Those that have had clogged ducts or Mastitis or have it/them currently— ever notice itching with it? I’ve had my share, but honestly I can’t remember if I had itching? I’m noticing itching now and of course Google tells me all scary things.
I do not think I had itching either time. Soreness, pain, and fever with a hard lump and redness on my breast we're my symptoms. @chasingroygbiv
I seriously hope you don't have it. Maybe call your OB and see if that is a symptom others felt. I'd hate to make you think it wasn't a symptom when it actually is and you get sick.
@chasingroygbiv. I did not have itching but redness, extremely painful, hard lump, and high fever with my mastitis.
When I had clogged ducts I took a warm shower and massaged the clog and hand expressed in there. Then I pumped immediately after and massaged the area. I was able to unclog and felt relief right away.
@bravoandprosecco - can you try to build in “playtime” session after a feed during the day? I mean playtime loosely - today my little guy laid on the playmat staring at the dangling item above him. I just was with him and talked to him, but he stayed awake instead of zonking right out. Hoping it helps to start the idea of day/night. We pulled an all nighter a two nights ago and I haven’t recovered yet. The beginning is always so rough after a few weeks of lost sleep.
@chasingroygbiv I haven't noticed itching with my clogged ducts. Just really sore hard spots and less milk production in that breast compared to the other.
I'll try it @mmom3, still up at 2am. He falls asleep on me then when I move him he wakes up and I have to start all over again (check diaper, swaddle, nurse, rock) I'm waiting 20 min this time, hopefully that's enough to knock him out before the transfer!
Anyone have any tips for increasing supply? I'm having to supplement an ounce or two after each feed because I'm not making enough he usually barely eats half an ounce of formula and still latchs for 30 minutes 15ish per side. I haven't been pumping because I wanna get him all the milk I have. With my first this happened and I ended up switching but id really like breastfeeding to work out this time.
@bravoandprosecco We had/have that same issue with Day/night. Lots of sleeping during the day as feeding wears her out but I’m trying really hard to get her on a eat, wake, nap timeline during the day. I literally mess with her after a feed, play with her arms, sing, 1 min of tummy time and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but she’s still just a week old. It’ll help establish when to eat and fall back asleep and when it’s time to play.
Make sure you are eating enough. High calories and high fat foods usually increase my supply.
Try those nursing teas and fenugreek.
See a LC.
I would start doing a few pumping sessions to start increasing your supply. You want to stimulate it beyond being empty so that your breast start trying to meet demand.
Increasing supply is way harder than maintaining it, but you can do it. I would definitely call your LC to see what they say.
@DDRRT1982 thanks I saw my LC today and she said the same thing. Pump after each feeding and whenever we supplement. We did a weigh feed weigh and he took in 1.2 ounces during one feeding. I seem to produce more in the mornings but by the end of the day my supply is definitely lower and he is hungrier.
@jerseygirl9090 - mine is the same with having more milk overnight/morning compared to evening.
My little guy is also starting cluster feeding in the evening and doesn’t want to stop/break. But I also attribute that to the craziness of daughter Home from school, things get louder as I’m trying to cook dinner, help with homework, clean up, baths/bedtime and my 3 year old son turns into a manic. My DH doesn’t get home until 8-10 pm so it’s only me here to get it all done. I think the noise level sends him seeking comfort as well.
@Gingermom15 Wow, good call, didn’t think of that! Looking at the breast it would’ve about 1 o’clock and an inch from nipple. How’s that for a description? Haha! It does seem similar to my case with my first breast feeder (except I can’t say for sure if I had itching that time or not). My nipples are so sensitive. No white on me or baby, but neither me or DD had white that time either.. I may call and see if they’ll send a script for Nystatin without having to see me. Eyeroll.
@chasingroygbiv when I had it my son didn’t show any symptoms and my nipples are insanely itchy and red, no white. They felt super heavy and tingly shrink letdowns, as well. Not the normal tingling, but almost like itching on the inside if that makes sense? I took the 10 day dose of the oral antifungal and used topical nystatin cream to finally get rid of it.
What am I doing wrong? I got another clogged ducts last night and had another fever despite already being on antibiotics. I have never dealt with this, especially so frequently. She's gaining well, so I know she's getting the milk. I am miserable.
@DDRRT1982 how are you sleeping? I just found out recently sleeping on your side can cause clogged ducts. Could that be it for you? I hope you get some relief soon!!
@DDRRT1982, that's so frustrating. Only idea from me (if you aren't already trying these) is massage your breast as you breastfeed to help make sure milk is moving along in each area and try switching up positions every now and then with your LO to help make sure they aren't just emptying certain ducts.
@scoogy19 it's so interesting, because I have never heard that before and never had an issue before either. I do think that's contributing to it. Thanks for the help and thoughts. I hope you feel better too, @chasingroygbiv. I looked up kellymom and got suggestions there too. I might start taking lecithin as well.
I starting pumping yesterday to help increase supply and have stored milk as a back up. We also use the BM when solids get introduced down the road. This time I won’t need to worry about a sitter and baby will be mainly fed at the breast. How many times a day should I pump? Last baby I did after every feed even through the night. It was a lot.
I use my body as a sign when to pump. This morning she didn’t eat much and fell asleep quickly and I still felt very full so I pumped, got about 2.5 oz but I’ll take anything I can store. I’m going to choose one time a day to pump an hour before a feed or hour after a feed. Doing anything more than that just won’t let me get a break so we’ll see how the first plan goes for now.
I started pumping to increase my supply. I pump as much as possible but definitely in middle of the night and early morning. Sometimes in between feeds now I get full already I'm not sure if it's from pumping. We are also supplementing mainly in evening and at night because he is still hungry after nursing. I'm not sure if pumping is making me full in between feeds or what this mainly happens in the morning and by afternoon evening I don't have enough and have to supplement. He is a week old today so maybe it's my supply trying to regulate
@jerseygirl9090 how are you suplimenting at night? Just giving a bottle? My 1 week old was up all night and I think it's bc he was hungry. I was tempted to give formula but not sure how to do it.
@bravoandprosecco I still wake him up to nurse every 3 hours but if he is still hungry after I nurse I make him a 2 ounce bottle of formula. First thing in the morning around 7 my supply is great but evening and nighttime it seems really low. Also I am thinking he is getting more foremilk then hindmilk especially at night. The foremilk doesn't fill them up as much and makes them gassy my baby passes a lot of gas and it's really loud.
@DDRRT1982 I have had to take lecithin with both my boys or else I would continually get clogged ducts. KellyMom is a great resource. @scoogy19 I have heard that about sleeping on your side too. I use my boppy maternity pillow under my breasts to help when I side sleep. I don’t know if it helps really, but I feel better about doing it. lol
@chasingroygbiv that sounds awful. Hopefully the antibiotics kick in soon.
I think Samantha is starting to eat more and is catching up with my supply. I didn't wake up completely miserable today and pumped a bit less. Small victories. Getting lecithin today. I also heard that lecithin helps with mesquitos not wanting to bite you, so double win.
What a night I had....baby just wanted to eat and that's it. No sleep. I'm using a nipple shield to help with the pain. Seems to be working out. Hopefully tonight this little guy will sleep....mama is tired. I'm also feeling so guilty about my eating habits...and need to increase my water intake. Always wondering if he's getting enough milk because he eats nonstop! This is a lot of work but happy to be able to do this for him
@nancysimp sounds like you are doing a great job & have such a positive outlook on breastfeeding. Keep it up!
@mdfarmchick I don’t have any experience with it, but from what I know your LO would have a white rash in their mouth
Although this is my second time around. I forgot how much I somewhat resent breastfeeding. I know it’s geeat for my son & that’s why I do it, but I’m feeling somewhat selfish & just want my body back & to be able to have a glass or two of wine. I know...I’m selfish
@nancysimp sounds like you are doing a great job & have such a positive outlook on breastfeeding. Keep it up!
@mdfarmchick I don’t have any experience with it, but from what I know your LO would have a white rash in their mouth
Although this is my second time around. I forgot how much I somewhat resent breastfeeding. I know it’s geeat for my son & that’s why I do it, but I’m feeling somewhat selfish & just want my body back & to be able to have a glass or two of wine. I know...I’m selfish
Have that wine! Have two glasses if you want, if you feel ok to drive it is ok to nurse. You just grew a human and birthed that human, you deserve to enjoy yourself.
ETA it is not selfish in the least. Totally normal to want your body back.
For those struggling with near constant nursing, both the LC and the pediatrician told me that a baby who is in it to eat can empty a breast in 15 minutes. Any more than that is comfort nursing. Which you can do if you want. But you and your nipples don’t have to be their pacifier. It was huge to me to get permission to not be pinned down for hours at a time. And for small babies you’re trying to plump up, it just burns calories. So I boot him off after 15 minutes each side unless I have a reason for wanting to let him stay a few more minutes (like second side and I want to finish reading something or I felt like he was snoozy before but he’s getting with the program now).
If he is fussy afterwards, I pass him off to someone else he doesn’t have expectations of nursing to see if he’ll chill. If, after a little bit, (which can be a set time or however long it takes me to do what I wanted to do—go to the bathroom, stuff my face, just have a minute alone) he is still rooting and actually acting hungry, then we’ll start a fresh nursing session. And sometimes, you just need your partner to take one for the team and have them hold and bounce and walk and try to soothe the baby for an hour so you can take a nap. As one of the nurses we had told me, “Sleep makes you sane.”
They also said that if we suspect he’s trying to nurse for comfort, we (but pretty much just us for the germ factor) can let him suck a knuckle. So far it has helped my sanity and my nipples.
Me: 34 DH: 38 Married: June 2011 TTC since Feb 2016 BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16 BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
We were up all night too, she wanted to eat and eat and Was wide eyed but she spit up a lot yesterday and so far she’s done the same. My milk comes in strong at her.
@mdfarmchick lo would have a white rash in mouth and it would be painful to nurse also your nipples would be bright pink. We just went to the dr this morning for thrush and got medicine for it. I knew right away when he had it because my daughter also had it.
So he doesn’t have anything white in his mouth but it’s painful to nurse, mostly when he latched and they feel itchy? They are also kind of pink... all of which could be thrush or could not be thrush.
@mdfarmchick - when my daughter had it - the pedi treated us both right at the beginning of it. I didn’t see anything was a bit itchy too and the pedi caught it. Maybe worth a call/trip?
Re: Breastfeeding Megathread
I seriously hope you don't have it. Maybe call your OB and see if that is a symptom others felt. I'd hate to make you think it wasn't a symptom when it actually is and you get sick.
When I had clogged ducts I took a warm shower and massaged the clog and hand expressed in there. Then I pumped immediately after and massaged the area. I was able to unclog and felt relief right away.
I read Baby Wise with my first and loved it.
Make sure you are eating enough. High calories and high fat foods usually increase my supply.
Try those nursing teas and fenugreek.
See a LC.
I would start doing a few pumping sessions to start increasing your supply. You want to stimulate it beyond being empty so that your breast start trying to meet demand.
Increasing supply is way harder than maintaining it, but you can do it. I would definitely call your LC to see what they say.
My little guy is also starting cluster feeding in the evening and doesn’t want to stop/break. But I also attribute that to the craziness of daughter Home from school, things get louder as I’m trying to cook dinner, help with homework, clean up, baths/bedtime and my 3 year old son turns into a manic. My DH doesn’t get home until 8-10 pm so it’s only me here to get it all done. I think the noise level sends him seeking comfort as well.
Also I am thinking he is getting more foremilk then hindmilk especially at night. The foremilk doesn't fill them up as much and makes them gassy my baby passes a lot of gas and it's really loud.
@chasingroygbiv that sounds awful. Hopefully the antibiotics kick in soon.
@mdfarmchick I don’t have any experience with it, but from what I know your LO would have a white rash in their mouth
Although this is my second time around. I forgot how much I somewhat resent breastfeeding. I know it’s geeat for my son & that’s why I do it, but I’m feeling somewhat selfish & just want my body back & to be able to have a glass or two of wine. I know...I’m selfish
ETA it is not selfish in the least. Totally normal to want your body back.
If he is fussy afterwards, I pass him off to someone else he doesn’t have expectations of nursing to see if he’ll chill. If, after a little bit, (which can be a set time or however long it takes me to do what I wanted to do—go to the bathroom, stuff my face, just have a minute alone) he is still rooting and actually acting hungry, then we’ll start a fresh nursing session. And sometimes, you just need your partner to take one for the team and have them hold and bounce and walk and try to soothe the baby for an hour so you can take a nap. As one of the nurses we had told me, “Sleep makes you sane.”
They also said that if we suspect he’s trying to nurse for comfort, we (but pretty much just us for the germ factor) can let him suck a knuckle. So far it has helped my sanity and my nipples.
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18