Chris Auer:
You wrote of a purple nipple noticed after a feeding. You said that the
client had been referred due to persistant painful nipples for a month. I
have seen nipples turn purple as if they are in a spasm too. It seems to be
in a progression of the healing process, from nipples that previously turned
white during breastfeeding. They also will turn purple spontaneously at other
times. Correcting the latch and suck helped lessen the frequency and
eventually they dissappeared. I tell the moms to use gentle pressure with the
palm towards the chest when it happens. It seems to help it feel better and
return to pink.
Good luck
Fritzi Drosten RN, IBCLC
Piedmont, CA