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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
I feel like I'm being forced to quit bf :( (Repost)
I'm 13 weeks into breastfeeding right now and it's been horrible since day 1. In the hospital it was written off as "normal" pain, at 2 weeks I was told we had Thrush which we treated for 9 weeks, at week 11 we were told that we never had Thrush since 1 1/2 weeks of Diflucan didn't clear it up and I was told that my LO might need her frenulum cut, at 12 weeks we had it snipped because the ENT thought it looked a little tight and now at 13 weeks it's still horrible. I have been so committed to breastfeeding. I come from a huge family where no one breastfed so it was a completely new world to me. I read two bf books back to back and even went to an LLL meeting while pregnant so it kills me to be contemplating quitting when it's something I've wanted so bad. Can you guys trouble shoot with me? Do you have any ideas on what could be wrong? Not long after being told we didn't have Thrush we got her frenulum clipped and I feel like in the last couple weeks it has gotten worse (one nipple is now way more sore than the other). Anyone have a case of Thrush that didn't clear up after 1 1/2 weeks of Diflucan? Any thoughts would be really appreciated because I'm very desperate at this moment. TIA.
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Re: I feel like I'm being forced to quit bf :( (Repost)
I go to the LLL meetings every month and honestly, I don't think that the leaders are very helpful and don't seem very knowledgeable at the one I go to. I've been going every month since I was almost due though. I have another meeting next Tuesday so I'll probably bring it up again and see if they have any more thoughts.
I finally saw a lactation consultant at week 11 and that's who prescribed me the Diflucan. I had a follow up appointment with her a week and a half later and that's when she said I had never had Thrush and she sent me to the ENT to get Zoe's frenulum clipped. Do you think it would be worth going to a different LC?
Thanks, that really means a lot. It's crazy how much emotion is involved in something like this, I just feel like my ability to bf is so tied to my ability to provide for her (even though I logically know I could provide for her without bf).
If I do end up having to quit I think I'll try EP, but even pumping is painful (maybe just because my nipples are so consistently sore).
Everyone who has watched LO latch has said that she has a great latch, but then I second guess if it's good enough at home. Lately it hasn't been as good. I think that the latch issues are either coming from getting clipped or the fact that she's teething. That's probably why it's been worse lately. I haven't tried a nipple shield, maybe I should look into it since nothing else seems to be working.
Did you have a LC walk you through using a nipple shield and then weaning or did you just do it on your own?
Thanks so much
Sounds horrible!
I can't say I understand what you're going through at all, but I can tell you that I'm in love with my pump and it was worth every penny since it meant I could continue to give BM to DD. If you're making milk fine, know that the suction can be adjusted on most electric pumps. GL, dear!
I feel your pain. I went to four different LCs, LLL, and finally a feeding disorder specialist through week 12 and it never got better for us. I was also treated for thrush, which I was later told that I never had, although I have heard that Diflucan doesn't always work.
I have been EPing pretty much from the beginning because first A was jaundiced and too sleepy to nurse, then he bad a bad latch, and our latest problem is that he has "flow confusion" because he's used to the bottle. All this time it has been terribly painful.
EPing isn't so bad - he still gets the benefits of my BM and I don't have to suffer. I was really disappointed to give up nursing but I'm committed to EPing for at least 6 months if I can. It can be time consuming but there are definitely benefits as well. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Let me know if you have any questions about EP or anything else.
I understand the emotional aspect of this 100%. You have been amazingly strong to stick with it this long and I can see how important it is to you.
I'd definitely try out the nipple shield. I'd definitely investigate a new LC. I'd research online about painful nipples.
Here's the devil's advocate side. It's helped me accept the end of my breast feeding time every time. I would never force something onto my child that wasn't working, making them unhappy, or creating unneeded stress. Making decisions as a good mom is about making ones that work to keep your child healthy, you healthy, and your relationship with your husband healthy. At some point the benefits of bonding and nutrition may not outweigh the stress, frustration, pain, and time spent trying to get the bf to work. Formula is not horrible for your baby. Everytime we've switched over, I have been relieved of the pressure of my shoulders and my husband has picked up helping 110%. It's as if he finally understands the challenges of the baby. So if you decide to finish bf (you are certainly not a quitter), this may pleasantly surprise you.
Francesca Pearl is here! Josephine Hope is almost 3!
Same here, if you're in the NYC area PM me and I'll give you the name of my LC that helped us.
Also, to help the nipple pain have you tried saline soaks? Really helped me (and my friend who recommended the LC we both love!) 1 teaspoon of salt in one cup of water. Put in a bowl and hang your nipple down in it for 10 minutes. air dry and put on lanolin. Soooooo good. Seriously.
Meeting with an LC really helped me. I also found that the lansinoh cream I was using was irritating my nips and making them sore; I switched to some Earth Mama Angel Baby stuff and it really helped.
GL and HUGE kudo's for making it so far!
All of the nurses in the hospital and even the first LC I saw in the hospital said DD was latching when she wasn't at all. It sure looked like it, but I could just pull her off the breast. There was no suction. We figured out DD was pushing the breast out with her tongue. We cup fed her to teach her how to stick her tongue out, and she finally latched (after not actually eating for 36 hours). As a PP mentioned, maybe she needs to relearn how to latch since she's been snipped.
Also, at around 3 wks pp, latching was still very painful (I put up with poor latching too long), so I started pumping and giving her a bottle during her cluster feeding marathons in the evening in order to give my nips a break. Maybe pumping will give your nips some time to heal. I see you said pumping is painful too - can you turn down the suction to the least necessary? Maybe EP'ing for a while will keep LO from further damaging them while they heal.
ETA: And of course, good job on trudging through. It's hard work. If it doesn't get better and you make the decision to stop, don't be too hard on yourself. You've given LO a great start at life.
bfp#4 3/19/2014 edd 12/1/2014 please let this be the one!
beta @ 5w0d = 12,026! u/s 4/22/14 @ 8w1d it's twins!
If all else fails I'm planning to switch to EP for as long as I can. If that's the case I'll definitely let you know if I have questions. Thanks!
Thanks, and I really appreciate your perspective, I've been needing to hear that.
Nope! I'm a Minnesota girl. Why does my SN make you think I'm from NYC? Sorry in advance if that's a dumb question!
Nope! I'm a MN girl. Thanks for the offer though! I will definitely try a saline soak
My LO is a really efficient sucker but some times is seems like she slips down a little and can be more on my nipple than she probably should be. I will try turning down the pump and see if that helps! Thanks!
Ha, no not a dumb question -- I just saw your screen name started with "ny" so thought maybe you were a NY-er
In any case, my advice would still be to give it a go with another LC. My first LC was just okay and I was having a lot of trouble when I started BFing but she really wasn't very good. I then went to a BFing clinic and the LC there made me cry because she had such bad bedside manor. Third time was a charm when I saw an LC on recommendation of a few friends and she was amazing. Good luck!
I TOTALLY have been there.
With my first, nothing got better for 3 months. I had thrush, and then was diagnosed with something called Raynaud's syndrome on the nipple. Basically you don't get good blood flow to the nipple and it causes a lot of pain when nursing. It is not very common, but an LC diagnosed me when my son was 8 weeks old and when my medication kicked in, nursing was easy! I nursed my son for 13 months.
This time was even worse. It took forever for my medicine to kick in. I was crying every time she nursed for the first 2 or 3 weeks. I also had a lot of pain and throbbing between feedings. I went to my LC again and she put me on some vitamins for the Raynaud's and showed me how to use the nipple shield. It is a GOD SEND!!! I was on the verge of EPing before it. It took the edge off and made things better. We have been using it for about 6 weeks and I have no reason to wean her off of it. I am still having some pain on my right side. I sometimes have to pump after her morning feeding because i am so full, and I think pumping actually makes me more sore when she nurses again.
You might also try some Dr. Jack Newman's All Purpose nipple cream. I think it helped this time.
You are fighting and doing the best that you can. I was a MESS this time thinking I couldn't nurse her, even though I nursed my son for that long. Google Raynaud's and see if you have any of the symptoms. GL!