Nipple discoloration

sorry to post this but I have the feeling that TS will be a better resource than my OB since I don't really think they have a lot of experience with people who exclusively pump so here goes:

I'm doing everything right with pumping as far as I can tell: hospital pump, larger sheilds, lanolin, minimal suction needed to express milk... but over the past few weeks the ends of my nipples have been turning dark purple when I pump (doesn't matter if it's for 10 min or 50). They have always been a little painful but tolerable. The dark purple color fades away after 10-15 minutes but always returns again with the next pump.

Has this happened to anyone else and do you think I am doing permanent damage to my nipples by pumping this much?

 

I know mine always did this when pumping, it would always freak dh out, lol!!! My nipples look fine now, after bfing for almost 2 years and pumping at work for 15 months

 

QUOTE(1stTimeMom26 @ Jun 22 2008, 07:47 PM) [snapback]840198[/snapback]
sorry to post this but I have the feeling that TS will be a better resource than my OB since I don't really think they have a lot of experience with people who exclusively pump so here goes:

I'm doing everything right with pumping as far as I can tell: hospital pump, larger sheilds, lanolin, minimal suction needed to express milk... but over the past few weeks the ends of my nipples have been turning dark purple when I pump (doesn't matter if it's for 10 min or 50). They have always been a little painful but tolerable. The dark purple color fades away after 10-15 minutes but always returns again with the next pump.

Has this happened to anyone else and do you think I am doing permanent damage to my nipples by pumping this much?



do they turn white then too? There is this thing that is a circulation issue I had it for a while but luckily as the temp outside went up it went away.

Mine would always be dark if I pumped too....there is a lot of blood vessels there. If it is painful maybe you are using too high of pressure or the flanges are the wrong size?

The permanent damage comes no matter what. I don't pump much at all any more but I think I can stretch my nipples out far enough that they end up in another time zone. I'm thinking that they will be bigger than my boobs when I am done. nursing.

 

QUOTE(greenthumbmama @ Jun 24 2008, 03:56 PM) [snapback]843643[/snapback]
I don't pump much at all any more but I think I can stretch my nipples out far enough that they end up in another time zone. I'm thinking that they will be bigger than my boobs when I am done. nursing.


LMAO :lol: I am sure they are not that bad!!!!!!!!! I am actually suprised that mine don't seem that much different, a little floppier yes, but that could be from increasing in size from a a/b to a double E while pg!!!!

 

QUOTE(greenthumbmama @ Jun 24 2008, 05:56 PM) [snapback]843643[/snapback]
do they turn white then too? There is this thing that is a circulation issue I had it for a while but luckily as the temp outside went up it went away.


yeah, actually, the ends are white in sections at certain times... what does that mean? they are always painful when I pump, when I first start it feels like i'm getting a nipple piercing (i would imagine), but then it dulls...

 

QUOTE(1stTimeMom26 @ Jun 25 2008, 01:32 PM) [snapback]845416[/snapback]
yeah, actually, the ends are white in sections at certain times... what does that mean? they are always painful when I pump, when I first start it feels like i'm getting a nipple piercing (i would imagine), but then it dulls...



there is something called raynards syndrom (spelling sorry - trying to get it in before nap time ends).

It is my understanding that it is a circulation thing. I always have cold feet for example even in the summer I wear wool socks half the time. I guess people that have cold hands/feet are more likely to get it. It causes your nipples to turn white when exposed to cold air - it would happen for me at first with the pump and nursing then getting out the shower and just walking around outside when it was really cold. It felt like when your fingers get too cold in the snow.

Now a LC did also tell me that if you have had trama to your nipples the same thing can happen and it just takes time for them to heal.

I am pretty sure mine was brought on by some trama but that no matter what it would happen. I would nurse and pump and then by the time I walked to store the milk my nipples would be white and as they turned back they would burn/hurt. It was pretty bad sometimes. There is a drug the same one many of us were on during our pregnancy (nephedaopine?) but most women I know just deal with it. For the ones I know who had it, it seemed to get better on it's own and/or when it wasn't so cold outside.

good luck - try keeping those nipples warm.

 

QUOTE(greenthumbmama @ Jun 24 2008, 01:56 PM) [snapback]843643[/snapback]
do they turn white then too? There is this thing that is a circulation issue I had it for a while but luckily as the temp outside went up it went away.

I never had the purple thing but mine always did the white thing and I hardly ever pumped. no long term effects from it, if that makes it any better.

I have to also agree with the nipple entering alterate time zones! When I did pump, I felt like my nipple sometimes whent halfway down the tube! :laughing:

 

QUOTE(greenthumbmama @ Jun 25 2008, 02:48 PM) [snapback]845459[/snapback]
there is something called raynards syndrom (spelling sorry - trying to get it in before nap time ends).

It is my understanding that it is a circulation thing. I always have cold feet for example even in the summer I wear wool socks half the time. I guess people that have cold hands/feet are more likely to get it. It causes your nipples to turn white when exposed to cold air - it would happen for me at first with the pump and nursing then getting out the shower and just walking around outside when it was really cold. It felt like when your fingers get too cold in the snow.

Now a LC did also tell me that if you have had trama to your nipples the same thing can happen and it just takes time for them to heal.

I am pretty sure mine was brought on by some trama but that no matter what it would happen. I would nurse and pump and then by the time I walked to store the milk my nipples would be white and as they turned back they would burn/hurt. It was pretty bad sometimes. There is a drug the same one many of us were on during our pregnancy (nephedaopine?) but most women I know just deal with it. For the ones I know who had it, it seemed to get better on it's own and/or when it wasn't so cold outside.

good luck - try keeping those nipples warm.


This is very interesting, I have always said I had raynaud's syndrome in my hands and feet, a MD has never diagnosed it but my feet turn blue quickly when in a dependent position and get cold easily and my hands are also very intolerant to cold, I can't stand to be outside in the cold... never thought that it could happen to my nipples too! Thanks for the reply!