Well, I had a talk with DH during my 3:30am pumping session this morning. My nipples are so traumatized. Cracked, greenish scabs, bloody, black and blue, and blistered. I've tried 5 different flange sizes and all the lanolin and olive oils. Nothing is making my pumping experience any less painful. It breaks my heart because I wanted so badly to be successful at BFing, but with no time for my nipples to heal, I'll never get there. And I'm sure as hell not having DD try to relatch on my raw blistered nipples. And EPing is so difficult. Its so hard to keep a schedule with DD and also have to keep a pumping schedule. I'm hooked up to this thing for almost 4 hours a day total. Its causing me a lot of pain and taking away from time I could be snuggling DD. I have about 90 ounces of breast milk frozen, so I think we're going to try and spread that out best we can and still give a bottle of it a day so she's still getting a little bit a day for as long as we can. It's going to be more expensive, but I just can't take the constant nipple pain. Not to mention the rest of my boob(s) hurt all day every day too. Please tell me it'll be ok (even though you've all said it a bajillion times, because I'm finally making the decision and its so hard on me ) any tips on drying up my milk? I just can't wait for some relief. :-<
You are making a good choice. You're feeding your child and she will know how much you love her regardless of how she is fed. Your health, comfort, and sanity is important too. You worked tirelessly and through lots of pain to give your baby breast milk and that's awesome. What a great and selfless thing you did for her! She will do great on formula too!
@MrsSinner402 You are an amazing mom! You have gone above and beyond what many others have done to be able to feed her BM. I'm sorry it hasn't worked out as you wanted, but know that no matter what, you are a great mom.
@MrsSinner402 youre a wonderful mama!! You'll feel so much better and so much less stressed with the switch! And all baby cares about is a full belly! Ive heard tight bras (like two sports bras) and cold to get milk to dry up.. be extra careful in the shower so not to much hot water rains on them
If I wasn't only one week post cs and still healing I would so jump dh. He is just so sexy to me right now! I tried to make out with him tonight but he made me stop because he said we can't do anything.
I also think that if my plan wasn't to lose weight before our next pregnancy, I would start trying right now because #1 sex! #2 I know this squishy newborn stage won't last and I want another one. My kids are dangerous! every time I have one I love them so much that I want another. I'm going to end up with 10 kids at this rate!
Night before last DS would not sleep unless I was holding him, so DH and I decided we'd give bed sharing a shot. It was wonderful. DS and I both got so much more sleep than we had for the previous few nights.
So last night I'm all prepared for bed sharing again. DS wasn't having it. He screamed until I put him in the rnp, then slept wonderfully for 3 hour stretches all night.
I have mad respect for you ladies that went all natural. Insane respect.
I have my epi in! Did it make anyone else super tired? I feel so drowsy...I mentioned it to the nurse and she said my BP was slightly low so she repositioned me...but I still feel crazy tired. Granted I think I got 30 mins of sleep last night...
@MrsSinner402, you did what you could. And that's more than most. Now you need to do what's best for both of you so you can enjoy your kid. The first 11 days of APurp's life were spent in a fog of pain (surgery), fear, and depression. I put so much pressure on myself to breastfeed her that I didn't even LIKE her. We decided yesterday, with a new plan from the LC that I have done everything I could and my supply isn't there. I'm going to keep trying with this new plan she has me on, but we are all at peace with whatever comes. Yesterday was the first day I looked at my baby and thought "I love her and wild be devastated if something happened to her." Life is too fucking short.
Took newborn photos yesterday. The ones with me in them are awful. My eyes are almost swollen shut from crying. But they were mostly for her anyway. I'll just skip over the shitty family ones. I can't wait to get them back in a week and a half.
Sinner I don't think it's important how you feed your baby. Your sanity is important too! You fought really hard to BF and you should be proud of whatever you choose to do.
I know that men don't have the same instinct that we do as mothers but I still wanted to TP DH last night and throw his fucking Xbox out the window. I'll be sitting there with my crabby daughter and he lasts about .2 seconds, gets annoyed and I end up wrestling with her myself while he sits on that fucking game the rest of the night. Especially since he's going to be gone every night now until Sunday and he couldn't just put it down. I'm going to end up choking him out I just know it. He's lucky controllers are cordless now...
@MrsSinner402 You are a rock star mom! It sounds like you've thought through your decision carefully and are truly doing what is best. Not many moms would have done what you did or stuck it out for so long - you've given LO such a great gift!
Now you can heal and focus just on loving and snuggling and enjoying your LO!
Ok so BF is working better this time, I have milk but LO isn't gaining weight. He has a great latch unlike DD2 so my feedings are painless. We go to the pedi office today, if no weight gain then we start supplementing which I'm fine with. What is a good bottle to use so he won't want to stop breast feeding? I guess I'm looking for a nipple that works like the boob if there is such a thing. I know they advertise some I just don't know what I should get.
If you need to supplement, you could use an SNS at the breast. They're a bit messy, but supplementing at the breast gets you stimulation and avoids any confusion. You can also use a syringe or medela soft feeding cup:
And lots of moms have various bottles they recommend for being like the breast. I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions. FX that you won't need to supplement, or at least not for long!
I love my MIL but if I have to tell her one more time that I'm not driving 35 minutes to take my 1 month old trick or treating on a 45 degree day, she will need a TP.
Me: 30 | DH: 4/12/85 - 6/16/14 | Quinn Patrick born 9/28/14
@MrsSinner402 I knew with my 1st that I should stop when my negative feelings for pumping starting going towards the baby. DS1 is extremely healthy and smart. It was a hard decision, but the best one for us. You are a good mom!
Ok so BF is working better this time, I have milk but LO isn't gaining weight. He has a great latch unlike DD2 so my feedings are painless. We go to the pedi office today, if no weight gain then we start supplementing which I'm fine with. What is a good bottle to use so he won't want to stop breast feeding? I guess I'm looking for a nipple that works like the boob if there is such a thing. I know they advertise some I just don't know what I should get.
We use the Chicco newborn bottles/nipples for our supplimenting. Been using them for two weeks and no issues with nipple confusion.
Married 10/06
Baby Girl "C" arrived on 10/07/14 (39 weeks, 6 days)
AFM, I feel achy and like I'm getting sick. I think it's just from being overtired though :-\
@Emerald27 or anyone else that bedshares, will we always have to? We are now because its the only way to sleep.
I only plan to bedshare until he starts sleeping longer stretches and has more of a predictable schedule (whenever that will be). For now, it's just easier to roll over and feed him rather than grab him out of his cosleeper all night.
Me: 30 | DH: 4/12/85 - 6/16/14 | Quinn Patrick born 9/28/14
@Cantisa that's entirely up to you. We bed shared with DS until he turned 2, but we wanted to and I loved the snuggles. You can transition them whenever you're both ready...it can be helpful for you to wait until they're sleeping a little longer stretches.
I loved bedsharing when I went back to work because I snuggled all night to make up for being away during the day. I would have been so sad to be away all day and then sleep away from DS.
I also slept ALL night with barely an interruption, because DS would stir and I'd literally wake just enough to pop a boob in his mouth and then go back to sleep. No getting out of bed or sitting up to nurse for me!
@keelyd I want to TP your husband. Sorry but to say you are doing anything to malnourish your child is a dick move. Punch him and tell him to grow up and start helping.
@MrsSinner402 I've been where you are. I really did not enjoy the first 2 months with my daughter because of the struggles we had. Have you considered cutting your pumps and stopping that way. That way you can make sure you are emotionally ready to stop and you won't get as engorged. Either way it sounds like you are making the best choice for your family. Unfortunately BF is just harder for some people than others, and there is so much pressure to BF that it makes it hard to decide not BF. However, your baby will do just as well with formula so please do not feel guilty for your decision.
I have mad respect for you ladies that went all natural. Insane respect.
I have my epi in! Did it make anyone else super tired? I feel so drowsy...I mentioned it to the nurse and she said my BP was slightly low so she repositioned me...but I still feel crazy tired. Granted I think I got 30 mins of sleep last night...
I was super tired with mine. But I preferred it to gas and air because that makes me feel so high and spaced out. I don't remember much from the time using it. I hope things are going well though!
Just stopping by to say hi ladies!
Thanks @Kaylajade8911 !!! I got in an hour nap and feel a lot better. Hope you are enjoying your sweet boy :x
Mil wants me to drop the baby off at her sister's house tonight for an hour while I take ds1 to soccer.. im thinking definitely not.. I jist am not ready for that kind of baby leaving yet..
@MrsSinner402 I've been where you are. I really did not enjoy the first 2 months with my daughter because of the struggles we had. Have you considered cutting your pumps and stopping that way. That way you can make sure you are emotionally ready to stop and you won't get as engorged. Either way it sounds like you are making the best choice for your family. Unfortunately BF is just harder for some people than others, and there is so much pressure to BF that it makes it hard to decide not BF. However, your baby will do just as well with formula so please do not feel guilty for your decision.
I think that's what I'm going to do to wean. Cut back to only a few pumps a day and only pumping to feel a little relief so I don't stimulate more milk production. I wish weaning was easier and I could just stop pumping now. The pain is killing me.
@MrsSinner402 you probably tried this already but when pumping was most painful for me massaging my breasts while pumping made it less painful. I don't know if the pressure distracted me from the pain or what but it helped me. That might help you get through your last few pumps.
I have an appointment this afternoon and have been thinking about having my doc do a membrane sweep (I'm now 40+1). We're also going to talk induction dates. I would love to be induced this Friday (Halloween!) because I'd prefer a weekend hospital stay for convenience sake. At the same time, I do want to avoid an induction because I'd rather my baby come out on his own, but he's so comfy in there I'm not sure that will happen.
If I'm able to get in for Friday induction, should I skip the membrane sweep and just wait it out, or would you still get it? I'm torn on this because I'd prefer to have the baby over the weekend, but I also know I should be avoiding induction at all costs. Buuuuut membrane sweep isn't guaranteed to do anything for me, even though my cervix is a "favorable" 2 cm dilated and 90% effaced when I was checked two weeks ago. :-??
MrsSinner402
member
Re: Tuesday Randoms
Nursing LO and hopefully some sleep in a few.
I also think that if my plan wasn't to lose weight before our next pregnancy, I would start trying right now because #1 sex! #2 I know this squishy newborn stage won't last and I want another one. My kids are dangerous! every time I have one I love them so much that I want another. I'm going to end up with 10 kids at this rate!
So last night I'm all prepared for bed sharing again. DS wasn't having it. He screamed until I put him in the rnp, then slept wonderfully for 3 hour stretches all night.
What gives kid? Make up your mind already.
I have my epi in! Did it make anyone else super tired? I feel so drowsy...I mentioned it to the nurse and she said my BP was slightly low so she repositioned me...but I still feel crazy tired. Granted I think I got 30 mins of sleep last night...
This kid slept on my chest all night long in two different locations. I'm so tired. I wish he'd sleep for longer than 2 hours at a time.
Now you can heal and focus just on loving and snuggling and enjoying your LO!
https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/84/softfeeder
And lots of moms have various bottles they recommend for being like the breast. I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions. FX that you won't need to supplement, or at least not for long!
Married 10/06
Baby Girl "C" arrived on 10/07/14 (39 weeks, 6 days)
I loved bedsharing when I went back to work because I snuggled all night to make up for being away during the day. I would have been so sad to be away all day and then sleep away from DS.
I also slept ALL night with barely an interruption, because DS would stir and I'd literally wake just enough to pop a boob in his mouth and then go back to sleep. No getting out of bed or sitting up to nurse for me!
Bedsharing was a lifesaver!
It feels like more.
Mil wants me to drop the baby off at her sister's house tonight for an hour while I take ds1 to soccer.. im thinking definitely not.. I jist am not ready for that kind of baby leaving yet..
If I'm able to get in for Friday induction, should I skip the membrane sweep and just wait it out, or would you still get it? I'm torn on this because I'd prefer to have the baby over the weekend, but I also know I should be avoiding induction at all costs. Buuuuut membrane sweep isn't guaranteed to do anything for me, even though my cervix is a "favorable" 2 cm dilated and 90% effaced when I was checked two weeks ago. :-??