Nipple blanching turning white after a feeding occurs when the blood flow to the nipple is limited or cut off. Blanching is most often related to latch problems. Nipple blanching is often, but not always, associated with pain. If the normal color returns after your baby has finished a feeding and there is no pain , then the blanching is not a problem. The most common reason for nipple blanching is that that baby is compressing the nipple while nursing. This can be due to:. There may be a white stripe across the nipple directly after nursing. Pain may not start until a few seconds to a few minutes after nursing, as the circulation returns to the nipple. If you are experiencing pain with the blanching, then finding and remedying the underlying cause will also eliminate the blanching.
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First, a word about your nipples.
Keep reading to learn which seemingly weird nipple things are actually pretty run-of-the-mill and which are a sign you should check with your doctor. Sometimes people think the entire pink or brown part of your boobs is your nipples but actually, your nipples are just the center part of the dark area—yep, where milk comes out if you breastfeed, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The dark skin surrounding the nipples, on the other hand, is called the areola, and it has glands called Montgomery glands that secrete fluid to aid in breastfeeding. The size of your nipples means nothing. Like really, nothing.
What's Normal—and What's Not
By Sydney Loney Nov 22, Photo: iStockPhoto. 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. With this type of blanching, your nipple might also look flattened, creased or pointed when your baby comes off the breast.
Just as breasts come in all shapes and sizes, nipples can vary greatly from person to person, too. Nipple color is usually related to your skin color, but changes in hormone levels and other factors can cause the color of your nipples and areolae the darker circle of skin around your nipple to change at certain times. Pale nipples are usually not a sign of a serious problem. Sometimes visible changes are the first sign of a condition that needs medical attention. Through the years your breasts may change in size and shape. Skin texture may change, too. And changes in nipple color can happen throughout your life for various reasons.
