Milk blister

[notmoose]

I hope it's ok to just drop in and ask a question.

I have had a milk blister on my left side for over a month (since christmas). It causes pain throughout my entire breast and its driving me nuts. I lance it daily or else you can't get much milk out and get a clog.

I've tried nipple cream, olive oil, Epsom salts, nursing more, nursing less, pumping, hand expressing, going braless, soaking in warm water, and ice packs.

Anyone have any other tips? I am losing my mind and about ready to give up. It hurts and its messing with my supply (I take supplements to try to help) and it's just all together frustrating.

TIA

Eta: my baby is 6 months

[vvvvvfee]

maybe check in with your doctor? i wonder if there is yeast or bacteria involved that is preventing it from healing up? they should be able to do a culture to see what is going on.

my only other thought would be lecithin supplements since that is supposed to help make the fats in your milk less "sticky" and prone to clogging up.

[lily]

Frequent saline soaks were the thing that helped my blisters heal- I would do salt and warm water in a shallow bowl and soak my nipple after each feed. Also a warm compress just prior to nursing helped the initial latch on pain. Sounds like you’re doing a lot to try and get rid of it- agree with vvvvvfee to check with your doc or IBCLC. They may recommend APNO (all purpose nipple ointment- available prescription from a compounding pharmacy, or there are recipes for mixing it from over the counter ingredients)