Since becoming pregnant my nipples have a TERRIBLE burning sensation. This mainly only occurs when I have come in from outside, or I get cold chills, etc.

A friend directed me here to the Raynaud's Phenomenom after asking if my nipples turned white while burning. I hadn't given it much look, but they do infact turn a whitish color while they are burning.

They burn anywhere from 2 minutes - 40 minutes. It has brought tears to my eyes several times.

When I brought this up to my Drs, both of them kind of just blew it off. I even told one of my Drs about the information I found and think I have Raynaud's. She doesn't believe that, but thinks it just part of pregnancy, and it will get better when I nurse. Ugh....

In the meantime though, here I sit in AGONY at times!! I was wondering if using the treatment suggested of B6 could be harmful to my baby?? Or if I should just tough it out????

Thank you in advance,
Mandie

Hi Mandie,

Vitamin B6 is beneficial to you during pregnancy. It helps you to metabolize fats. Here is information on Vit B6

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminB6/

and

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancynutrition/666.html

The recommended amounts to treat Raynaud's Phenomenon are higher than the recommended amounts during pregnancy. Start with the recommended amounts during pregnancy and see how you do and report back to me.

Warmest regards,

Lenore,

Thank you for your information. I somehow got side-tracked at work, and wasn't able to get back here until now.

I purchased some B6 yesteday, and was surprsied to read that it is not to be used by pregnant women or lactating women. This REALLY confused me!!! I purchased 100 mg B6, and figured that would be okay??? Did I buy the wrong kind??

Thanks for these references!! I saw on WebMD that B6 was suggested for carpel tunnel (which I have had in my arms/hands since thi pregnancy) in pregnancy, so I assumed that the B6 was actually OK to take. Now the bottle is confusing me.

Thanks again for the info ~ and anything else you have to add here <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mandie

Mandie everything says if you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult a physician. B6 is fine. Follow Lenores recommendation, it is fine.

Hi Mandie,

Vit B6 is fine during pregnancy but 100mg is a bit high. Have a look at the webpages I mentioned in my post above this one for recommended dosages.

Warmest regards,

Well, it somewhat confuses me. It says like a dose of 1.9, but how on earth can you find that amount? The lowest I think I have found is like 25mg.

Also, on the webpage (http://www.asklenore.info/breastfeeding/raynaud.html) it says :
* Vitamin B6. This has shown to work by trial and error, but it does seem to work. There is no scientific evidence that it works, but it does nevertheless. It is safe and will do no harm. The dose is 150-200 mg/day once a day for four days, followed by 25 mg/day once a day. The mother continues it until she is pain free for a few weeks. It can be restarted if necessary. If the pain resolves with the larger dose but returns with the smaller dose, you can go back to the higher dose. If you have been pain free for a week or two, try going off the vitamin B6. If vitamin B6 does not work within a few days, it probably won't.

So I guess I'm REALLY confused. I would assume I'd need to take 150 - 200mg/day for 4 days, and then drop down to 25mg/day until pain free for a few weeks.

Sorry I'm just soo confused, but I REALLY want to get this worked out. My Dr doesn't want to believe it's Raynaud's, even though I KNOW it must be. What else could it be, if the nipples turn white, and then BURN like you wouldn't believe. I don't know how much of it I can handle..
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Thanks so much!

Hi Mandie,

How many weeks along are you at this point? I want to check this out with an expert and get back to you.

Warmest regards,

Lenore ~

Thank you SO much for all your time and help with this. It just frustrates me because NO ONE else it seems has had this problem, so why me? Why do I have to sit holding my breasts crying from the burning sensation. It worries me that I will have a hard time breastfeeding.

Any way, I am 30 weeks. I REALLY appreciate your help. At least you are trying to help me, when my Dr. unfortuantely didn't believe it could be Raynaud's. She just said it was a part of pregnancy, and when I started nursing it would actually help them. Ugh!!!

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, I only get on the net on weekdays.

Thanks a million!
Mandie

Hi Mandie,

If you're 30 weeks already, the best thing is to try to tough it out until your baby is born. Then you can try the Vit B6 at the recommended dosage and if that doesn't help, ask your MD for Nefedipine which Dr. Newman recommends and can be taken while breastfeeding.

Warmest regards,

Thank you Lenore. I will use your recommendation and try and tough it out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I know I can, I know I can!!!

Oops, I forgot to login! That previous post was from me! Thanks again Lenore!!

Mandie

That a girl!! Keep us posted on your progress ok? And be sure to get hold of an international board certified lactation consultant to assist you with breastfeeding. You can fine one here www.iblce.org Just click on the "about IBLCE" button and the US and International registries pop up.

The IBCLC will help you to latch your baby so that you can minimize your pain. Remember, babies latch PAST the nipple so they are well and truly onto the breast.

Good luck! Can't wait to hear your birth story.

Warmest regards,