Raynaud's Phenomenon

[Chica31]

I had never heard of this...sounds a bit strange.

Just come back from midwife and she says I have it, has anyone else had a similar problem?

[jaggythistle]

I had it before being pregnant and it was agony - my nipples went all white and sore when i got cold.

Bizarrely it has gone away since having DS - he must be like central heating. Or maybe the changes and use of my boobs has improved the circulation as it is a circulation thing I beleive.

As mine was caused by cold, I used to sit in fromt of a heater and go about the house in big fleeces to help

When is yours occurring?

[jaggythistle]

( I had it for years - sorry I missed that bit)

[DairyBeetle]

I've had Raynauds for as long as I can remember in my hands, feet, nose and ears. Since starting breast feeding it's also started to happen to my nipples. Raynauds means that the circulation isn't great when changing from hot to cold or cold to hot. So coming in from the cold into a warm room my hands, which go white/blue when cold, really sting as the circulation returns, when my DS unlatches after feeding my nipples go white due to the change from body temp in his mouth to the outside temp of the room and I get the same stinging/tingling as I get in my hands.

Mines just me which means I'm stuck with it and just cover up, quick, when feeding to not let things get too cold. However I know that the same can happen when the nipple is compressed due to a problem with the latch, and even after the latch is sorted it can take a couple of weeks or more for the Raynauds to stop.

There's some useful info on Kellymom: www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

[pettyprudence]

I have it too! Magnesium supplements are supposed to help but I keep forgetting to take them. It started in pregnancy and was exacerbated by ds's poor latch during breastfeeding. It stopped hurting at 6/7 wks but my nipples still go white now (ds is 12wks)

[Chica31]

www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

[Chica31]

I must be strange then. DD is nearly 5 months and it is only now that it has started to hurt, but it is 37C outside at the moment. So I am not cold!

[Chica31]

I get it when Bfing DD2, never a problem with DD1. DD1 is 2 and I bfed her for 11 months so not as if it was a long time ago.

Maybe going hot to cold with aircon isnt helping?

[Chica31]

thanks for the link DairyBeetle, mum skyped me as I was linking.

[FallingSlowly]

I'm getting a lot of very painful nipple blanching (ds 6 weeks) - not sure whether it's Reynaud's or something to do with the nipple being compressed due to the latch not being great.

Did the midwife suggest anything to make it better?

[Chica31]

Putting on a warm compress before feeding, to open all the blood vessels better

[pettyprudence]

In desperation I googled "Nipple warmers" but decided not to use the products on offer. Try it - nothing rude, I promise!

[FallingSlowly]

Good god. Who would have thought they only came in possum fur?

[pettyprudence]

... or that possum fur could be dyed in such a wide range of colours

[organiccarrotcake]

[shocked]

But I've learnt something new today in my BFing support career!

Never have I been quite so nervous about what might come up on a Google search!!!

[organiccarrotcake]

Darn it,