Re: Blood blisters - should you pop them?

[Guest guest]

A physician would be better to lance the cyst. If she does it herself, she could risk a blood or local infection.June , RN, IBCLC From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of WaltersSent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:41 AMTo: ibclc-ppSubject: Blood blisters - should you pop them? I have a client who has had major trauma to her nipples for about 4 months. Newman's cream has helped immensely but as you know, it is a slow process. Now she has a blood blister on the top of the aerola and it is getting bigger and more painful. Should she sterilize a pin and pop it? (I hate to even think about it myself.)Thank you so much WaltersIn Home Lactation SpecialistsNo virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2102/4672 - Release Date: 12/10/11

[Guest guest]

I have popped blood blisters myself (granted, not on my nipple), and that relieved the pressure. Figured that was the way to handle them since I watched a vet treating a sow (pig) on my grandpa's farm as a kid. She had somehow injured herself and her ear was completely swollen, about to burst. The vet quickly lanced it, blood spurted everywhere, and the grownups all looked happy. So I think, yes, she can pop it with a sterilized needle (which isn't much different than the sterile lancet the doc would use) and could always dab a bit of topical antibiotic on it several times a day until it heals.

Dee KassingI have a client who has had major trauma to her nipples for about 4 months. Newman's cream has helped immensely but as you know, it is a slow process. Now she has a blood blister on the top of the aerola and it is getting bigger and more painful. Should she sterilize a pin and pop it? (I hate to even think about it myself.)Thank you so much WaltersIn Home Lactation Specialists

[Guest guest]

NO!! Don't pop any kind of blister because it breaks the skin to allow infections in. Hot soaks will help the blood absorb. If not better in a day or 2, a quick trip to a health care professional for a prescription for antibiotics is needed.

Gail Neuman RNC BSN CPHW, Notary Public

certified in high risk OB

childbirth/lactation educator & student nurse practitioner

NRP, AHA BLS for Healthcare & Heartsaver Family/Friends instructor

Perinatal Nurse Associates

Baby Your Way Midwifery Associates

801 N. Tustin Ave., Suite 305

Santa Ana, CA 92705

[Guest guest]

OK, for all of you who are a lot more cautious than me (and much as I love you all and the info you share, I think there is overreaction in this situation), instead of popping the blood blister, dab arnica ointment or gel on the blood blister 2-3 times/day. After all, a blood blister and a bruise are basically the same thing: blood that got out of the capillaries where it belongs and leaked into the surrounding tissues, causing pressure and pain. A blood blister just happened at the top layer of skin so causes more visible swelling. We leave a lot of things like antibiotics, etc on the skin and let baby nurse because so much gets absorbed into the skin before the next nursing, but I don't honestly know that this theory can safely be applied to arnica, so I guess the mother should gently wash off any remaining ointment/gel before the next

feeding.

Dee KassingI have a client who has had major trauma to her nipples for about 4 months. Newman's cream has helped immensely but as you know, it is a slow process. Now she has a blood blister on the top of the aerola and it is getting bigger and more painful. Should she sterilize a pin and pop it? (I hate to even think about it myself.)Thank you so much WaltersIn Home Lactation Specialists