>More info on vasospasm triggered by Debbi in Illinois. You are correct in concluding vasospasm, but trigger is not likely what baby is doing but rather mother's own body response. The reason I think this is the timing of the blanching-well after the baby has been on the breast. And the fact that heat may help to reduce the intensity. If you follow this mother long-term, and I suggest that, do so at least until she begins cycling, having periods, not just break-through bleeding. It is very possible that you will find she reports a marked diminishment of blanching once this occurs. I suspect low level of estrogen to be on of the keys to this response. In two mothers I have worked this, this has been the case. One was completely pain-free within hours after her first bleed (at 8 mo postpartum), the other markedly reduced pain, such that she could tolerate nursing without problems (compared with what she had had before). Prompt application of heat usually helps. Tell her to keep doing that; in a pinch wetting her own palm and plopping it directly on whitening nipple will help. Good luck. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %% Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC %% %% Lactation Services %% %% Homewood, Illinois %% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%