Raynauds of the nipple

[SpannerPants]

Has anyone had this? I think I have it :(

I get severe pain after feeding, which is burning and stabbing and lasts for 3-4hrs after a feed. I thought it was thrush but GP wasn't convinced and has given me antibiotics for mastitis instead!

However today I noticed that my nipple goes completely white after a feed then gradually goes bluey/purple before going pink again just before the pain starts. I made an effort to keep it warm and dry after feeding from it and didn't get nearly as much pain as I usually do!

I used to get it when I lived at home (old house, parents sparing with the central heating) and when I worked in a butcher's shop at 16. The pain used to be excruciating, but was only ever brought on when my boobs got cold.

Even now, I'm on alert for getting too cold in case it triggers it and yes, the pain far outlasted the amount of time it took to get cold. Must admit though, I've managed to get through the winter without any attacks at all.

I've had thrush with both dcs and I can see why the doc thought so, because the pain is similar. DO you get reynauds anywhere else? I get fingers and toes, so not mad to think the nipples get it too.

I got this while feeding too, it was excruciating. I bought these gel pad thingies that you could put inside your bra, and soaked them in hot water while I was feeding, then put them in my bra as I finished, which helped a bit. Hot water bottles also relieved the pain but weren't quite as subtle.

You have my sypathy!

I didn't get that breastfeeding,but during my first pregnancy.

If I got in the slightest bit chilly it was really painful,and I had to sit hugging myself,with a hot wheatie.

I don't get it,but Reynauds is in my family,so who knows,perhaps there is a link?

I got this when I was first feeding my DD - although it wasn't as bad as yours sounds. I was attending a breastfeeding clinic at the time and when I mentioned the symptoms to the doctor she asked if I got the same feeling when I got out of the shower - when I said that I did she was pretty sure that it was Raynaud's.

She suggested that I try taking a Vitamin B complex that contained B6 and niacin. There is some information about it at the bottom of this page (I am in Canada and Jack Newman is a breastfeeding expert here)

Jack Newman Raynaud's info

That seemed to work for me - I think that I tried coming off it after a couple of weeks (as the link suggests) but the pain came back. So I continued for a month and then came off and had no further pain.

Might be worth trying if your doctor doesn't think that it would do any harm.

I also avoided air drying and covering up which I guess helped as well.

I also get white hands and feet so I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise but it had never occurred to me that I could get it in my nipples!

Yep, I have it - not been so bad with DS, but was excruciating with DD. I had some success with nifedipine (a vasodilator, I had to battle the dr to get it prescribed, bf helpline said it was ok while bf), but also bought myself a box of those single-use warm pads, the ones that heat up when exposed to air, and stuck them between breastpad and bra after a feed. Had loads of showers, too - that helped. You have my sympathies, even before I had children (and knew what it was) I would often feel like they were about to drop off when it got cold - it's like razorblades on them. Feeding outside was a no-no. Good luck!

It runs in the family in hands and feet and I'm always cold - I wear big pjs and fluffy socks in bed with a 15 tog duvet while DP is naked and sweating!

I had a hot shower to try to relieve it earlier but getting out made it worse. I'll look into b vitamins thanks, in the mean time I'd better get the hot water bottle out!

Hi,

Dont think I had raynauds but after lots of problems- latch/pumping +++, marathon feeding sessions when I did feed my nipples went white then gradually bluey then pink but this could take 30 minutes and were excrutiating while white. couldnt even have a light top or dressing gown on them.

Someone mentioned a hairdryer and it was a lifesaver for a while. Initially a hot flannel for the first boob then after the feed hairdryer on gentle! but warm!

Shower also helpful.

It is exacerbated by any less than optimum latches so may be worth getting a feed observed.

I know DS's latch isn't perfect but he's got a posterior tongue tie so it's about as good as I can get it - I try to do the exaggerated latch. HV won't refer us as he's putting weight on (gone from 25th to 75th centile since jan, doing blw is not eating a massive amount, he must be getting a reasonable amount of milk!) I've been looking into getting it divided privately but the only consultants that do it are in Leeds, Manchester and Southampton!

I used some pocket hand warmers in my bra after feeding last night and the pain was much better.

It's so frustrating, re: tt dividing - DD had/has an upper lip tie (not diagnosed till 18 months) which with hindsight was aggravating things as her latch is very shallow. Could you go back to the HV with some research (on phone about to get in the shower so can't look for you atm, will later if I can) about dividing tts and see if you can persuade her to refer you? I'm glad the warmers worked (I'd forgotten about the hairdryer trick, that helps too!).

And from one sufferer to another, huge pats on the back for persevering - amazing, well done.

I had it with my 3. With DS, it came on at about 6 months but was misdiagnosed as thrush for ages. By the time it had been properly diagnosed (11 months) I'd had enough. The pain was just too dreadful. There was the interesting whole family dinner where I fed DS, then put on a heat pad, some deep heat (avoiding the nipples), and 3 jumpers. Still very painful.

With DD1 I just fed through the pain for a couple of months until she was 12 months and then stopped feeding. I did try vitamin b6 and niacin but it didn't seem to help.

With DD2 I tried Nifedipine. I was on it for 4 weeks and it got me through the worst of the winter and it hasn't come back. But as a precaution, I always wear at least a vest, t-shirt and cardigan inside. At night I bundle up like the michelin man!

So in short, try all the warming things, but if you still have problems go for Nifedipine. It is great! What I did was to go to the breastfeeding clinic and get them to print out all the relevant stuff from the text books. Then went to the doctors and presented him with it. He just did exactly what the book said!

There are snippers who will do it, some ibclcs will travel and still snip an older baby although this isn't risk free. Some older babies after a posterior snip don't return to feeding and AFAIK the only travelling dividers aren't hps and under ibclc standards shouldn't therefore snip... the older the baby the less likely you are to see a change in tongue function too.

Could give you names if you wanted, pm me if so.

I've got some nifedipine and it's like a miracle cure - no pain anymore!

I'm not sure if it's worth getting DS's tt snipped now. If its not going to help his tongue movement then I can't see the point, particularly when we're managing now. I'll be more proactive with any future DC though!