Kelly, I know in my hospital we don't sterilise anything anymore. Warm soapy water and drip dry, thats for all pump equipment and bottles. I think the World Health Organisation came out with new research that all the sterilising wasn't necessary. I have a pump and i don't even have a steriliser - I just do the above.
Oh Janine - i was cringing with sympathy pain. You poor love. Do whatever is best for you.
I too am wondering when the nipple pain will go away. My nipple pain is ramped up at the moment because my baby Lucifer will not sleep. She is still feeding hourly I have no idea why. I have become slightly snappish of late with DH baring the brunt of my attacks!
I did take her for her 4 week weigh in - she has put on 1.1kg from birth. I was happy with that.
Taurean - i have tried expressing post feeds and get nothing pretty much. I think maybe i need to pump more to produce more - hard when she will only settle on my chest.
Whats with all the boobie issues?? You think that for something that is supposedly so natural, we wouldn't be having so many problems.
I have been keeping quiet on my issue, as it isn't as big as some of your issues. I really feel for you all.
But it seems like my supply is dwindling, and I can't make enough for more than 1 feed a day. I'm expressing for half an hour to get as much out of each boob as possible, but I have gone from 100 mls plus (give or take) each express to 50 mls... I can for the first express of the day get up to 80mls.
Ava is up to drinking 150mls each feed, and its just too much for me to keep up with. I was topping up with formula and now I'm using formula and doing 1 feed of EBM a day now. I was hoping for at least the first 6 wks I would be able to EBM feed Ava, but I'm struggling to keep up and trying to get ahead is now just a dream.
But Ava is happy and healthy and thriving, so I can't complain too much. And like I said before, my issue is really a non-issue compared to what some of you are going through.
On a seperate note, was watching the new ep of ghost whisperer this morning. Catching up on my programs...
So she gave birth to a bub and it latched straight away with no issues.... no wonder we all think that BF'ing is supposed to be the easiest thing in the world! Makes me so mad and frustrated, when Ava wasn't interested at all from the get-go.
Big non booby squishy hugs to you all. (don't wanna hurt the sore boobies y'all have).
Well we are the broken boobs brigade, aren't we?! It's quite unbelievable really but at least we can all share the pain and advice.
Janine - keep an eye on your symptoms hon. Sounds exactly like what I had which was severe thrush and a staph infection. I really feel for you. The thrush was causing the shooting pain though. Actually, the thrush was causing most my symptoms which are exactly what you have described. I'd be getting yet another opinion if I was you. Izzy and I are both taking probiotic supplements (me tablets and Izzy has powder in one bottle each day) and Izzy still has Nilstat drops 4 times a day and I have just finished my third Diflucan tablet (one tablet every second day for three tablets only). I did get doctors and my lac consultants approval to do this but it's a very normal remedy for breast thrush. I think (and hope!) that it's finally working now. I'm eating lots of really good yoghurt too for the extra good bacteria. Good luck honey and hang in there.
Kosi - I agree! Damn TV shows that make BF look easy. My god it is far from it! Give me labour any day!! Glad to hear Ava is thriving though but such a bugger about your supply.
Sanchez - big hugs honey. At least I'm getting decent breaks in between feeds (besides Izzy's two random days this week) so I can express. You really are doing it tough. Have you tried formula tops ups to give your boobs a rest and give yourself time to express? Izzy is having a formula bottle each day (as recommended by both my lac consultant and health nurse) and she loves it. We are using S26 Gold. I still have bloody nipple pain too. All this talk of 'breastfeeding shouldn't hurt' is a load of crap!!! Everyone I've spoken too lately said they experienced a lot of pain initially too!! So I think it is normal but it really doesn't make you want to stick with it, hey?!
Kelly - hope you're feeling better hon, sounds like it. With regards to sterilising - nope, we aren't either. Both my lac consultant and health nurse said it's no longer necessary and a waste of time. Like Sanchez, we just use hot soapy water and let them air dry or I use a tea towel if I need them sooner.
Pooley - you're a smart cookie formula feeding. I never thought BF would be so damn difficult!! But I am determined as I have invested so much time and energy into it now (not to mention $$$!) so I'll keep trying for a bit longer at least. I think we'll hire our pump for another month and then see where we are at. Frazer is doing so well, you must be wrapped! He's almost twice the size of Izzy!!
Hi Art, Nicola, Sangie, PB and who ever else I've missed.
Us - we are back to the drawing board as Izzy has only gained 100gms this week I had been trying to cut back on her comp feeds since Sunday and obviously it didn't agree with her so after speaking to my LC today, we are back to the original plan - 10-15 mins on each side then a top of EBM and feeding three hourly. Bugger!!! I'm disappointed but not really upset this time as I know she will gain weight with the comp feeds. I guess I also know what to expect and know I'll be permantely attached to the couch so I'm inviting someone over each day for the next week so I at least have some contact with the outside world as the process definitely doesn't allow much time to leave the house. Wish me luck
Oh, a positive comes from all this though as my LC doesn't think Izzy has colic, she reckons she has just been hungry which makes perfect sense as her unsettled times coincide with the drop in comp feeds. The LC reckons she'll be back to her settled self in no time and judging from today, she's right.
I'm off to bed to get some rest while I can. DH is getting up with us throughout the night to give Izzy her comp feeds while I express. I wouldn't normally express through the night but I want to get a really good start on this process again so we'll do the 'overtime' tonight.
Have a great weekend girls and I that all our boobies, BF and weight gain issues are resolved soon.
Taurean....I have held out giving her formula....not that she would take it anyway she just goes mental when I put a teat in her mouth (tried with EBM). My pain is coming from her not obviously getting enough milk and using my nipples as a pacifier. Today she has been perfect....so much so we were able to do a day trip to the gold coast. I have been drinking this gastly barley water & fennel seed concoction my mum read about to boost supply and i have been pumping for 20 minutes post each feed.....today i can notice a huge difference - she is sleeping and feeding better, my boobs are full quicker....i feel like i have a new baby today....... she stays like this..... the milk stays.....! You and Izzy have been from piller to post haven't you? Sounds like you have a lot of support people around you helping to rectify all the issues that pop up...you'll get there in the end...we all will x
Hi All! I've been a bit MIA this week as Lottie and I have been out and about most of the week socialising, lol . Now that I'm pretty much bottle feeding EBM and Formula the preassure has been off and I'm enjoying motherhood even more. She's still sleeping like an angel and I'm starting to get into a routine of a 10.30 or 11pm feed so we can try dream feeding at some stage. She usually goes through until 4am and is down within half an hour then up again at 7 and DH does that feed, bless him.
Taurean - I am so with you on all of your issues. Basically Charlotte is only having one bottle of EBM a day now as my supply is dropping off again (I'm weaning off the meds and herbs now as I've given it a great shot but happy to let nature take its course). I'm popping her on my right breast (the left has totally dried up) for about 15 mins and she drains it then giving her the formula or anything I managed to express during the day to top her up. I think my supply will probably dry up in the next week or so anyway. She's having 120ml to 180ml of formula at a time.
I'll bet you feel like a cow sitting there all day.. I know exactly how you feel! A GF got me a stuffed cow toy as a joke to remember this time.. its good to be able to sort of laugh about it..
I hope your infections clear up soon!
Kelly - 6 week jabs, ouch! Lotties are next monday. We're off to Noosa for a week so I want to make sure she's had her first lot before we hop on the plane. How is the breast infection?
Sorry I haven't written too many personals. I hope everyone is going well. It sounds like the majority of us have had BF issues.. and its def not fair TV makes it look so easy!
PB, Charlotte is adorable! It sounds like Amelia is about the same as her sleepwise.
I am amazed at all the BF issues! It certainly isn't the most natural thing is it! I have no idea what I would do if I was faced with pain/low suppy/low weight gain. Breastfeeding is so much more convenient than mixing formula but the baby days are over so quickly and I wouldn't want to waste them stressing over milk problems. I am glad that I haven't had any issues (touch wood), although after hearing how quickly Kelly was knocked down by mastitis it has been in my mind every time I get a little twinge in the boobs lol
Sorry no personals, it is nearly 11pm here and I have just put A to bed and should go too.
I had been trying to cut back on her comp feeds since Sunday and obviously it didn't agree with her so after speaking to my LC today, we are back to the original plan - 10-15 mins on each side then a top of EBM and feeding three hourly. Bugger!!! I'm disappointed but not really upset this time as I know she will gain weight with the comp feeds. I guess I also know what to expect and know I'll be permantely attached to the couch so I'm inviting someone over each day for the next week so I at least have some contact with the outside world as the process definitely doesn't allow much time to leave the house. Wish me luck
that all our boobies, BF and weight gain issues are resolved soon.
Sounds like you have a lot of support people around you helping to rectify all the issues that pop up...you'll get there in the end...we all will x
. Now that I'm pretty much bottle feeding EBM and Formula the preassure has been off and I'm enjoying motherhood even more. She's still sleeping like an angel and I'm starting to get into a routine of a 10.30 or 11pm feed so we can try dream feeding at some stage. She usually goes through until 4am and is down within half an hour then up again at 7 and DH does that feed, bless him. 
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