Clogged nipple pores?

I've been using nipple shields since the babies were born. I have been noticing that my nipples have white, calluses-looking raised dots sometimes after feeding or pumping. Does anyone else have this? I did some research and suspect it may be clogged nipple pores. Any suggestions on making them go away? I think using the nipple shields is the ultimate cause, but any other suggestions for making the go away?

 

Did you see this from Kellymom: http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplebleb/

 

I had these with my first. Lots of hot, wet compresses (wet face cloths) to help break up the blebs. They really hurt though.

 

I did see that link to Kellymom, but thanks for posting it because I had forgotten most of he advice. I will try the hot compresses. We have been battling thrush and I think that may contributing to the blebs. The thrush has been ongoing now for three weeks. Eek! We are so ready for it to be over!

 

Ugh, thrush SUCKS! I had thrush for 7 weeks with mine. We all had to be treated with diflucan. I did a 14-day course initially and the babies eventually did a 2 week course as well near the end and then it was FINALLY gone (in addition to all-purpose nipple ointment and I did a vinegar/water rinse and air to dry after every single feeding--it was so time consuming and annoying). Not sure if they've given your babies anything, but we initially started with the oral nystatin suspension and it didn't touch the thrush in their mouths--it gave them horrible diarrhea as well. If they haven't given you anything for the babies' mouths (some doctors don't think the babies need treatment) and you can see thrush on their tongues, push for the oral diflucan. That was the only thing that worked.

I did my diflucan right away along with nystatin for the babies' mouths--my nipples got significantly better and I was diligent about using my cream and rinsing my nipples but the babies' mouths just got worse and worse. They did diflucan about 6 weeks into our thrush and that finally knocked it out for them and we've been fine since. I then continued to use my all-purpose nipple cream (it's a prescription--you can google APNO if you want to know what it is) for about another month just to make sure it was gone.

The blebs really hurt. I had blocked ducts and blebs with my first because he did so much damage to my nipples there was scar tissue that kept clogging the ducts. I was eventually able to get past it once they healed but the first 3 months of nursing was really awful.

Since you also have thrush, you'll want to make sure you dry your nipples well after the compresses and then apply any cream you're using (nystatin or all-purpose nipple ointment--not sure what they've given you for it).