Today I’d like to hear from anyone that has experienced Raynaud’s, Vasospasm, or Chilled Nipple Syndrome….. Any comments you’d like to share, as so many women have this undiagnosed and just think it’s painful breastfeeding. When did you find out, and how did things go for you?
The following is shared comments from women on our Facebook page How to know if you have Raynauds
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Winter makes it worse due to the cold so keep the nips warm with merino or insulated breastpads. Nifedipine prescription helps to open the blood vessels. Warmth is your friend – contrary to most other bfing tips about putting cold gel pads on, I cringe remembering that pain. Go to Waikato Family Centre if you’re local too. It can get better, I promise!
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I got Raynaud’s with my last bubba. The lactation specialist at Waikato thinks it probably came about from the damage done to my nipples when I tried to breastfeed my previous baby who had a really bad tongue tie which feeding him pretty much shredded my nipples. With the Raynaud’s I had to stay indoors, used thermal/wool breast pads and painkillers. managed to express but feeding baby was too painful (didn’t help she was in nicu). Ended up not being able to breastfeed 😢
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I found warm clothes and not exposing to cool air so always had heater on while feeding/ in a warm room helped. Slight squeeze after feeds eased the pain slightly. Interesting enough I did find out my father used to get Raynaud’s in his hands too- not sure if that’s related.
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Mine wasn’t diagnosed but it fit all the descriptions of vasospasm’s only on one side. Was very painful for months each feed but then it came mostly right, that side is more sensitive. When i was pregnant with #2, #1 was still having a couple feeds a day and i would get the most incredible pain in my boobs when it was cold, i couldn’t breath and would be on the verge of tears from it
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I had it and self-diagnosed with my own research. We got through it, though it was hardest with my first child. I think it was more manageable with my third child who settled into breastfeeding through the warm months. Even though my fourth was another winter baby I had less occurrences. I fed all 4 of my babies for at least 12 months. Heat packs were my friends!
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How to know if you have Raynauds? I googled it and went to a doctor and told them that’s what I thought it was. (I was hoping to confirm it wasn’t mastitis) They said it wasn’t raynards but to go to a lactation consultant for latching. I was planning on this anyway and she said it was raynards. Keeping them warm and greying to make sure he wasn’t just sucking on the tip has helped.
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Gotta keep warm. I found warmth and light pressure when it flared up worked. Buy some wool breast pads to keep super toasty.
Didn’t help having a winter baby
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Recommend wool breast pads (reusable too which is nice) and a wheat bag post feed. It’s a good idea to get bubs checked for tongue tie as that makes it even worse. It passes…eventually, so be super kind to yourself 😊
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I got told I had Raynaud’s- they gave me vitamins (vitamin d I think 🤷♀️) and advised keeping warm and using wool breast pads. Got told by a lactation consultant. I don’t think the vitamins helped that much and feeding just got easier as time went on 🤷♀️
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Keep your breasts warm! Super hard with winter babies 👶
Then hold them tight and get warm if it strikes. Getting out of the shower was hard for me.
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I knew I had Raynaud’s, and when I got pregnant the symptoms moved from my fingers to my nipples. So painful! My husband bought me some possum fur nipple warmers 😂 I went to a lactation consultant before bubs was born so l knew how to latch on properly etc. I was all ready to fight for vaso-dilator drugs if I had any pain, but I got lucky. The Raynaud’s disappeared completely when I gave birth and it hasn’t come back!
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Its horrible, I was thankful for a summer baby, I had latching challenges with both mine and the Raynaud’s made it feel like it could be impossible, but nipple shields helped with both while feeding and Breastmates warmer breast pads….I ended up feeding both my children for 15months each and I think it sort of cured it! I don’t have to fold my arms over my boobs in the chiller section in the supermarket anymore 😂❄🤣❄
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Found out when had feeding trouble yet again with baby number 2! Lactation consultant diagnosed when getting tongue and lip ties lasered. First baby never was able to breastfeed, second baby did manage to do it but due to this condition I could only manage to do 2 feeds a day to manage the damage she could do as I didn’t have sensation. I didn’t have any luck with warm, cold, wet, dry or anything. I already take some breastfeeding vitamins and wasn’t keen to add in more medication. I’m now exclusively expressing and just used to the let down and random stabbing pain, although the random pain when not pumping has reduced now at 4 months. My freemie pump can also be set to any level of suction and speed and so I have it customised to being comfortable.
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If you need to take nifedipine, make sure you get the slow release pills and be strict about taking them the same time every day. Make a real effort to stay warm. Some small wheat bags, pour a little bit of rice in each sock, knot the top and cut off the excess. Pop in your bra straight after feeding.
Nifedipine takes a while to kick in, but once it does, pain free breastfeeding! Took 17 weeks to get there with baby number 1, took a long time to get diagnosed. Had a prescription ready to start taking as soon as number 2 was born, and pain free feeding after a couple of weeks.
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I got hold of some breast warmer pads. They were like hyperthermia blankets for you boob lol. Helped keep a constant warm temp in cooler months.
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I didn’t realise that’s what I had until #3 😂 for me in eased after a few months of bf… Then only happened sporadically, usually if it was cold
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How to know if you have Raynauds? Well for me, my 1st child it was misdiagnosed as thrush repeatedly, his little nose breathing air on my breast hurt and made it a difficult experience, I found pumping and bottle feeding best. Change of temperature was excruciating, had to wear a baby blanket across my chest to go outside and hang washing. Number 2 baby the blood pressure meds for 2 weeks fixed it! Number 3 I felt it happening in pregnancy, but was already on blood pressure meds so couldn’t take the ones that worked to cure it, bought some oven mit type material breast pads, which reflected my body heat back into my breast, was magic till I was able to take the nifedipine (blood pressure meds).
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I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s after my twins were born, by my L.C. I’ve had it in my fingers and toes all my life, just didn’t know it. Extremely painful breastfeeding but didn’t take any medication other than I ibuprofen for the pain. Had it the whole nine months I fed the twins, although at times it was too painful, and I gave them ebm in bottles. I found wee heated wheatie packs very helpful, and a down vest to keep everything warm made a real difference. Strangely enough it disappeared after breastfeeding but I got a random reoccurrence the other day for no reason!
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I had it with both of my children. It was extremely painful and started within a week or so after they were born. I worked out I had it myself from internet research and a lactation consultant confirmed it. A GP can prescribe a blood pressure medication that can help but I couldn’t take it, so I managed with keeping my breasts warm & trying not to let my nipples get cold. I covered them with my hand straight away before and after feeding. Hugging a hot water bottle before & after feeding helped too. The thing that helped most were the Raynaud’s breast warmers I got from Breastmates after I had my 2nd baby. I even wore them at night in a crop top. Eventually the Raynaud’s resolved itself when my babies were around 6 months old. I managed to continue feed both babies through it with good management and putting up with the pain.
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I’ve always had Raynaud’s syndrome, and despite being a GP, had no idea it could happen to your nipples while breastfeeding until Baby No.1. I was having a hideous time getting breastfeeding established due to a tongue tie, but it wasn’t until the lactation consultant jokingly said “next thing you’ll tell me you have Raynaud’s” that the penny dropped (big time). I survived by getting your wonderful breast warmer breast pads (I swear they saved my life!), a merino breastfeeding singlet, wearing an extra sleeveless fleece when outside and taking Vitamin B6 supplements. Now if any of my patients come to me with Raynaud’s, I make sure to warn them (if they haven’t had kids) and treat and support those who do have it while breastfeeding, including unashamedly sending them online to get these: https://www.breastmates.co.nz/raynauds-breastwarmers
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About 2 1/2 months after baby number 1 was born the lactation consultant decided I must have Raynaud’s as the pain was continuing even after his tongue tie and latch were corrected, but she didn’t have much advice other than to keep warm – luckily it was coming into summer and it slowly improved. It was hideous with baby number 2 as it was winter and I also had mastitis twice – nifedipine and wool breast pads helped a little bit but it improved about 2 or 3 weeks after her latch improved (so when she was about 2 months old) so a new lactation consultant decided it was actually vasospasm rather than Raynaud’s. There is a website called summer warmth which has some practical tips.
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How to know if you have Raynauds – thanks for sharing your comments
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Yep it sucks! It has to do with circulation as far as I’m aware so drinking ginger tea can help. There are herbal tonics that can help too from what I’ve been told.
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Hello, I am a trained breastfeeding peer supporter, I also have Raynaud’s phenomenon and would like to offer some tips on managing Raynaud’s/vasospasm while breastfeeding. First identifying the cause can be helpful, Vasospasm can be caused by nipple trauma such as incorrect latch or thrush so can be fixed.
Some ways to help the symptoms/pain are to not let your nipples air dry, after feeding or before hopping out of shower, immediately apply a warm dry compress or warm hand until bra is on, warming olive oil in your hand then massaging it into the nipples when experiencing pain can be helpful.
If none of this helps you can ask your doctor about an all-purpose nipple cream with ibuprofen mixed in or as a last resort ask your doctor about nifedipine, a drug used for hypertension, once a day use for two weeks can take away the pain of vasospasm
