Nipples really hurt when cold!!!!!!!!!!

[hippopo]

Hi,

Bit of a strange one and sorry if TMI, just want to see if anyone else experienced this during pregnancy?

When I am even just a little bit cold my nipples go rock hard and are sooooooooooooo painful. It has been such a cold winter and still cold now and I wear so many layers.

Pain stops as soon as I get warm again though,

Weird?

I used to get that. It felt like they were on fire!

Ooh yes - fridge aisle in the supermarket - owwww! Mine can also just suddenly start hurting for no reason. Maybe breast pads could keep them warm if it's really bad?

Totally hear you! I've had this since day one - SO painful, and this hasn't been a kind winter for it.

I found, on a freezing outing around Kew a few weeks ago, that if did eventually go off if I stayed out in the cold long enough, although it started to hurt again as they defrosted.

Mine seem to go a dark purple, even black when they're cold!

I hadn't heard of anyone else having this yet, so glad I'm not a weird nipple freak after all!

i had that when pg, it actually felt like someone was holding a lighter under them, truly awful. i guessed it was related to reynaud's syndrome in some way, not that i have it but the symptoms are similar, blood disappears from the area causing immense pain etc.

Yep, me too! (31 weeks preg with DC3)

Its like being stabbed with a million hot needles!!!

Even caught myself a few times rubbing them furiously to get them warm again, most amusing for onlookers!!!

Must be mother natures way of toughening them up for breastfeeding!

DS is 11 months and still been breastfed, I still get this

It is the most painful thing I have ever experienced (childbirth included!) I now resortedo a thick Lansinoh layer and breast pads if I know I am going somewhere I can't stick my hands in my top!

I have had it when not pregnant. I am pretty sure it is reynauds of the nipple (a circulatory issue) which is apparently more common in pregnancy. Mine was really bad for months (am now 26 weeks) but seems to be easing off as the pregnancy advances and the weather is warming up a bit.

I ended up going out in breast pads, padded bra, vest, long sleeved top, jumper and coat if I knew I was going to be standing still!

Take a look at this - it's about 'nipple vasospasm' - and see if you think it fits your experiences -

www.thewomens.org.au/Nipplevasospasm

I had similar pains very badly in early pregnancy (along with the slightly alarming 'traffic light' nipple colour changes). It really is the 'cigarette lighter' feeling someone else described, and I find it very hard to sit still or concentrate on anything once they've kicked off!

The main advice seems to be to keep them warm, and not let them get cold in the 1st place. Which is all very well, but I didn't seem to be very good at it (getting out of a heated car into the cold was a particular 'trap'. And getting out of the shower.)

What I did in the end was get some of those self heating stick on pads - Curaheat do them, in Boots etc - for period pain and back pain etc, and then stick one on my clothes at the front, so I had a constant portable 'hot water bottle' to carry around with me.

It lasts all day and works very well, although a bit of clothing disguise is necessary (I stuck mine on a vest top underneath another top, and then smothered neck and chest with a large scarf). Otherwise it looks a bit like you have a sanitary towel stuck on your chest...

Hot water bottles were good at home, but no use for work or out and about, obviously.

Sounds a bit 'mad lady', I know, but it was a huge help in December/January. At 20 weeks, it seems to have got a lot better - although I note SardineJam is still suffering, so I'm wondering if BF-ing is going to be another Nipples of Fire experience. Hmm.

Oh gosh yes just wait till you start BFing, if you are planning to. I used to walk around with my hands over my boobs trying to keep them warm and trying not to cry, it was soooooooooooo sore when they got cold. Agony going outside (DD was born in January so had most of the winter months to get through). Am 36 weeks pg with number two now, really hope I don't get it again. If I do I may have to start sticking those heat pads down my bra like barkfox!

Mine have been ok, until they are exposed- like getting changed in the gym and the new touching of cloth/towelling is rather sore and the cold just makes me look at them and wonder how much more sticky outy they are going to get! They are currently embarrassing me. Re the breastfeeding- how on earth would you cope with the advice of 'airing the breasts' after feeding when its the depths of winter??!!

ooh, blimey. That doesn't sound fun Bettymum. I'm due end of July, so I do hope that makes a bit of difference...

Word of warning if anyone does go down my mad lady self heating pads route - don't stick them directly on your skin, they do get very hot! I wore mine over a bra and thin vest top (stuck them on the vest top, and not directly over the nipples either, but just above. More the cleavage area.).

I also found the ones for period pain gave the best coverage in the boob area. And you can get them cheap if you buy them in bulk from online chemists.

I don't think I ever "aired my breasts" Elsa, and they were fine . I do advise getting a good nipple cream, though. Also our NCT teacher advised us never to wash our boobs with soap/shower gel whilst BFing as it strips all the natural oils away, plain water is fine.
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in my case the pain stopped when i had the babies, and in fact i barely suffered at all in my second pregnancy.

Mine do too! They used to when I was on a certain brand of pill too so I assume it is some hormone or other?

yup me too (preg with dd). ouchy!!

Yes, I've had this throughout my pregnancy. It is agony! Glad to know I am not alone though...hoping the warmer weather will bring an end to it.