Care and feeding of nipples

I'm currently 24ish weeks pregnant, and for the last month
or so I've noticed *things* appearing in my nipples. They're
yellow and hard and about the diameter of the wire used for
paperclips. I can pick them out, and it doesn't hurt, but
they come back. They seem to accumulate in the cracks and
irregularities of the nipple itself, making the top flat
and even.

Should I continue to pick them out, or are they actually
desireable? I probably get 5-10 of them per nipple per week.


It's probably dried colostrum. I doubt you need to pick them out and I doubt
they're particularly beneficial. I'd leave them alone unless they're bothering
you.

I'm also having problems with very dry skin on my areolas
and the very front of my breasts. This seems to be exacerbated
by bras that don't fit quite right (either too lose or too snug).
I'm already not using soap - should I use a moisturizer on them,
or just ignore it?


If it's itchy or painful, try using moisturizer. Any kind is fine now, but you
should probably pick up some lanolin ointment (Lansinoh and PureLan are most
common brand names) as that's useful once the baby arrives.

Finally, I need some bras that fit. I've got no idea what size I
actually am. My FF cups stopped fitting a long time ago, and I
bought an off-brand maternity bra that used original cup sizes
not current cup sizes. That bra is starting to get snug, and I
assume that it won't fit all the way through my pregnancy. Next
week I'll be near a good bra shop. Is it possible to guess how
much they'll grow in the next 20 weeks or so? I'm not terribly
inclined to spend $$$ on a bra that will only fit for a month.

Sadly, there's no guarantee. But usually anything you buy in the last month of
your pregnancy will probably fit you for most of the time you're breastfeeding.
You will want at least one or two stretchy bras to accomodate engorgement in
the first week or so, but it's hard to find one that offers much support for
the more greatly endowed. :-)

For now, consider buying the cheapest bras you can find that fit. Your size
will probably change again. OTOH, you may be able to wear the in-between size
bras again on the way back down when your baby starts to wean. :-)
The average woman goes up one band size and one cup size, but YMMdefinitelyV.

Holly
Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs
EDD #2 6/8/04

Jan Andrea was all, like:
"Elaine" wrote in message
...
I'm currently 24ish weeks pregnant, and for the last month
or so I've noticed *things* appearing in my nipples. They're
yellow and hard and about the diameter of the wire used for
paperclips. [...]

Should I continue to pick them out, or are they actually
desireable? I probably get 5-10 of them per nipple per week.

I don't know what they are, but I got them, too. I don't think you
need to pick them out, although if you're bored, it can be fun :P

You're leaking a little bit of colostrum and it's drying. I found it
incredibly itchy. I'd suggest that you just be gentle if you're picking at
it.

I'm also having problems with very dry skin on my areolas[...]

Could pick up some Lansinoh or another 100% lanolin cream -- it's
great for when you're nursing, too, as you don't have to remove it
before nursing.

You can also use olive oil, which is less likely to encourage yeast (thrush)
than Lansinoh. My LC suggested it, and it worked very well for me. I use the
Lansinoh on my elbows and heels. Works great. )

--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m
http://NewsReader.Com/

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:49:51 +0000 (UTC), Elaine
wrote:

Finally, I need some bras that fit. I've got no idea what size I
actually am.

Go to a place like Victoria Secrets, and get them to measure you.
Even if you don't buy a bra there, you will know your correct size to
get it elsewhere.

--
Daye
Momma to Jayan
"Boy" EDD 11 Jan 2004
See Jayan: http://jayan.topcities.com/

In article , Daye wrote:
On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:49:51 +0000 (UTC), Elaine
wrote:

Finally, I need some bras that fit. I've got no idea what size I
actually am.

Go to a place like Victoria Secrets, and get them to measure you.
Even if you don't buy a bra there, you will know your correct size to
get it elsewhere.

The problem isn't measurements. The problem is that in larger cup
sizes you get a mix of european and american cup sizes and every
bra is shaped a little differently, which means that breasts of
various shapes need a different cup, even though they measure the
same. The last time I had a bra custom fitted I ended up in a
bra that was several cup sizes off from the "correct" size from
measurements.

Elaine

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 22:55:53 +0000 (UTC), Elaine
wrote:

The last time I had a bra custom fitted I ended up in a
bra that was several cup sizes off from the "correct" size from
measurements.

Okay, that is interesting. Since my normal size is a B cup, I have
never had that problem.

--
Daye
Momma to Jayan
"Boy" EDD 11 Jan 2004
See Jayan: http://jayan.topcities.com/

In article , Daye wrote:
On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 22:55:53 +0000 (UTC), Elaine
wrote:

The last time I had a bra custom fitted I ended up in a
bra that was several cup sizes off from the "correct" size from
measurements.

Okay, that is interesting. Since my normal size is a B cup, I have
never had that problem.

It appears to purely happen in larger sizes. I think that the larger
your breasts get, the more variation is possible in shape.

Elaine

zeldabee wrote:

Jan Andrea was all, like:

"Elaine" wrote in message
...

I'm currently 24ish weeks pregnant, and for the last month
or so I've noticed *things* appearing in my nipples. They're
yellow and hard and about the diameter of the wire used for
paperclips. [...]

Should I continue to pick them out, or are they actually
desireable? I probably get 5-10 of them per nipple per week.

I don't know what they are, but I got them, too. I don't think you
need to pick them out, although if you're bored, it can be fun :P


You're leaking a little bit of colostrum and it's drying. I found it
incredibly itchy. I'd suggest that you just be gentle if you're picking at
it.


I didn't find it itchy, but I agree with you...seems like my post to
this effect earlier in the week has not appeared.


I'm also having problems with very dry skin on my areolas[...]

Could pick up some Lansinoh or another 100% lanolin cream -- it's
great for when you're nursing, too, as you don't have to remove it
before nursing.


You can also use olive oil, which is less likely to encourage yeast (thrush)
than Lansinoh. My LC suggested it, and it worked very well for me.

Hunh. I was gonna suggest it, but had no idea if it would work.
Didn't think Lansinoh was prone to encourage yeast?

I use the
Lansinoh on my elbows and heels. Works great. )

I have two tiny tubes, one in my shoulderbag, and the other in my makeup
bag....makes great lip gloss, salve for chapped noses during this
cold, etc.

Dawn

Dawn Lawson was all, like:
zeldabee wrote:
[...]
You can also use olive oil, which is less likely to encourage yeast
(thrush) than Lansinoh. My LC suggested it, and it worked very well
for me.

Hunh. I was gonna suggest it, but had no idea if it would work.
Didn't think Lansinoh was prone to encourage yeast?

It does according to my LC. I don't know...but the olive oil did do the
trick in the beginning. I don't need anything now. (Oh, she also said not to
wash nipples with soap.)

I use the
Lansinoh on my elbows and heels. Works great. )

I have two tiny tubes, one in my shoulderbag, and the other in my
makeup bag....makes great lip gloss, salve for chapped noses during
this
cold, etc.

Lanolin is great stuff. It's the *only* thing I've found that helps my
cracked heels. I wish I'd discovered it sooner.

--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m
http://NewsReader.Com/