Nipple blanching - really getting desperate now, any help/ideas apprieciated

[bambipie]

DD2 is 2 and 1/2 weeks and has fed well from the start (V strong suck reflex) but in the last few days the pain as she latches on has become agonising (I can't help crying out and generally end up in tears) and boobs are v achey between feeds. I noticed that the nipples are going white (no blood supply type white, not thrush) which is 'blanching' apparently.

Phoned nct woman who was excellent and I did have dd badly positioned, which I have now corrected (since yesterday). But it is still incredibly painful feeding her, I think she might just be closing her jaws too much.

Has anyone else had this?

I'm desperate to carry on bf as I fed dd1 for a year (no probs) and am too lazy to do sterilising etc . But I won't be able to carry on with this level of pain - not with a 23 month old to look after at the same time.

I used to take paracetamol in the early days but I'm no expert.

So sorry its so painful hon x

Yes- I experienced this with dd1 and used wooly type breast pads you can get online to keep your nips warm. I was advised issue would improve as baby grows bigger, which it did by about 3 months. Funny though as dd2 is now 7 weeks and haven't had any nipple blanching this time. HTH.

I had this with DD1 to start with - feeding in a warm room and keeping as wrapped up as possible really helped. Worth a try? Sounds really bad

Thank you. Right boob is a bit better, but left boob is just agony when she latches on, and I'm in floods of tears every time I feed her at the moment. DH thinks I should express from the left boob for 24 hours to give it a chance to recover, but I am worried about my supply (although is very good atm).

I just wish I knew if it is something that will gradually get better - but there isn't that much info on it on the internet!

Feel really frustrated about it, especially as I fed dd1 for a year - I HAVE to do the same for dd2, but I just can't deal with the pain every feed.

bambi - this is what a book I have says about it, for what its worth... I did find it got better quite quickly (can't remember really, but I carried on feeding for a year so can't have been too bad!), or maybe the positioning improved as BF got more established. Expressing for just 24 hours shouldn't affect your supply, but I don't really see how it would help (unless it is also a positioning issue)?

from the book...

"white nipple... this is a really painful condition (similar to Raynaud's syndrome) that may be associated with circulatory problems. When the baby feeds, the blood drains from the nipple causing intense pain and blanching of the nipple. Poor attachment of the baby to the breast and feeding in a cold room will often be the trigger for this. Remedies that may help:
-feed in a warmer room
-cover your breasts to keep them as warm as possible
-drinking tea before the feed may help dilate the blood vessels
-making sure your baby is latched on correctly

In severe cases your GP might prescribe the drug Nifedipine, which is often helpful in improving circulation. However, as this will pass into the breast milk and may affect the baby, you will need to discuss with your doctor whether it is advisable to try it."

Are things getting better now Bambipie?

Hi bambipie. You said you feel your supply is good, and earlier on you said that your dd might just be closing her jaws too much.

Could she be clamping to try to slow down the letdown which could just be too fast for her?

Have a read of this re nipple blanching. Could it be this?

Sore nips are misery. I hope that things have improved for you since last week.

I had terrible problems with nipple blanching/Raynaud's when I started breast feeding, it nearly scuppered the whole thing. Here is the solution:

1. Use lambswool nipple pads

1. Keep warm (not just you boobs, all of you) at all times, espceially when feeding. Cover nipples the minute he comes off.

and 3. (the REAL solution for me): use self heating toe warmers (the kind people use for skiing or hiking) inside your bra. I used Toasti Toes but any kind will work, they last for between six and eight hours, so long enough to last a whole night. Put them inside the bra but OUTSIDE the woolly nipple pads, so you don't burn your nipple! And be careful not to let them touch baby, they will burn him.

I am still breast feeding nearly eight months on and loving it.