Vasospasm?

kas80

I had thrush a few weeks back and kept thinking that maybe it came back but I saw a link for vasospasm and nipple blanching that someone posted a few days back, so now I'm wondering if that's my issue.

LO's initial latch sometimes hurts but then she/I adjust and feeding her doesn't hurt at all, it's not even uncomfortable but then when she releases my nipple it will be completely white and a few minutes later it starts burning/stinging and that will last about a half hour.  My nipples also burn/sting when I get cold.  From what I was reading this sounds more like vasospasms.  Has anyone had this issue and in you guys's opinion is this what it sounds like or should we start another round of thrush treatment?  Or do you think maybe it is a latch issue and we should go back to the LC?

If it is vasospams- any ideas on how to get some relief?  Does it ever resolve itself?

crysmike

There are 2 kinds of vasospasms:
1. The first kind is when the nip is white when the baby unlatches, and
2. The other is when the nip turns white after the baby stops nursing. Kellymom has some info on it. https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

If it's #1, see a LC to work on your latch.
If it's #2, supplements can help.

Either way, keeping the nip warm, rubbing it, and taking ibuprofen if it's really bad can help. HTH!

jigglyjelloo

I had vasospasm and and my symptoms were very similar.  My nipples were very sensitive to cold.  The LC kept telling me to put the gel soothies that had been in the fridge on my nipples to sooth them, and this cause me sooo much pain.  My LO is also a Dec baby, so going outside when it was cold caused a lot of pain as well.  I went to my OB and asked for the meds to treat it (procardia is the brand name of the drug...can't remember the generic) and within 2 days of taking the meds I was pain free.  I took the meds for a 2 week course and generally that 'cures' it, but occasionally some moms need to take a 2nd course.  The dosage I used was 30mg.

msdonnas

I agree with pp. If it is #1 go to a lc. I have 2 and I get the white nipple with blue fade randomly, not just when nursing. There is a prescription that has a good track record that I got but never used because it got better. I took a ton of pain killers though. I started taking magnesium, calcium and primrose oil and after 6 weeks it got better. I know that seems like forever, or at least to me it did because I was literally in tears every day, but now I have very mild pain.

kas80

I think I have both- is that possible?  Sometimes they are white when the nipple is released but they also turn white at other times- like when they get cold.  We've been battling shallow latch issues since LO was born- at one point we had to EP for 2 weeks due to the damage it caused- but I really thought we had conquered that since the pain during is gone and when my nipple is released aside from being white it's not creased or compressed at all.  It's round and extended.

Hmmm.  The LC is free for me (included with my health plan) so I'll go back in and see her just in case.  At this point I take 2 advil everyday and I'd love to wean myself off of that so I'm not having to do it until she weans.