Milk Pearls Or Blocked Milk Ducts: What Are They? – Being Parents

Knowing what changes your body is going to go through is essential. This will allow you to have the right tools to overcome all kinds of inconvenience and to live well in your motherhood.

Milk pearls are shiny dots of a slightly pearly white that appear on the breasts. If the baby feeds without pausing, it can cause a little inflammation. Then everything is back to normal without complications.

When breastfeeding, the nipple takes on a perfectly normal whitish appearance.

The natural channels through which the fluid flows form what are called breast milk pearls. These beads can be of different sizes. They appear throughout the day, for example, if the baby suddenly closes its mouth over the nipple and tilts its head back.

Causes of milk pearls

Milk pearls may appear spontaneously or be a sign of breast infection or obstruction. What to do against these inconveniences?

• Breastfeed in a position that is comfortable for you and your baby.
• The mother can take oral anti-inflammatory drugs as advised by the doctor.
• The same treatment is followed in case of obstruction of a milk duct.
• Heat is your best ally.

It is by breastfeeding and observing the appearance of milk pearls that we learn to heal ourselves.

What are the worrying symptoms?

Some symptoms are more alarming. If the fever or severe inflammation persists or if the milk pearls appear very frequently, a laboratory examination should be done immediately. A specialist can prescribe antibiotics for you.

These whiteheads are often painful and cause an intense itching and burning sensation. Milk pearls are benign, but they can lead to more serious problems if not treated in time.

Most often, these white spots lead to a microbial infection of the breast called mastitis. This very specific type of mastitis does not have the typical symptoms: fever, pain, redness or inflammation of an entire breast.

Pathogenic bacteria can form biofilms. This means that they clog the ducts by sticking to the leftover calcium.

Advice to follow

We recommend that you follow these different tips:

• Usually, when the milk pearls appear, a crust is formed. It will come off after five to seven days. It is the baby who will make these little pearls disappear while sucking.
• It is very important to never fall asleep while breastfeeding your baby. He could choke or swallow air. Also, if he sucks in the wrong position, it can immediately cause mastitis.
• If the white spot is particularly large and clearly visible, you can try to soften the scab by applying hot compression to the affected area.
• You can try putting pressure on the breast to release the blocked duct. Do it just before breastfeeding: it is your baby who will finish unclogging the canal by breastfeeding.
• Some milk pearls are of bacterial origin. They can be deeper and affect the entire canal. In this case, you must immediately call your doctor. He will tell you if you should stop breastfeeding and prescribe antibiotics. A medical follow-up will then be necessary to avoid any complications.

• When breastfeeding, you must pay particular attention to the hygiene of your hands and breasts to avoid infections.
• Preferably breastfeed in a quiet place where you and your baby will be relaxed and comfortable.

Breastfeeding is a gesture of love

Babies should be exclusively breastfed for up to six months and then with complementary feeding for up to two years. This provides them with the nutrients necessary for their growth and proper development.

From birth, when he first feeds on colostrum, an emotional, dependent relationship begins between mother and baby.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience, especially when it is done with as much love as with dedication.