Raynaud’s Syndrome
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Infant/toddler feeding
Forum Description: From breast/bottle feeding and starting solids, to fussy toddlers, discuss it here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29321
Printed Date: 14 June 2025 at 7:53pm
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Topic: Raynaud’s Syndrome
Posted By: mamanee
Subject: Raynaud’s Syndrome
Date Posted: 13 October 2009 at 12:19pm
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After a long discussion with my midwife and some research into it, she and I have decided that I most likely have this.
"This condition is an intermittent decreased blood flow to certain areas of the body (most commonly fingers or toes), but it may affect the nipples as well, particularly in nursing women. Raynaud's is nine times more prevalent in women than men. Estimates are that up to 20% of healthy women ages 21-50 may be affected. However, most women--and many physicians--are not aware that Raynaud's may affect the nipples. The good news is that this is generally treatable. Because the breast pain associated with Raynaud's phenomenon is so severe and throbbing, and the awareness of this condition is relatively low, it is often inappropriately mistaken for a yeast infection of the nipples. Symptoms may also occur during pregnancy. Treatment options include preventing or minimizing cold exposure, avoiding substances such as vasoconstrictive drugs or nicotine, and medical therapy. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker (available by prescription only), has been used to treat Raynaud's phenomenon because of its prompt vasodilatory effects. Very little of the medication can be demonstrated in breast milk and thus it is believed to be safe for breastfed babies. Some lactation specialists recommend Vitamin B6 therapy (150-200 mg/day once a day for four days, followed by 25 mg/day once a day), which has shown to work in some cases after a few days, although there is no scientific evidence to support it." My midwife is going to chat to my GP about possibly getting me a prescription for Nifedipine for after the baby is born to try and help with this. I didn't even realise this is what happened to me last time with Sam and I had so many people say that the pain I was experiencing was caused by improper latch. So, hopefully I can breastfeed this time!! I am really really happy about this Has anyone else suffered from this? |
Replies:
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 13 October 2009 at 2:16pm
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Not personally but there seems to be quite a few women over on TNN who suffer from it. (See for example http://thenappynetwork.org.nz/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40138&highlight=raynauds - this thread and http://thenappynetwork.org.nz/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=56632&highlight=raynauds - this thread .)
Unfortunately (according to http://www.medsafe.govt.nz - Medsafe ) Nifedipine isn't suitable to take when breastfeeding, which kinda defeats the purpose  (plus there are side effects like headaches, nausea, tiredness, flushing, swollen ankles).
I have heard that keeping your boobs warm really helps - time to get yourself some of those possum fur nipple warmers! One of my friends who suffers from it got her mum to make her little boob shaped wheatbags to pop in her bras. There's a story about Raynauds on http://ibreastfed.com/2009/01/my-struggle-with-nipple-vasospasm-lilys-story - ibreastfed.com too, and an article on http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html - kellymom (as always), that talks about other causes of vasospasm as well, including poor latch, and gives some treatment options. Good luck! spelling edit ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 13 October 2009 at 2:33pm
Ooh yay for being able to BF! Definately invest in a wheat bag though, the heat helps SO much with pain. And since you're having a spring/summer baby the cold should be less of an issue as well 
Well, I'll have to look very closely at my nipples next time they start playing up. If they go white I'll phone my GP. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 13 October 2009 at 2:40pm
a friend had a mild version of this and her MW got her to use a hairdryer on the low setting to dry (and warm) her nipples after a feed  .-------------   
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 13 October 2009 at 2:43pm
Haha! I've done that before, but I wasn't preg or BFing. I was just really cold, so my nipples went off and I just happened to be drying my hair at the time  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: SusanA
Date Posted: 15 October 2009 at 12:21pm
Hi, I have experienced this with my second bubba and it really is horrible! My Mum has had it too, and found that the headaches the medication caused weren't worth taking it. My Mum was told by a specialist that it normally goes by the time bubba is between 2-3 months, unfortunately for me my bubba was 6 months before it went 
Things I found that helped *Try avoid temperature extremes- if going into a colder part of the house or outside, take something to keep your boobs warm! * Have a hottie or a wheat bag handy for straight after feeding * If you can, try heat bathroom or towels or clothing up for after showering or have a hottie ready. I found hoping out of a hot shower into a cold bathroom bad. * Woollen breastpads are meant to be great I wee while ago I saw on the Breastmates website breastpads specifically made for Raynaud's sufferers. Hope that helps, if I remember anything else that helps I will pop back. All the best with feeding  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BerryBliss
Date Posted: 15 October 2009 at 7:56pm
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wow i have a mild case of this and so did not know it could effect BF wounder if this contributed to me not being able to BF my boys??? ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 1999 DS 2003 DS 2006 DD 2009 |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:01pm
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I had it with both and really struggled to feed both. I found if I put a warm wheat sack on it helped, cloth breast pads from early in pg also helped as I had it the whole way through. When i got up to feed in the night I would wrap a microfleece blanket around my chest straight after feeding and that was the only way I could get back to sleep. The pain would last almost till the next feed, and after 5 months of being in constant pain finally gave up feeding -------------  
 
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Posted By: whitewave
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 10:13pm
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Wow, I'm pretty sure I get Raynaud's in my fingers during winter, but I did not know you could get it in your nipples! Ouchy ouchy, its bad enough in your fingers!
Hopefully with warmer weather coming, it won't be too much of a problem for you. |
Posted By: Hannah267908
Date Posted: 08 July 2021 at 12:25pm
| Can Raynaud’s Syndrome be treatable by magnetic therapy? I heave heard that magnetic therapy can be good for headache etc. i found this article https://www.biomag.co.uk/white-fingers-raynauds-syndrome/" rel="nofollow - https://www.biomag.co.uk/white-fingers-raynauds-syndrome/ , but I am not sure if it isn't just some marketing move, do you have any experiences with that? |