Anyone got Reynaud's? How do you cope?

[ChairmumMiaow]

I've suffered with this in my nipples on rare occassions since my late teens, but since the cold weather has kicked in this year, I have suffered horribly. I can't go outside for very long, even well wrapped up, as it is really really uncomfortable.

DS is still feeding morning and night and if I am at all cold, it is unbearable. From what I have read it has got worse because I am pregnant.

I'm also still feeding 2yo DS and if I have cold nipples there is no chance I will let him anywhere near me, which causes some grief at times

Anyone else suffer? What do you do to help it?

I get it in my hands and feet, but not nipples, though I did think I had it for a while when bfing was really painful (don't think it was though, just bad latch) and the dr prescribed me something, nifedepine or something similar. Vitamin B something is also meant to help circulation, 3 or 6. Sorry not much help! I do sympathise as having it in my hands and feet is incredibly uncomfortable.

This site has more info

I found it really bad in winter when I was pregnant (baby was born in September)

It has been much better since he was born, hopefully yours will be too!

I found that I had to traipse about in a big warm fleece to try and prevent the cold getting in, otherwise I was to be found huddled by a heater or desperately trying to watm them up with a hot facecloth!

I did ask the doc when I was first pregnant, but she seemed to not really understand what I was on about and was talking about thrush and stuff? Maybe go armed with info as I have heard Nifedipine mentioned a lot.

Funnily enough it went for a while when I was pg, only came back this year and DD is 2.5.

I have severe Raynaud's in both hands and feet, and when I started breastfeeding (DS is now seven months), it was hell in my nipples too. It has got better over the months, strangely since it is now much colder!

But here are my tips and what worked for me:

Lambswool breast pads
Keeping your whole body warm and not just your boobs
Cover up carefully immediately after the feed

And most importantly for me (this is what really allowed me to carry on breast feeding, which I am still doing to this day): the use of self-heating toe warmers (the kind that people, including me, use when skiing or hiking). I put them inside my bra but outside the woollen breast pad. They have worked fantastically for me. I recommend the Toasti Toe brand but any would do really.

Hope you resolve your problem, it does get better really, and it is worth any effort to carry on breast feeding, it is wonderful.

Thanks for the tips. I have started wearing my cotton breastpads and an extra vest to try to keep warm and it seems to be helping. It still bothers me at DS's bedtime so I might well try the heated warmer thingies!

I thought about going to the GP but read about it being confused with thrush and IME GPs are not always helpful if you come armed with a solution! If it gets worse I will of course, give it a try.

Thanks!