Dry Nipples in Morning with slight orange colour flaky skin- UPDATE

[TTC LADY]

I'm hoping you girls can provide me with some advice,

Over the last few days, on both of my nipples there is a dry crust which tends to form overnight. When I pick the crust off, its very dry and clear but with a slight tinge of what appears to be dry blood as well. - almost like picking a dry scab off (sorry TMI), sort of orange colour.

Its occurs on both nipples, there is no pain, soreness, discomfort in either breast which leads me to think its not mastitus, which I think would be confined to a single breast and would be more painful. If I squeeze the nipples nothing leaks out and I'm not leaking colostrum.

I intend on breastfeeding and am bit worried this could be a problem as I've read lots of posts about crusty nipples but most of them seem to a milky colour.

Has anyone been diagnosed with mastitus who started off with a similar "style" of nipple crustiness ?

Thanks Ladies.

 

[GersPrincess]

I've had mastitus, but only once I was actually breastfeeding - its blocked milk ducts that do it, and is very painful and you feel like you've got flu.. not sure if you can get it without breastfeeding though.

Have you any nipple cream? If they are sore and cracked it may be that they just need a bit of moisture, you can get it in mothercare and its safe for use during breastfeeding too.
You could also try soaking a flannel in warm water and massaging your breast/nipple with it to see if that eases the discomfort.
It could even be thrush, sounds random but you can get it there, and if it is that, you need to get it treated or else you can pass it on through breastfeeding.

If you massage your breast downwards in a circular motion towards your nipple, does anything come out then? squeezing the nipple has never made milk come out of me, but if I do the boob massage thing, it does.
But really, as there is blood you should maybe see your GP or midwife - best to get your nips in tip top condition ready for breastfeeding now!

 

[TTC LADY]

Thanks for the reply. Was you mastitus limited to a single breast or both ?

Aside from the dry crustiness which is visible in the mornings - I have no pain or discomfort. I wouldn't even notice it if I couldn't see it. The scab is more like a dark brownish colour the type you get when you pick a really own scab (sorry TMI)

Also if I massage as suggested, nothing comes out.

 

[GersPrincess]

Mmm, weird I cant think what it could be - I really think that you should see your GP or midwife for some real advice.
When I got mastitus, it started in my left boob, it went solid and really hot, and it was soooo unbelievably painful, and by the end of the day I had it in my right one too.

 

[lalaland09]

Don't have any solid advice, but I've been using Lanolin to ease dryness and "prep" my breasts for feeding. It really helps. As far as the blood, I have no ideas on what that could be.

 

[Lorien]

From what I've heard from some ladies in my prenatal classes, they were getting leaking of colostrum at night, and that was sticking to their nipples as a crusty substance in the morning. The lady teaching the class said it was perfectly normal. They didn't leak during the day (and neither have I) so it was just regular dried colostrum. I don't know why yours would have a reddish tinge, but if you don't have any pain or fever, I don't think it's mastitis. You could always call your midwife if you have concerns.

 

[TTC LADY]

I put nipple cream on last night before going to bed. woke up this morning and there was no flaky skin of crustyness on the nipple.

I haven't blocked my mill ducts have I ? - should I have put the cream on ?

 

[pharrison87]

Mabe the cream is what u needed... do u suffer from dry skin? Best thing to do is to mention it to your midwife. Pregnancy does wird things to you! xx

 

[GersPrincess]

I wouldnt have thought so, the milk ducts are in the tissue of your breast rather than the actual nipple, and if nipple cream caused them to block it wouldnt be allowed to be sold.
It could just be that you had very dry nipples and the cream has helped that, but if you are still worried, see your gp/midwife