I think I'm going to start to wean :(

CTJourney · February 2010

I'm not ready emotionally to do it. I'm starting to cry just typing this. I absolutely love breastfeeding and I worked really hard to get DS to breastfeed and get to the point we are at. BUT I am on my 3rd round of mastitis right now. I realized last night that I have spent a quarter of my son's life on antibiotics. I get plugged ducts and milk blisters on a weekly basis and it is soooo frustrating. I've seen a few lactation consultants and the only answer they have for me is that I have a really delicate balance and must just be susceptible to clogged ducts. I don't want to give up breastfeeding, but I don't know what else to do anymore?? The antibiotics I'm on last 10 days and a side effect of them is that it is a terror on both mine and my son's digestive track. I talked with my midwife about this and she said it is normal and that I need to take the full 10 day course.

I'm just so devastated and don't know what else to do other than wean him. I don't think I can put us through another round of mastitis. The weekly plugged ducts, milk blisters, and the reoccurring mastitis is taking its toll on all my family. Thanks for letting me vent here Sad

Saturnmazz · February 2010

I feel so sorry for you and I think this is my fate as well. I am on my first round of antibiotics now for mastitis, weekly plugged ducts and a milk blister that just won't quit.

It seems tragic that we will have to give up something that we worked so hard for and enjoy doing despite the pain.

When I first started to bf I couldn't wait to stop, now I really enjoy the time with my baby. I have to stop next month since I will be back to work at the end of March....I am so sad to think I may have to stop now.

PAmiler82 · February 2010

From everything I've read on here, it seems that weaning is hard handle emotionally no matter when you do it. We'll all be there eventually, but it's double tough when you're stopping before you'd like to.

Still, I hope the benefits to stopping (especially your health) bring at least a little bit of comfort. Before too long we'll all be chasing toddlers around and the pain of weaning will have faded into memory.

MrsAmers · February 2010

I just have two suggestions to offer that might help if you haven't heard them already. There is probably more information about these things and other natural treatments on kellymom.com, too.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/recurrent-mastitis.html

1 - You can take lechitin since you have chronic plugged ducts. I have a friend prone to plugged ducts and mastitis and she has seen a decrease in cases since she started taking it daily.

https://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/lecithin.html

2 - Do you have to take antibiotics each time? You'll see on the kellymom site that if the mastitis is mild and resolves within 24 hours you don't have to take antibiotics.

I'm not a doctor, but I had mastitis three times and I never took antibiotics. I focused on nursing as much as possible, clearing the plugged ducts, drinking lots of fluids and resting as much as possible. I wasn't 100% within 24 hours, but in that time I did get rid of the plug, lose the fever & chills, and feel much less crappy.

Just a thought, since it sounds like the antibiotics are the worst part of the thrush for you.

madhatter2003 · February 2010

I'm so sorry you are struggling. I would definitely work through this round of infection before starting any weaning. When do you get milk blisters? Is it from pumping or nursing more?

CTJourney · February 2010

MrsAmers:
I just have two suggestions to offer that might help if you haven't heard them already. There is probably more information about these things and other natural treatments on kellymom.com, too.
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/recurrent-mastitis.html
1 - You can take lechitin since you have chronic plugged ducts. I have a friend prone to plugged ducts and mastitis and she has seen a decrease in cases since she started taking it daily.
https://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/lecithin.html
2 - Do you have to take antibiotics each time? You'll see on the kellymom site that if the mastitis is mild and resolves within 24 hours you don't have to take antibiotics.
I'm not a doctor, but I had mastitis three times and I never took antibiotics. I focused on nursing as much as possible, clearing the plugged ducts, drinking lots of fluids and resting as much as possible. I wasn't 100% within 24 hours, but in that time I did get rid of the plug, lose the fever & chills, and feel much less crappy.
Just a thought, since it sounds like the antibiotics are the worst part of the thrush for you.

Thank you for the suggestions. I have heard of lecithin from my lactation consultant but have not tried it. I am always leery about taking supplements that are not regulated by the FDA, and I thought that lecithin is not? I don't know that for certain though, I just assumed.

Unfortunately every time I get mastitis my fever shoots up to 103 and I just can't get past it without the antibiotic. I thought about trying to go without the antibiotic this time, but as soon as my temp sky rocketed I gave in to the medicine.

CTJourney · February 2010

madhatter2003:
I'm so sorry you are struggling. I would definitely work through this round of infection before starting any weaning. When do you get milk blisters? Is it from pumping or nursing more?

I do plan on getting through the infection before I wean. I made an appt with my midwife (also a certified LC) for March 1st because I will be off the antibiotic then and I would like to discuss the weaning process with her. I have no clue how I will even get through the weaning process without getting plugged ducts and mastitis again! Hopefully she will be able to give me some guidance on this.

I don't pump very often. I resigned from my job after maternity leave to be a SAHM so I EBF. I do pump from time to time though if I am going out and leaving my son with someone for an extended period of time. I never took note to whether the milk blisters are coming about when I pump though. Do you think the pump might make me more susceptible to the milk blisters?

CTJourney · February 2010

PAmiler82:
From everything I've read on here, it seems that weaning is hard handle emotionally no matter when you do it. We'll all be there eventually, but it's double tough when you're stopping before you'd like to.
Still, I hope the benefits to stopping (especially your health) bring at least a little bit of comfort. Before too long we'll all be chasing toddlers around and the pain of weaning will have faded into memory.

Thank you for the support. You made me tear up again! haha It is just so emotional. But you are right that some day the pain of weaning my son will be a distant memory.

CTJourney · February 2010

Saturnmazz:
I feel so sorry for you and I think this is my fate as well. I am on my first round of antibiotics now for mastitis, weekly plugged ducts and a milk blister that just won't quit.

It seems tragic that we will have to give up something that we worked so hard for and enjoy doing despite the pain.

When I first started to bf I couldn't wait to stop, now I really enjoy the time with my baby. I have to stop next month since I will be back to work at the end of March....I am so sad to think I may have to stop now.

I'm sorry that you have mastitis as well! I hope that you are able to quickly recover and don't have any reoccurring episodes like I have. I felt the same way in the beginning that I couldn't wait to quit, but for the past few months I now enjoy every moment BFing my son. Even the exhausting middle of the night feedings.

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