Photo credit: benklocek

Vasospasm is a constricting of the blood vessels in the nipple. Due to poor latch and compression of the nipple by the baby, vasospasm causes the nipple to turn white (and possibly then blue and then red) and results in throbbing, stabbing or burning pain. Vasospasm is also associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon (a sudden narrowing of the arteries). For resources on vasospasm, see:
~ “Nipple blanching and vasospasm” by Kellymom.com
~ “Seeking Relief,” NEW BEGINNINGS
~ “Brrrr…ouch! It’s the season for Raynaud’s” at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog
~ “Treatment for Raynaud’s” by Dr. Jack Newman

There are many breastfeeding products I have never tried. Over the next few weeks I will be featuring three different products in the hopes that readers will contribute their reviews in the comments section. So please do leave a comment — long, short, positive, negative — I want to hear your input on what worked and didn’t work for you. First up are Medela Standard Nipple Shields (16mm). For a long time women were discouraged from using nipple shields (particularly the rubber variety). Now there are improved versions made of silicone, but still women are cautioned against using them unless …read more

Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against the use of Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc. to nursing mothers for treatment of cracked and sore nipples. The packaging specifically states that it is not necessary to remove the cream before nursing, but two ingredients in the cream may be harmful to nursing infants. The FDA describes the dangers of chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol:
Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and …read more

Earlier I wrote about the Top 10 Uses for Lansinoh aside from soothing the breastfeeding mother’s nipples. Here are some other fun facts about Lansinoh and lanolin:
~ Lanolin is a fatty derivative of wool.
~ According to the manufacturer, it’s safe to use even for people who are allergic to wool.
~ The Lansinoh company was founded by a nursing mother of two daughters. When she started breastfeeding, a La Leche League leader encouraged her to use lanolin for her sore nipples. Lanolin was not readily available at the time, but her husband was a physician and he procured a one-pound jar …read more

I’m not sure we know each other well enough to discuss this, but in the name of breast health, here we go….
It’s no secret that American women shave, pluck and wax unwanted hair as part of their elaborate beauty rituals. It’s not at all uncommon for women to have stray hairs around the areola (the darkened skin around the nipple). It’s certainly not necessary to remove them, but for women who desire to do so for cosmetic reasons, should they shave or pluck? The answer actually is neither one–shaving and plucking could cause infection through cuts or ingrown hairs. So …read more