Community Forum: General Discussion
Use this forum to discuss matters of interest to lactation professionals.
recurrent superficial blocked ducts/pores
Posted 24th Nov 09 By Melinda Ross
has anyone got suggestions about a client of a colleague who has recurrent nipple pore blockage. Have excluded diet, thrush etc. I suggested oil to the nipples prophalactally, could it be a substrate in the milk?
Re: recurrent superficial blocked ducts/pores
Posted 26th Nov 09 By Denise Fisher
Melinda what you have described sounds like it could be what is called 'white spot' or a 'nipple bleb'. If it is, it's a very thin epithelial cover that grows over the outlet of the duct, and is often a recurring problem.
A smear of olive oil as you've suggested is good as it softens it and may break spontaneously while the baby sucks.
Interesting that you are asking if it is something in the milk - breastmilk does contain epithelial growth factor which causes maturation of the infant's gut, but probably also works on any tissues on the nipple that are 'receptive', such as damaged tissue. Maybe that is what is causing this recurrence.
If you feel the blockage is inside the duct, rather than on the nipple surface, you could suggest the mother add lecithin to her diet. Some mothers who have experienced recurrent blocked ducts find this very beneficial.
A smear of olive oil as you've suggested is good as it softens it and may break spontaneously while the baby sucks.
Interesting that you are asking if it is something in the milk - breastmilk does contain epithelial growth factor which causes maturation of the infant's gut, but probably also works on any tissues on the nipple that are 'receptive', such as damaged tissue. Maybe that is what is causing this recurrence.
If you feel the blockage is inside the duct, rather than on the nipple surface, you could suggest the mother add lecithin to her diet. Some mothers who have experienced recurrent blocked ducts find this very beneficial.
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