wire.
Milk blisters (milk blister)
Milk blisters, also known as bleb, are pimples that appear clear and fluid. If the area of the skin around the blisters is pressed, the skin over the wound filled with fluid will stand out. Milk blisters can also clog the milk ducts, although this is not always the case. This milk blister arises from the skin that grows on the milk ducts. Then a small amount of breast milk (ASI) usually accumulates behind the milk blister. Although this condition will heal in a few days or weeks, but still makes you uncomfortable when breastfeeding.
Blood blisters (blood blister)
Blood blisters are a type of abrasion on the skin that develops into a small sac filled with blood from the blood vessels below the surface of the blister. This type of blisters can appear when the baby's mouth does not stick properly to the mother's breast or a mother who uses an ASI pump that is inappropriate or nipple protector.
Can you still breastfeed if you have breast blisters?
Blisters on the nipples are no reason to stop breastfeeding your baby. If blisters only afflict one of your breasts, it is safe to breastfeed a baby with a breast that does not have blisters. However, if blisters occur in both breasts, you can wait until the blisters are healed and the doctor says it's safe to breastfeed again.
Meanwhile, to maintain the supply of milk and prevent breast swelling, pump the breasts. If the wound is a herpes wound, you can remove the milk from the pump. Make sure to use a pump that meets health standards and select the pump mouth with the size that matches the nipple. Lactation consultants can help ensure you use the pump correctly.
If the steps at home cannot treat blisters or blisters and make breastfeeding so painful, immediately consult a doctor or a lactation consultant to find out the exact cause of the blisters and the right solution.
