I'm thinking about buying FF. I don't have the money for it, so its not going to happen, but the fact that I'm thinking about it tells me I need some help.
Ok, it all started with thrush. Was in pain & went to the chemist on saturday. bought nipple sheilds to get me through & the chemist gave me a cirtisone/anti fungal cream to speed the healing process & get rid of the pain.
Problem 2, I think DD has reflux, so she's in pain alot & feeding quite often through the day. Sometimes every half hour. So because of this the cortisone cream isn't going on as often as suggested, coz I feel there's not enough time for it to stay on & work before I have to wash it off & feed again.
So now, even though I'm trying to keep them dry I have cracks around the sides of my nipples... I'm assuming from them not drying properly before I do my top back up again...
So I'm still using the sheilds, only for every feed now. Things were good yesterday arvo & there was no pain, almost healed, was feeding bare skinned & over night it came back again.
I don't think its attatchment. I can tell the difference in pain when attatchment is wrong, but its wearing me down. I also think its affecting DD using the sheilds. But it could be the reflux. I think she's having to work to hard with the sheilds, so is getting tired & not having a full feed before she's falling asleep... I don't know...
The thrush seems to be gone from her mouth (nilstat), but I can't tell if I still have it, or if its the cracks. I still get itchy when feeding, so I guess its still there. I'm just hoping the sheilds are stopping her getting it again before I've gotten rid of it completely.
I'm trying so hard & feel like I'm doing it all wrong
Why do I have to fight so hard for something that most find so easy???
Ok so nipples are saw..... I had TERRIBLE nipple trouble!
The best thing I ever didn (free too) was stay at home, topless and rub the milk on them;-) , and I favourd one boob to let the other heal and vise versa.
I was in tears most of the time but really I found this to help and to keep feeding....
Hi, there,
The first 6 weeks or so with a new baby are really hard going. Especially when you are in pain.
Firstly, if the shields help make the pain bearable - don't worry at this stage, just use them. I wonder, how often is your little one feeding in 24hrs? It's normal to feed at least 8-12 times in 24 hours - often more. There will be one time of the day or the night (at least) where they feed frequently - often every half hour or so for a few hours. May not necessarily be reflux. What have her wet and dirty nappies been like? Have you had her weighed lately? How did that go? Send me a pm and let me know what creme you have - there might be something better for you. Many mums find their breasts get very full between feeds - sometimes it helps to express a bit of milk at the beginning of the feed to soften them, and that allows them to latch on easier. Sometimes we do everything we can to get attachement right - but it is just a bit of time and growth that helps. You are probably doing better than you realise. It will get better.....soon
it sounds like you've been having a tough time. i hear you on thinking about buying FF & i'm glad you know you need some help & support.
i agree on calling the ABA, call them - let them offer suggestions & let them tell you what a great job you're doing - because you ARE. i know i found the early weeks an absolute nightmare & i didn't have other kids (apart from DH ) to look after.
have you been putting BM on your nipples after a feed? maybe you could do that if it's a stage where you're not getting enough time to put the cream on between feeds?
i reckon at 3 weeks your hormones still haven't settled completely - i'm sure i was still crying in the shower when DS was 4 weeks old & i remember DP asking if id ever have my sense of humour back (cue more crying in the shower!)....so even though you might feel you're doing everything wrong, you're probably doing everything perfectly.
i think you're an amazing mum with 4 LOs to care for & i hope there are people close by giving you as much of a break as possible & telling you in person that you absolutely rock. hang in there hun
Aw, hun, I'm sure it doesn't feel like it, but you're doing so well! You're done this before, so you'll know how rough it can be, but this is different and maybe harder, because you're got all your other LOs who want you too - you're just doing such a great job.
And wanting to flick to formula is a fair enough feeling, so don't beat yourself up about it. It's great that you're wanting to persevere, though ... hopefully you'll get all the support you need from the ladies here
Sorry to hear about the thrush - not good ... but hopefully Barb's suggestions will help clear it up super soon, and Summer won't get it, and you'll be able to continue on as normal soon maybe a silly question - can the thrush get in the nipple shield? as in, do you have to wash or sterilise the nippleshield to make sure the thrush doesn't come back? Either way, I hope it clears up completely super soon.
How long is Summer feeding for, when she's having the frequent feeds? Is she super quick, and gets the hind milk as well, or just foremilk? Or is she using you as a dummy? Or just wanting you?
DS would sometimes suck me and look away etc, and he'd be just as happy with a finger (and now, I let him stand and rest against me, and he'll gum/suck my tummy ... he's more after the contact than the milk iykwim - but of course because he's older, I can be confident that he's had enough milk, and is ready for some playtime ...
and in the first several weeks, we had to use every trick in the book to get him to stay awake long enough to have a proper feed! We'd change his nappy half way through, blow on his face, express milk into his mouth, tickle his ears, toes, tummy, hands, undress him, etc ... it was hard work! but keeping him awake was the only way I could be sure he'd had a full feed, and he'd sleep long enough...
and cracked nipples is so not fun.
What I found helped was I'd express a little extra milk by hand, rub that onto my nipples, let it dry, and then use Lansinoh like it was going out of fashion. And I found cloth breast pads were much gentler than the disposible ones. Cleaning the Lansinoh of them isn't much fun, but it's worth it, because my nipples are still there!
But you're not doing it all wrong - you're doing great.
It's not easy, and you're coping and getting her fed, and hopefully, you'll be able to get some good sleep in not too long, and then everything will seem a lot easier
Big hugs Not much that I can add that hasn't been said, but I agree wth Sloane WRT hormones doing weird & crazy things, and with Barb - you are probably doing much better than you think! It WILL get better. Those early weeks are the hardest.
If things were good yesterday arvo then it sounds as though it's on the mend, even if they did get sore again overnight it's still an improvement. Just give it a bit more time.
More hugs you're doing a great job.
i have lansinoh, have done the ebm on the nipples thing too. using cloth bps.
barb, the 5 minute frequent feeds are all day long. thats not a major issue, its more her unsettledness i'm struggling with & the non stop pain, just wanting to get back to normal
hydrozol is the cream i'm using. sorry, crying baby. going for a walk...
eta - nappies are good & wet, not as much poo though today...
Clover, I can so sympathise hun . You're doing well to keep persisting with BFing when you're in so much pain.
Now my post is probably totally out of left field (... and likely nothing to do with what's really going on. But thought I'd mention it). Does your DD3 have a tongue tie which hasn't been diagnosed?
The reason I'm putting this out there is that DS2 was born with a severe tongue tie. He "seemed" to attach ok (I too knew proper attachment as I BF'd DS1 for 13 months), and DS2 certainly fed well, but I was so sore it was almost unbearable. His tongue couldn't draw on the nipple correctly to get the milk in. And, ultimately, it caused me immense pain on initial attachment. The kind of pain that makes you curl your toes in tight, screw up your face and grind your molars together for two minutes.
Fortunately we took a midwife's advice and had his tongue tie snipped when he was a week old. BFing improved instantly because he could extend his tongue properly. It took another few days for the pain to go away.
Like I said, out of left field but I know a couple of people whose babies weren't diagnosed with tongue tie until they were quite a few months old.
Good luck with it hun, hope you're in considerably less pain soon.
That is exactly the pain I have Andie, but til last week feeding was going great. Not a single issue til last week. So while I can't say no for sure, I don't think so.
We have a gp appointment on Friday to ask about the reflux & I'm getting him to check her over then, so will ask him to check that too.
I will also ring the hossy tomorrow. One of the MWs there is a LC, so I'll see if she's on tomorrow or Friday while I'm in town. I have called the ABA before with DS & noone answered, so didn't think of it this time.
Great idea that you call the hospital. Fingers crossed the MW/LC can see you, but I'm sure she would knowing how much pain you're in.
I think when you long-term BF, like you did with your son and I with my DS1, it's easy to forget that BFing is not always as easy as falling off a log. It's at the back of your mind that you "may" have an issue or two, but when reality hits, it bites.
I really hope your BFing experience improves quickly. All the best xx
I have so many issues in my life right now, that I've been venting left right & centre lately & there's still more I could ask/winge about!
But I think I'll try find one place, let it all out & be done with it, lol. I was just needing the support & advice from all of you to keep going. Even though I'm still having trouble, the fact that she's sleeping (on me, in the sling) makes me think its not as bad as it seems... til next feed!
Best go make a start on dinner, before she wakes... or at least wash up..
I hope you can get some practical assistance soon. The ABA's new helpline is better staffed I think, so you're more likely to get a response (I know I had the same thing happen when DS was little and I tried calling).
On the issues starting last week - did you use any bottles or dummies before then? I know we had problems with DS' attachment after a few bottles very early on. Not certain that was what caused it, but it may have been a contributing factor. We used shields till 11 weeks when everythign finally came good.
You seem to have a lot of stuff going on right now and getting the feedign sorted will definitely help you - if only so there's one less thing to worry about.
All the best
clover. you're doing a wonderful job.
DS1 had thrush too - i never copped it but i was told to treat my nipple with nilstat too - if your DD is feeding often maybe some on the nipple between feeds (and i second the top-less idea too!) that way there is no need to wash it off (less water = drier nipple= crack heals up?) your doing soo well
No, no bottles or dummies til the last 2 days when I've been giving the dummy when she feeds for over an hour. I know its normal to cluster feed, but there have been times when there is nothing left & she really does just need something to suck on. & to try to keep her asleep longer than 5 minutes through the day. It doesn't work great, but its helping my sanity.
Hasn't had a single bottle, just the dummy after it all started.
I feel like I know everything that needs to be done, or can be suggested, but nothings working. I obviously don't though, lol.
We'll get there... I'm too stubborn to quit!
ETA, yep, did the nilstat on nipple. Wasn't working, thats why I ended up at the chemist.
I'll be trying to keep my top off, or at least undone, after play group tomorrow. Will remember to rub the ebm & let it dry at every feed tonight too... oops there goes let down & she's still sleeping!
Reply With Quotecall the ABA??????
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struggling... really, really need support :(
) to look after.
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