We've had a rough couple of weeks nursing! After a pretty successful and easy 13 months of nursing Bekah, this has been a difficult surprise for me!
When Sofie was about a week old she was having trouble on the right side - she was chopping away instead of sucking peacefully... After a visit to the lactation consultant and some increased focus on my part, things improved greatly.
Fast forward 7 week...
OUCH. That right side was not only painful during feedings, it was stabbing and throbbing and aching all day long. Between the pediatrician, the OB's nurse (via phone), another lactation consultant (via phone) and my own little research we decided I probably had a plugged duct and perhaps even thrush way up in the ducts. I had 2 weeks of medication for thrush (finished today) and started home remedies (probiotics, AZO Yeast, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Coconut Oil, sun...).
I also got lots of advice from websites, friends, and La Leche League ladies. I figured, why keep all this to myself? So, in case you're in need of a little breastfeeding encouragement (it's still not awesome here, but definitely survivable now - and still improving), know someone who is, or have more tips to share - please enjoy :)
- Start on the "bad" side when the baby is the most alert and focused
- Hold the baby as if she's on the "good" side while on the "bad" side
- Swaddle the baby to keep those hands out of the equation
- Grow another two hands (okay, not really... but I'm pretty sure that would be so helpful!)
- Be diligent about a good latch
- To figure out what a good latch is, watch Dr. Newman videos on you tube
- Go in a quiet, darkish room
- Pull down the chin to help get the mouth wider
- Talk with (and schedule an appointment - ours is tomorrow) a pediatric physical therapist to see if there could be any muscular issues you can be working on
- Call the LaLeche League or a Lactation Consultant (or both)
- Be persistent in your calling and research - even when it seems that no one wants to handle the problem, you can find someone, you just have to keep looking
- Have daddy keep the baby for a night so you can just get some alone time with sleep! I promise that the baby will be much cuter and you'll be much more ready to tackle the problem the next morning
- Figure out if you have yeast problems or plugged ducts or mastitis - information from LLL or Newman or kellymom is very helpful and easy to read
- Try everything and then try again
- Use a nipple shield if it's just too painful
- Have a friend who's a nurse and ask her advise - she's got good tips!
- Get APNO prescription from a compounding pharmacy
- Have another friend who's had 6 babies all with different nursing skills and abilities, successes and let downs (even better if she's a nurse too!) and get all the advice you can
- Pump the full, "bad" side to be sure it's all cleaned out
- Don't be afraid to find an answer if you want to, but if you don't (or can't) you don't have to keep going. Killing yourself over nursing isn't going to do any good for anyone - do only as much as you can handle
- Take time off of household duties and only worry about feeding baby
- Find the most comfortable spot to nurse, find as many pillows as you need, and stick with that spot when you figure it out
And I'm guessing I can get this list longer and longer as I continue to work with Sofie and hear from others too.
I'm praying that we will get over this hurdle and be able to continue breastfeeding (hopefully with less stress and pain soon).
3 Notes from Others:
Amy,
Sorry you're having troubles and I hope they clear up. I unfortunately had trouble with both my girls. After much soreness, a plugged duct, them losing weight, tears, frustration my husband and I finally decided to switch to forumla. I was heartbroken (especially the second time around after I thought I was so much more prepared). The mother's guilt was thick in my brain for a while, but just remember we all want to do what's best for baby! Good luck.
I feel your pain (literally). :) I had a lot of trouble with Gabriel - It started with a bad latch in the hospital which led to cracking/bleeding which led to mastitis which led to an abscess, which led to me needing to get a drainage tube put in for a couple weeks. Not fun at all! But we made it through and nursed for 19 months. With Gideon it has thankfully been much easier. In the beginning there was one side that he just really struggled to latch on to, so I often ended up pumping that side. Now he's a pro though and will not be intimidated by either side. :) Hang in there, I'm sure it'll get better soon!
Yikes! Hope everything is going better. Had similar troubles with my littlest one (born 4/2011). These are all good suggestions. My lactation consultant also helped me with some semi-reclined nursing positions (I think it's called "biological nurturing") that helped a lot. She also had me try mupirocin rather than APNO. Mupirocin is one of the ingredients in APNO. It was very effective by itself and can be prescribed at any pharmacy, not just a compounding one (which makes it cheaper too), so it's worth asking your dr. or LC.
Let me know if you've figured out how to grow two hands. I could really use them! :)
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