The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

hlm184 · May 2014

Think I have thrush... Sitting here in tears while everyone else is asleep... This shit hurts!

macynsnoop · May 2014

@michaelad3 you just described my guys behavior! He gets so insane to latch on that he can't! He started tearing up my right nip, so I'm back on the nipple shield on that side for a while. My guy has been eating every hour and half for a day and a half now. I'm hoping it ends soon!

Dixon813 · May 2014

hlm184 said:
Think I have thrush... Sitting here in tears while everyone else is asleep... This shit hurts!

Oh no! I don't have any advice... Just wanted to send you a hug!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

@holljade your husband probably over fed him. A lot of times people will just give a fussy baby a bottle instead of trying to soothe them other ways. A bottle and a half sounds like way too much milk even if you hadn't just fed him.

The nice things about bf babies is if they need more they nurse more. If he's not getting enough (which is very unlikely) his dirty diapers will drop off. He is probably just helping your body adjust to his needs as he gets bigger.

Holljade · May 2014

@Rrrrrachel‌ I didn't think about over feeding! I'll make sure we discuss the food situation before I leave the house next time- he seems pretty uncomfortable most of the night and spit up more than usual.

After he had the massive spit up he ended up sleeping for four hours, woke up to eat then slept another three, I am feeling more refreshed today, and I'm thinking he is feeling better too, thank goodness.

Emily041285 · May 2014

Does everyone eat and drink water while they nurse each time? I was talking to a friend and she told me I should be to keep my supply going. True?

scarles · May 2014

I'm so proud - after 2 weeks of EPing my LO finally latched for a good 15 minutes!! He just fed off my left side though. Should I pump the right?

jessech89 · May 2014

My LO always feeds off one side only. Sometimes I pump the other side to build a freezer stash but it's not necessary.

scarles · May 2014

Thanks @jessech89‌. I'm just concerned since I've been double pumping. I don't want to get more engorged or get plugged ducts since I'm used to pumping every 3 hours.

fourthnlast · May 2014

Emily041285 said:
Does everyone eat and drink water while they nurse each time? I was talking to a friend and she told me I should be to keep my supply going. True?

Nope. But i do drink a big glass of water after a nursing session.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

I don't think eating and drinking when you nurse is a bad strategy, since remembering to eat in the early days can be tricky, but I don't think it's necessary, either.

snowbound · May 2014

I can hardly get myself coordinated enough to eat/drink while nursing. So I just try and take it all in afterwards.

Emily041285 · May 2014

I don't think I drink enough fluids. That's how the conversation started. Does being dehydrated make a huge difference?

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

It depends who you ask.

Holljade · May 2014

mamrotu73 said:
When A has massive spit-ups, it is normally after DH gave him a whole bottle of pumped milk. I got some slower flow nipples and told him to feed no more than an oz at a time. Like feed an oz, burp, pause a min, and repeat only if he is still hungry instead of feeding a 5 oz bottle all at once.

My bottles are usually 2 or 3 oz sometimes 4 but even so- I've told him to burp, I bet he forgot. Maybe I should write down instructions for him

Good call on the so Flow nipples, I think I only have one (I bought a few different ones) and have been meaning to pick up more but keep forgetting.

charlyp86 · May 2014

Anyone have tips for when I go back to work and have to start pumping to leave milk with daycare? Do you pump at work and then whatever you pump goes to daycare the next day? Or do you use some frozen milk as well? Is using small portions in breast milk bags the best way to do it?

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

The best thing to do is use the freshest milk available first. So ideally send whatever you pump the next day. If you only have frozen milk, send the oldest frozen milk. I always sent mine in bottles, so I would send 3 3-4 ounce bottles a day. Ask you dc provider what they prefer, though. I always sent a little more milk than she typically drank. Often I brought an untouched bottle home and sent it back the next day, but she liked to save up and nurse at night

. I froze excess milk at the end of the week (so whatever I ended up with over and above what I needed for Monday).

I did not pump on weekends but some women find they have a drop off in what they can express on Monday if they don't.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Unless you're consistently getting green frothy poops I wouldn't worry about the green poop. The occasional one is nbd.

thejewelster · May 2014

Green poop alert...
Our lo likely has caught a virus (adenovirus). He has green diarrhea with mucous and trace amounts of blood. He also has mild conjunctivitis. The ped thinks he'll be okay - he's gaining weight (albeit slower than they would like) which is great given the amount coming out the other end. We had to take him to the children's hospital for blood work (sadest thing ever) as a precaution. So, if your lo has any mucous or abnormal poop, tell your doctor and trust your instincts!!!!

ksulli · May 2014

DD1 had green poops for weeks, but not frothy and was otherwise content. Pedi said it was fine and reflected where in her system the most was absorbed.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Yes, going that long without nursing will make for a lot of thin milk!

jessech89 · May 2014

megla said:
Thanks @jessech89‌. I'm just concerned since I've been double pumping. I don't want to get more engorged or get plugged ducts since I'm used to pumping every 3 hours.

Babies are more efficient at getting milk out than pumps so maybe your supply will stay the same. Either way taking out some pumping sessions now that LO can latch will get your supply more in sync with baby's demand. You might feel more engorged but it will pass once supply meets demand.

smashton14th · May 2014

hlm184 said:
Think I have thrush... Sitting here in tears while everyone else is asleep... This shit hurts!

I am sorry you are dealing with that! It is horrible to feel like someone is stabbing you in the nipple over and over again. With my DD i had it once and didn't realize it until i went to a LC and she told me my pain was from thrush. This time around i got it the first week. The pain was so unbearable in my right breast i had to pump that breast. My midwife put me on Diflucan (what i went on the first time) 1 pill every 72 hours for three doses. I got that cleared up. Then a week later when i was 3 weeks i got it again. I think it was because i used the same nipple butter from a few weeks before. It is very easy to get again. So this time an LC told me about an All Purpose Nipple Ointment. That is what i am taking now and it helped within less than 24 hours. Things will get better soon if you get treated ASAP! I feel your pain. If you need anything just PM me.

hlm184 · May 2014

smashton14th said:

Think I have thrush... Sitting here in tears while everyone else is asleep... This shit hurts!
I am sorry you are dealing with that! It is horrible to feel like someone is stabbing you in the nipple over and over again. With my DD i had it once and didn't realize it until i went to a LC and she told me my pain was from thrush. This time around i got it the first week. The pain was so unbearable in my right breast i had to pump that breast. My midwife put me on Diflucan (what i went on the first time) 1 pill every 72 hours for three doses. I got that cleared up. Then a week later when i was 3 weeks i got it again. I think it was because i used the same nipple butter from a few weeks before. It is very easy to get again. So this time an LC told me about an All Purpose Nipple Ointment. That is what i am taking now and it helped within less than 24 hours. Things will get better soon if you get treated ASAP! I feel your pain. If you need anything just PM me.

Thanks! I've got another attack going on right now.

I was able to get to urgent care and got a script for nystatin. I'm going to make an appt with my doctor ASAP next week to get a script for the APNO and meet with the LC... also have gentian violet and grapefruit seed oil extract on order through amazon. And probiotics! Nuking this thing with all I've got because man, the pain!! It's like molten glass being shot through my breast, ugh.

jessech89 · May 2014

LO is 2 weeks old. About 4 or 5 days ago it stopped hurting when she latched on and I was super excited we got this BFing thing down. But today it started hurting again

I've gone back to using the 10 second rule and re latching her if the pain continues but I feel like we're regressing. Are these ups and downs normal?

janice9821 · May 2014

jessech89 said:
LO is 2 weeks old. About 4 or 5 days ago it stopped hurting when she latched on and I was super excited we got this BFing thing down. But today it started hurting again I've gone back to using the 10 second rule and re latching her if the pain continues but I feel like we're regressing. Are these ups and downs normal?

Not sure if it's normal, but it happened to me. Now at five weeks I'm hoping we're good since it's been over a week since it's been painful. Fingers crossed.

Emily041285 · May 2014

I just nip!!!! In a restaurant! It wasn't as bad as I thought if would be.

haziedaze · May 2014

hlm184 said:

smashton14th said:

Think I have thrush... Sitting here in tears while everyone else is asleep... This shit hurts!
I am sorry you are dealing with that! It is horrible to feel like someone is stabbing you in the nipple over and over again. With my DD i had it once and didn't realize it until i went to a LC and she told me my pain was from thrush. This time around i got it the first week. The pain was so unbearable in my right breast i had to pump that breast. My midwife put me on Diflucan (what i went on the first time) 1 pill every 72 hours for three doses. I got that cleared up. Then a week later when i was 3 weeks i got it again. I think it was because i used the same nipple butter from a few weeks before. It is very easy to get again. So this time an LC told me about an All Purpose Nipple Ointment. That is what i am taking now and it helped within less than 24 hours. Things will get better soon if you get treated ASAP! I feel your pain. If you need anything just PM me.

Thanks! I've got another attack going on right now.

I was able to get to urgent care and got a script for nystatin. I'm going to make an appt with my doctor ASAP next week to get a script for the APNO and meet with the LC... also have gentian violet and grapefruit seed oil extract on order through amazon. And probiotics! Nuking this thing with all I've got because man, the pain!! It's like molten glass being shot through my breast, ugh.

Sending so much sympathy your way! We had it BAD last time, I'm blaming the antibiotics and all the antiseptic hand wash, etc in the NICU last time. You can make your own APNO with clotrimazole, 1% hydrocortisone and bacitracin while you wait for the prescription strength stuff. I also used a lot of coconut oil instead of nipple cream because it's a natural antifungal. But yeah, MISERABLE! I wish I had bit the bullet and done GV last time!

Dixon813 · May 2014

What gives?! The last few days DS goes to eat (rooting, mouth open wide, everything he's suppose to do) but won't latch? Literally puts his hands on my boob and pushes himself away while trying to latch. Then he'll start screaming.

Tried burping, calming down before trying again, etc.

Any thoughts/experience? (DS is 2w 6d)

Manda+panda · May 2014

DD has only ever been able to fall asleep either while nursing or in the car. Occasionally, if she was laying on my tummy, I could rub her back and sing her to sleep.

Now, though, she only wants to be nursed to sleep. That's fine. Sometimes annoying, but that's life. But, the last two nights, she will unlatch once she's in a deep sleep, after which I wait fifteen minutes to move her. As always. But, the last two nights, as soon as I move her, she wakes up and screams. Nothing calms her down...except nursing. She refuses her pacifier.

I haven't slept tonight...or yesterday. I'm dead tired. She's been cluster feeding all through the day, she's about to hit her 6 week growth spurt. How can I get her off the boob so I can get some sleep?

Edit: spelling is difficult when using a phone and dead tired.

michaelad3 · May 2014

@Dixon813‌ I don't really have any solutions, but you are not alone. DD is doing this too. I was getting so frustrated. I decided tonight to try side lie, and it is working so well. She latches much easier and seems content. Even though I still haven't really slept, it's better

columbia1 · May 2014

Dixon813 said:
What gives?! The last few days DS goes to eat (rooting, mouth open wide, everything he's suppose to do) but won't latch? Literally puts his hands on my boob and pushes himself away while trying to latch. Then he'll start screaming.

Tried burping, calming down before trying again, etc.

Any thoughts/experience? (DS is 2w 6d)

My son does this all the time. I find it helpful to pick up his hand as soon as he latches and lift it up and over my boob so he's not pushing directly on it. That sometimes will stop him. I've learned that most of the time he doesn't actually want to unlatch and push off from eating, he's just being wriggly. Good luck! I feel like nursing an infant is like wrestling a small animal!

macynsnoop · May 2014

@Dixon813 My guy does this too! He will actually eat fine at first but then will start to do exactly as you described. He normally only does this late in the day, sometimes early I the morning. I don't have an answer as to why they do this, but lately I give up nursing & hubs gives him a bottle of BM. I have tried all the tricks you mentioned as well, nothing has worked to calm him, but he will take the bottle without protest!

khammond3 · May 2014

Please help!!!!

My daughter is 4 weeks old. She has always unlatched during feedings to kind of catch a break bc I have a fast let down, but lately she unlatches like every second then throws a FIT!! Cries and has a melt down then will latch back on and be fine. Any thoughts as to why?

maelic · May 2014

Am I the only one who feels nauseous while breastfeeding? The moment LO latches on and starts sucking I feel nauseated and it lasts pretty much until she's done. I'm totally fine while she's not nursing.

khammond3 · May 2014

Any ideas as to why LO would be squirmy while nursing?? Unlatching, kicking, seeming distracted?

Dixon813 · May 2014

Thanks ladies. It's good to hear I'm not alone.

@macynsnoop‌ yes - we both were so frustrated (I was completely ugly crying) that DH gave a bottle of BM - and no problem.

@MrsStanton87‌ haven't tried while swaddled... We normally strip him down to his diaper, but going to try that next time it's an issue.

ksulli · May 2014

@maelic said:
Am I the only one who feels nauseous while breastfeeding? The moment LO latches on and starts sucking I feel nauseated and it lasts pretty much until she's done. I'm totally fine while she's not nursing.

It has to be hormonal. I have a hormone issue that was found with IF testing that's related to prolactin (the hormone you need to BF) and the meds I was put on needed to be started slowly (1/4 pill and work up in that increment) because of the nausea. That's all I can think of.