Pumping, Hiccups & C-Section Recovery

JLO2010

My DS was born via emergency c-section, but I left the hospital two days after even though I was able to stay for five.  I had my 2 week check-up at my doctor and she said I was healing fine, but I still have a burning feeling every time I walk around for too long or the initial standing when I've been sitting or lying down.  I take percoset at night, and motrin every 4 hours.  When will the burning go away?  It's almost impossible for me to get in a full shower because I can't seem to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time. I really don't want to take percoset anymore but it's the only way I'm  able to get sleep when the LO is sleeping.

He is 2 weeks today and I started pumping on Thursday because my nipples kept scabbing, were incredibly sore to the point that I couldn't even put a bra on and I wasn't enjoying feeding him because of how much pain I was in.  I was given Lansinoh in the hospital after about 5 feedings, but I noticed that my LO's skin was getting very irritated after each feeding.  So the combination of his sudden rashes, my discomfort and not looking forward to feeding him, I decided to start pumping.  I try to BF once a day to give us some bonding time.  I'm just starting to feel a bit guilty for pumping and want to know if this is normal. I know it might sound selfish, but pumping has been working out better for me and my nipples are definitely healing, but did I give up too soon?  One benefit of pumping is that it has given my husband an opportunity to bond with his DS and I am going back to work mid-January so I'd have to pump then anyway. 

Also, after practically every feeding (whether he burps or not) my DS gets a serious case of hiccups that last for 5-10 minutes.  Is this normal??

 

jnealet

I don't have the burning feeling but symptoms present in many different ways. Did you bring up the burning with your OB?  If he said it was fine then I'm sure it is. It wouldnt hurt to call and ask again. 

  For pumping, it's tough. Did you try nipple shields?  They help your nipples air dry and recover faster. It takes about 6 weeks to really establish nursing. If its not for you then it's not for you and don't feel guilty about it. But like I said, pumping is hard. It's an even bigger commitment than bf-ing, in my book. 

 The hiccups are 100% normal.  

GnomeLuv

I would mention what your feeling to your doc. It took me a good week almost two before the pain was minimal enough to not need the pain meds. Now it's just tender, kind of like a bruise.   As pp suggested you might want to try a nipple shield. We are using one because I have flat/inverted nipples but it does help keep the nipples happy. You can use it while you heal.  And the dreaded hiccups...totally normal and more painful for mom watching than for baby. 

JLO2010

I never heard of nipple shields, but will definitely give them a try when I breastfeed.  Thanks for the advice!!

sarahjames9

Yes to everything pp said. I used the medella nipple shields and medella lanolin. Maybe switching brands on lanolin might help? Hiccups are normal though! My c-section still feels tender at 4wks pp. I used percocet almost one and a half weeks. I stiiiiill take motrin 800mg once a day too.

GnomeLuv

JLO2010:

I never heard of nipple shields, but will definitely give them a try when I breastfeed.  Thanks for the advice!!

. I really like the medela silicone shield. 

xraychick07

I am also pumping 90% of the time. Like you I try to nurse once a day or so but right now I have mastitis in both breasts, and my nipples are literally a bloody scabby mess! Sometimes my baby will latch on and do great and other times she will just fight and knaw my nipple off. Between that and the infections I just can't handle it. I feel like if I pump she still gets the breast milk and I want what's best for her. Will probably try nursing again once my nipples heal and the mastitis is gone. I have a huge supply of milk so my breasts get clogged easily! UGH! I hate this! I did go buy the preemie nipples (I am using Dr. Brown bottles) which makes her have to work a little harder to get the milk out and she seems to still latch on to my breast as usual even after being bottle fed.

As for the nipple shields, I have read everywhere that they are supposed to be a last resort? Do you guys use them even if your baby can latch on okay without them? If so, I will be buying some TODAY!

I also feel my baby has the hiccups ALL the time! Normal!

 

NNGnome

xraychick07:

I am also pumping 90% of the time. Like you I try to nurse once a day or so but right now I have mastitis in both breasts, and my nipples are literally a bloody scabby mess! Sometimes my baby will latch on and do great and other times she will just fight and knaw my nipple off. Between that and the infections I just can't handle it. I feel like if I pump she still gets the breast milk and I want what's best for her. Will probably try nursing again once my nipples heal and the mastitis is gone. I have a huge supply of milk so my breasts get clogged easily! UGH! I hate this! I did go buy the preemie nipples (I am using Dr. Brown bottles) which makes her have to work a little harder to get the milk out and she seems to still latch on to my breast as usual even after being bottle fed.

As for the nipple shields, I have read everywhere that they are supposed to be a last resort? Do you guys use them even if your baby can latch on okay without them? If so, I will be buying some TODAY!

I also feel my baby has the hiccups ALL the time! Normal!

 

I agree with pp, but just to answer your question on nipple shields, some lactation consultants say to use them as a last resort as they can sometimes lead to your milk production lowering as the nipples don't get as much stimulation, but if you already have a good milk supply established, I would say go for the nipple shield, my lactation consultant gave it to me the first time I BF (I was in the NICU and DS was 4 weeks early and not latching as my nipples were pretty flat), I was told to pump after every feed to keep supply up, I did this for about a week, but it's quite exhausting, and after the second week I was able to slowly wean off the shield as we got the hang of feeding, so I stopped pumping, DS only needed it for night feeds at three weeks, and this week he has not needed it once, and he is latching great.

I would definatly recomend it, it makes life much easier, and it will help with healing the nipples for sure, I have used it to give mine a break (they never got too bad just red a sore) when DS didn't latch properly.

JLO2010

I use the Dr. Brown bottles too.  I love them!  My son is 2 weeks and 1 day - 8 lbs and 2 oz. and he drinks 3 oz every 3 hours.  Sometimes I feel like he wants more, but my doctor said 3 oz is impressive. 

I too have a huge supply of milk and get plugged ducts constantly.  I just massage them like crazy, especially while pumping, and they seem to unclog.