Vasospasms + blanching

[Tellera]

I was hoping for a little help, advice, BTDT.

This has been going on for about 3 months.

It happens:

Every time DS nurses, both nipples: vasospasm w/white line and then blanching.

At random times not nursing (say 3 or 4 times a day): blanching.

When I pump: blanching.

The fact that it happens at times unrelated to nursing makes me think it might be Raynauds. (I didn't have it before I started to nurse, BTW)

To get it to go away: pressure in different directions. It can take several minutes.

Yes, it is painful, but not excrutiating. While it happens I have a vague *ugh* agitating sensation and then when the blood returns it is semi-painful. It goes from white back to pink/red (no turning blue).

I have begun to cringe before I nurse because it is really upsetting. I can tell when it happens at the random times because I get that *ugh* feeling, which I am obviously having a hard time describing.

DS is latching fine, comfortable for me. He REALLY IS. There is no pain from his latching, he is not biting, it really is good. We went through a hard time in the beginning (cracked, bleeding, sores) but from 3 weeks it was GOOD. I worked with a LLL leader.

It worries me. First off, it's painful. Second, I'm worried about my nipples and future damage.

I'm not looking for validation to stop BF, I am looking for serious assistance; I will stop BF if I feel it needs to be that decision. I currently BF in the AM before work, PM after work, and every other night as he wakes.

What I am doing to mitigate the problem: Clothing with pressure (e.g., tighter tanks), warm compresses.

What I won't do: Take advil all day long. Take nifedipine. I just don't want to take medications.

I do not have thrush. I take a multivitamin (One a day for women)

Thank you for your time!

[Love my 2]

Niacin can help.

[danellsar]

Look up Reynaud's syndrome of the nipple. It's a vasoconstriction that causes pain after bf'ing due to the change in temperature. I have it, and I was told to keep a heating pad warm next to me, and pop it on my chest after nursing. It does seem to help with the pain, though I still get the white nipples if I get cold during the day/night when I'm not nursing. Masage also seems to help to get the blood flowing again.

[BinahYeteirah]

bs"d

I had vasospasms/Reynaud's syndrome of the nipple during my last pregnancy. Everything I read said that it was caused by trauma to the nipple (poor positioning, etc.), but I, too, felt that dd1's latch was fine. I also read that it was not caused by pregnancy, yet in my case it started in the first tri and ended a couple weeks before giving birth. It was *extremely* painful. I spent countless hours in from of a heater trying to warm up and make the pain go away. I took many hot showers when I couldn't seem to warm up fast enough and the pain was more than I could bear. I would grope myself strangely (in attempts to massage and warm my breasts) and cry from the pain in public. I have been nursing for over a year now without the vasospasms, and my nipples are like they ever were. I don't think there was ever any damage to them other than perhaps the occasional sore nipple from long nursing sessions. In other words, nothing I would consider unusual. As far as coping, I found it was key to keep warm as much as possible. I overdressed for the weather and kept the heat up high, even on warm days. I also took B6, but I am not sure that made any difference. That's really the best I can offer. Hope it goes away! I would nurse through it myself, as I don't think it is necessarily as sign of damage to the nipple if you are convinced everything is fine in that department.

Hang in there! Keep warm, brrrr....

[phoebekate]

Raynauds can be caused/triggered by nipple damage but it doesn't cause damage itself. I had it in the first few months of feeding DD#1 and then in my luteal phase when I was weaning her. Then within a couple of months of fully weaning the luteal phase raynuads transfered from my nipples back to my hands a feet. Strange but true... I am four weeks into feeding #2 and so far no raynauds. I would keep feeding.

[Tellera]

Thank you for the words, ladies!

[mamabeth]

I took extra B6 for Raynaud's as I've had it with both kids. I also took nipifidine in the beginning as I had it severely with my dd and felt that it was worth it to have a decent nursing relationship with my ds. But the B6 I take on and off if I start to feel that tingle that says it's coming back.

good for you for sticking with it! and I agree with a pp, keep warm before, during, and after nursing.

[Tellera]

Thank you for the encouragement! I do worry in the back of my mind about nursing a future babe. I just don't know if I could go through this with a new babe who nurses 24/7!

But it sounds like just because I have it now doesn't mean I'll have it again.

I will look into B vit supplements, that is promising.

I will also talk to my midwife about nipple damage at my 6 mos. postpartum. I am concerned about this a little, the first three weeks were REALLY REALLY bad. Now, if DH even tries to touch them I feel like hitting him it is such an irritating feeling.

Is there some medical way of checking for nerve damage?

[3girls1boy]

I experienced this with my last 2 (out of 4) babies. With baby #3, it just went away on its own after about 4 months. With baby #4, after experiencing pain for 6 months, I went to see an LC who recommended I take Evening Primrose Oil. Alot--12 capsules a day--but I felt much better after about a week. I had to continue to take it for 6 weeks and then wean down for a couple more weeks. In the year following, I would get the blanching and the pain every once in a while (I think it was connected with ovulation at that point), but a few days back on the Evening Primrose Oil got me feeling better.

You can also take fish oil instead. There is a paper by two Austrailian LCs somewhere on the web (I hope it's still there) which describes this treatment.

[BinahYeteirah]

Originally Posted by Tellera

I will also talk to my midwife about nipple damage at my 6 mos. postpartum. I am concerned about this a little, the first three weeks were REALLY REALLY bad. Now, if DH even tries to touch them I feel like hitting him it is such an irritating feeling.

Is there some medical way of checking for nerve damage?

I have no idea if there is any way of checking for nerve damage. I also don't know if your really bad start caused permanent damage (hopefully not). I would say, however, that an aversion to having your breasts touched is not a sign of damage, afaik. Many women feel "touched out" or feel that their breasts are non-sexual while nursing, even if they liked breast play before. That part sounds totally normal to me.

[Tellera]

Thank you for the additional responses. It is nice to hear from folks who've BTDT.