Do your nipples turn white?and maybe even hurt?during breastfeeding" This is called nipple blanching and can be caused by a few different things. It?s usually a result of blood flow to your nipple being restricted, often because your baby is compressing your nipples because the latch is too shallow, your baby is tongue-tied, or your milk lets down so quickly that she clamps down in an attempt to slow the flow. With this type of blanching, your nipple might also look flattened, creased or pointed when your baby comes off the breast. And for some moms, it can be quite painful.
Nipple blanching can also be caused by vasospasms, a tightening of the blood vessels due to lack of blood flow and oxygen that usually occurs during and right after breastfeeding, when the baby comes off the breast. This is typically caused by latch issues, and it can be extremely painful, often searing at first, then throbbing. ?Vasospasms could be your body?s reaction to the fact that your nipples were damaged early on by latch issues or, in some cases, even thrush,? says Pam Davey, a certified doula and registered lactation consultant. They will eventually go away, but you?ll need to seek professional help to correct the problem causing it, and it can take a long time for the nipple damage to heal.
Often, the key to both preventing and stopping nipple blanching from compression or vasospasm is as simple as improving the latch, says Nathalie Pambrun, vice-president of the ...