Blanched nipples

Ok - So first sorry that I ask SO many questions but where else can you get real answers!!

Since very early in BFing I have had times where my nipples will try white (think frost-bite).

It happens now after some feedings, almost all pumpings and even when I get out of the shower sometimes. My nipples look normal then a few minutes later turn white and when they turn back to normal color are painful. It isn't unbearable but I have noticed now that I think it might be happening when I get cold outside (either that our I have let-downs walking around outside). It has been happening less often but more painful lately which is why I thought I would ask.

Anyone else have this?

I also am loosing a TON of hair....is that normal too??? I feel like the punches keep coming!

 

No idea about the nipples but the hair loss is normal.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/hairloss.html

explains it nicely!

 

Yes, I always joked that I could knit a sweater with the amount of hair that I lost for a period of time. The good news is that it does stop!! I don't know about the nipples either.. the only thing I know of that turns nipples white is thrush and that is very painful. Check the insides of the babies' mouths too for signs. Thrush looks like milk blisters and is very contagious! Thrush link

 

I have read about blanching as a medical condition, but can't remember now what it's called...Raynaud's syndrome...here's the kellymom link.

 

I have Raynaud's and nursing was painful. My nipple would turn completely white then get color again. Plus it was a very cold November/December, which added to my misery. It's a circulatory problem and most people have cold hands and feet also (DH also complains about that part). Despite years of cold hands/feet, I wasn't diagnosed until the LC saw the white nipples. There is treatment which involves a short dose of something-the-name-of-which-I-cannot-recall. In the end, I wished that I had skipped the treatment. I saw little benefit, but when I went to raise my life insurance, I didn't get the best rates because I was currently being treated for a "disease."

 

I also have Reynaude's syndrome. Yes, it can be painful. Everything you said is what is happening with me (the shower, cold, etc.).

I found that changing my bras helped with the pain. I now wear super soft bras, nothing with a seam in the area of the nipple. It has helped some but the pain never really goes away. It is just more bearable.

My LC said sometimes it can go away, but mine hasn't. You can take blood pressure medication which can help, but I opted not to, since my blood pressure is already low.

I find that if I get a little lazy about making the boys latch well, it gets worse.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of good advice. Try to keep yourself as warm as you can while you are nursing (cold makes it worse, which you already know). Also, when I get out of the shower, I dry my nipples with a really soft handtowel and hold it over my nipples while I dry the rest of my body with another towel. It is a pain to dry off that way, but it helps too.

Good luck!

 

hi, i also had the blanched nipples. In my case, it did go away for me mostly. Occasionally I'll see it again but it's not painful for me now. I also had thrush at the same time so that made it worse. I would plug in a heating pad and put that on as soon as I was done nursing for a few minutes. that helped me. good luck.