Hello Maureen, as a response to your question as to whether the areola of
the mom I examined was bulgy...no it was the nipples. It was specificallly
nipple discomfort with palpation of the nipple, and the nipples felt like
varicoceles...weakened veins (like what I feel in scrotums or large bulgy
varicose veins on the legs). I could actually see the nipples looking
irregular and bulgy, as opposed to sleek along the sides of the nipples.
She did not pump much, and the pain was not associated just with
pumping.-Anne Eglash MD