Going to try to EP for a week.. mixed emotions.

MrsBeckO

DD has terrible eczema and we finally found a treatment that clears up her face, but we are only allowed to use it for 5 days at a time then we have to let her rest a few days before starting again. It clears up in that time frame, but then within 24 hrs of letting her face "rest", she's flared right back up again. Its terrible. Her face cracks and bleeds, scabs over.. it breaks my heart. 

Well, after a few different people mentioning it, I started to wonder if the breast shields up against her skin while she nurses are irritating her. The flared up area is almost exactly the area that touches the shield (yes, I'm still using a shield, for a couple reasons with our OB and pedi's support/blessing). So we have decided to try to EP for a week and just give her bottles and see if that helps her face.  I am kinda bummed about this for a couple reasons.

One, I hate to pump. Two, I only have a single electric that isn't very efficient for me and a manual that takes forever. There is no way I'd be able to pump 4-5x a day with DD when the combo of those 2 pumps takes me 45m-1hr. So I am going to rent a pump from SA again and I am not looking forward to spending that money. Three, I love nursing DD. I am going to really miss that time with her, especially before bed.

If this little experiment proves that it is the shield, I am going to dread being a full-time EPer. So I'm conflicted - I would love to be able to identify and eliminate the problem but I do not want to have to stop nursing her. 

Ugh. 

There is no point to this post other than to vent about DD's face and pumping.

The end.

 

Spanishbeauty

I obviously know nothing about this, but is it not an option for you to stop using the shield?  I assume there is some reason you aren't mentioning that, but it's just what I thought when I first read through the post. 

 Good luck with what ever you choose!

brideonjuly8

Spanishbeauty:

I obviously know nothing about this, but is it not an option for you to stop using the shield?  I assume there is some reason you aren't mentioning that, but it's just what I thought when I first read through the post. 

 Good luck with what ever you choose!

This is what I was going to say.  Have you tried without it?  Will she just not latch on?  Maybe it would take her a few days to get used to it.

I only EP for about 2 months and I didn't like it at all.  But it was the only way to get BM in DS since his teeth were hurting so bad.    The ONLY thing I liked about it is that I knew EXACTLY how much he was getting, and that eased my mind of that worry. 

abbysmom1005

Sorry! I hated pumping too.  I hope her eczema clear up soon.

 

MrsBeckO

brideonjuly8:

Spanishbeauty:

I obviously know nothing about this, but is it not an option for you to stop using the shield?  I assume there is some reason you aren't mentioning that, but it's just what I thought when I first read through the post. 

 Good luck with what ever you choose!

This is what I was going to say.  Have you tried without it?  Will she just not latch on?  Maybe it would take her a few days to get used to it.

I only EP for about 2 months and I didn't like it at all.  But it was the only way to get BM in DS since his teeth were hurting so bad.    The ONLY thing I liked about it is that I knew EXACTLY how much he was getting, and that eased my mind of that worry. 

We have tried without it, and it was just too much. Too frustrating for her, she couldn't latch and would get upset and just cry and cry instead of eat. Too much pain for me. Too much stress all around. If I had enough of a freezer stash, I'd be willing to give it more than a day or two of attempting to wean, but I have nothing to fall back on if she doesn't nurse.. so she needs to nurse. Which means we need the shield. 

So this is more about my boobs than anyone ever wants to know, but DD cannot pull enough of my nipple into her mouth to properly latch so her nursing HURTS LIKE HELL. We tried in the very beginning with an LC to get her to latch properly, and she just couldn't. I don't have inverted nipples, but something's not quite right. So the shield hits the right place in her mouth to signal her to suck. We tried weaning her off the shield around 6 wks, then again around 3 months and 4 months. No dice. She wasn't eating, and I was screaming in pain. So the pedi said if I wanted to BF, it was fine to continue with the shield. We haven't had any other problems with it (plugged ducts, her not getting enough, etc). Until now, we thought all was well with the shield, but now we're wondering if its irritating her face.  

carlinlp

You know this already but Taryn had horrible eczema.  Just like Camy.  She was resistant to all the meds and creams we got.  She just has very, very sensitive skin.  For us, it was really, really irritated by nursing and bf'ing.  I had to be very, very careful to not let any milk go between my breast and her cheeks.  I was wondering the same thing as pp, is it not an option to try nursing without the shield?  I know that a shield was horrible for Taryn's skin, even very early on.  I'm so sorry, I know how hard this is

 

brideonjuly8

MrsBeckO:

brideonjuly8:

Spanishbeauty:

I obviously know nothing about this, but is it not an option for you to stop using the shield?  I assume there is some reason you aren't mentioning that, but it's just what I thought when I first read through the post. 

 Good luck with what ever you choose!

This is what I was going to say.  Have you tried without it?  Will she just not latch on?  Maybe it would take her a few days to get used to it.

I only EP for about 2 months and I didn't like it at all.  But it was the only way to get BM in DS since his teeth were hurting so bad.    The ONLY thing I liked about it is that I knew EXACTLY how much he was getting, and that eased my mind of that worry. 

We have tried without it, and it was just too much. Too frustrating for her, she couldn't latch and would get upset and just cry and cry instead of eat. Too much pain for me. Too much stress all around. If I had enough of a freezer stash, I'd be willing to give it more than a day or two of attempting to wean, but I have nothing to fall back on if she doesn't nurse.. so she needs to nurse. Which means we need the shield. 

So this is more about my boobs than anyone ever wants to know, but DD cannot pull enough of my nipple into her mouth to properly latch so her nursing HURTS LIKE HELL. We tried in the very beginning with an LC to get her to latch properly, and she just couldn't. I don't have inverted nipples, but something's not quite right. So the shield hits the right place in her mouth to signal her to suck. We tried weaning her off the shield around 6 wks, then again around 3 months and 4 months. No dice. She wasn't eating, and I was screaming in pain. So the pedi said if I wanted to BF, it was fine to continue with the shield. We haven't had any other problems with it (plugged ducts, her not getting enough, etc). Until now, we thought all was well with the shield, but now we're wondering if its irritating her face.  

Ugh, that sounds so frustrating.  I didn't think pumping was that bad, but I only did it for a few months.  The thing I hated the most was washing all the parts all the time.  Before you said you were going to rent one I was going to suggest doing that.  A double electric is much faster.  And if this works for her, I would buy a couple extra sets of bottles and horns.  GL!!  I hope her face clears up soon! 

AustinAggie

I don't really know how a shield works, so please forgive me if this is completely ignorant.  You've probably already tried, but is there a way to slide a little cloth or something between her cheek and the shield?

If not, the double electric will go so much faster.  I wouldn't have been able to get by with a single and/or manual.  It will still suck, but you can do it!  I almost ep'd for DS's first year because of my long work hours.  He weaned at 15 months and I DO feel like that is one of my major accomplishments and a badge of honor. 

You can do it!

smb29

So sorry you have to do this!  I'm almost an EP'er during the week - we only nurse in the morning and I pump 4 times a day, but I do get to nurse on the weekends (but still pump 1-2 times).  It sucks, but you'll get used to it if you have to do it.  I have the Medela Symphony (rented) and its awesome.

kiarox2002

Does it have to be all or nothing?  Maybe once the rash clears up you could still nurse once or twice a day and pump the rest?  Either way, good luck!

rssnlvr

So sorry, B. Sorry for the eczema, sorry for the EPing pickle. I have no other suggestions aside from what everyone has already mentioned. Just wanted to chime in with sympathy and support. This, too, shall pass. GL this week.

Taytee

Can you send me an email? I can't find your address!

stacy at nicemonkeys.com