March 2012 Moms

Super embarassing nursing mom moment

So I had my pre-op testing done yesterday for the thyroid surgery I will be having next week.  It was an all day affair at a big city hospital 1 1/2 hours from home, schlepping back and forth between 3 huge buildings that I'm unfamiliar with for a multitude of tests.  I don't own a pump, they have never done much for me.  I use formula if for some reason I'm not able to nurse and I was hoping to have had him weaned before my surgery (it turns out that they got me in sooner than expected).  I would not have had time to pump between all of the appointments anyway.  So I put on a padded bra with nursing pads and brought along an extra shirt just in case.  I figured since we are dealing with my thyroid that is perfectly visible while wearing a v-neck shirt that I would not need to undress for anything. 

By the time I got taken into an exam room for an EKG (which I was pretty much clueless about because I've never had one) I'm really engorged and uncomfortable.  And the technician asks me to lie down on the table and pull my bra and shirt up above my breasts so she can put the sensors on my chest!  She stuck about 5 sensors on each breast and as I'm lying there I can feel milk trickling down my side and there's nothing I can do.  There's no way she didn't notice when she had to remove the sensors and there was a little puddle on the table when I got up.  Thank goodness all I had to do after that was have blood drawn and the female phlebotomist was the only person in the lab with me.  Now I gotta look into renting or buying a pump for my next trip to the hospital simply so I don't wet the operating table because I doubt I could dry up by next Monday!

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Re: Super embarassing nursing mom moment

  • If they have a L&D unit they may have pumps that you can use at the hospital. I used one for free after my d&c. They brought the pump and a parts kit to my room for me when I told them I needed it. I would call the patient advocate line to see if it may be an option for you.
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  • This is going to sound crazy but if you want to dry up quick, get some cabbage and stick it in your bra. It'll dry you up in a day maybe two.

    My friend who misscarried (god bless her) was engorged and SOOO horribly sore and leaking, the OBGYN told her to use cabbage and omg it worked.

    Good luck tho! 

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  • nah82nah82 member

    imageMrsJetSet:
    If they have a L&D unit they may have pumps that you can use at the hospital. I used one for free after my d&c. They brought the pump and a parts kit to my room for me when I told them I needed it. I would call the patient advocate line to see if it may be an option for you.
    I asked when I met with the anesthesiologist about renting from the hospital where I'll be at.  She told me to check with the hospital I delivered at.  They really don't do babies at this hospital since there is a women's hospital and a children's hospital nearby.  I think the hospital I delivered at only has the big suckers that wheel from room to room.  Wondering if I call around to some of the medical supply stores in the area if any of them rent pumps.  Kind of doubtful in a small rural area where people predominantly FF.  Might have to go buy a cheapish one.  It might cost the same as renting one for a week anyway.
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  • nah82nah82 member
    imageElleC22:

    This is going to sound crazy but if you want to dry up quick, get some cabbage and stick it in your bra. It'll dry you up in a day maybe two.

    My friend who misscarried (god bless her) was engorged and SOOO horribly sore and leaking, the OBGYN told her to use cabbage and omg it worked.

    Good luck tho! 

    Nope, doesn't sound crazy to me.  I've heard of using cabbage leaves to reduce foot swelling and breast engorgement.  The nurse who taught the prenatal classes I took recommended this for bfing moms for pain, so I'm not sure that it actually would help dry up any faster but would help with the soreness.  I would try decongestants if I didn't have high blood pressure and not supposed to be taking any meds or vitamins until my surgery now.

    I think I'm kind of having a hard time mentally giving up nursing so soon since I'm past the hard part and we've been doing so well, and he's my last baby.  Logically I don't have a problem using formula and I do already give him a bottle of formula if I'm going to be out, and I think it would be so much easier for my surgery and recovery to switch to all formula.  But then, if I put in the effort of pumping through all of this I could avoid that pain from weaning abruptly, get back to where I am now and be able to save $ we would've spent on formula, not have to wash bottles, and not feel so much like I'm making him grow up too fast (I just feel that way because I nursed my oldest until 9 months).

    I guess my heart is telling me to do everything I can to keep nursing, and my mind is telling me that I'm nuts to put myself through all the extra work when I fundamentally have no problem with formula.  At this point, I'm thinking that even if I completely give up nursing this week, I'll still need to pump next week so I don't have a repeat of the last visit.  If I attempt to continue nursing, I may end up losing my supply anyway due to hormone fluctuations from having my thyroid removed or he may grow overly fond of the bottle while he's staying with my parents for the time I'm in the hospital.  So, definitely torn and trying to work this out.  Sorry for the rambling vent!

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  • imagenamcgee:
     

    By the time I got taken into an exam room for an EKG (which I was pretty much clueless about because I've never had one) I'm really engorged and uncomfortable.  And the technician asks me to lie down on the table and pull my bra and shirt up above my breasts so she can put the sensors on my chest!  She stuck about 5 sensors on each breast and as I'm lying there I can feel milk trickling down my side and there's nothing I can do.  There's no way she didn't notice when she had to remove the sensors and there was a little puddle on the table when I got up. 

    Just wanted to say, I definitely can understand the embarrassment!

    I had to get a 24 hour monitor for a heart condition that was observed postpartum and when the lady was putting the sensors on my chest, my left breast started spraying. Ummmm.... awkward. I wasn't even that full. I quickly grabbed tissues and made my apologies. She said, "No big deal. I've been there myself." It made me feel better and we talked about her babies and her breastfeeding misadventures. I still felt awkward. I mean... I accidentally hosed another person down with my boob. 

    I hope everything turns out okay for you. Sending happy thoughts your way. 

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  • imagenamcgee:

    imageMrsJetSet:
    If they have a L&D unit they may have pumps that you can use at the hospital. I used one for free after my d&c. They brought the pump and a parts kit to my room for me when I told them I needed it. I would call the patient advocate line to see if it may be an option for you.

    I asked when I met with the anesthesiologist about renting from the hospital where I'll be at.  She told me to check with the hospital I delivered at.  They really don't do babies at this hospital since there is a women's hospital and a children's hospital nearby.  I think the hospital I delivered at only has the big suckers that wheel from room to room.  Wondering if I call around to some of the medical supply stores in the area if any of them rent pumps.  Kind of doubtful in a small rural area where people predominantly FF.  Might have to go buy a cheapish one.  It might cost the same as renting one for a week anyway.

    That may be true but I would still call and see how much a rental costs.  We pay 60/mo for a hospital rental.  You pay upfront for a month but they allow weekly rental so that would work out to roughly 15/week.  They just refund you for the other weeks you don't use if you turn it in early.  Lots of the boutique baby stores rent them here too so don't forget to check them if you have some nearby.

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    BFP #2 7/18/11 - EDD 3/29/12 - Born 3/13/12
    BFP #1 4/4/11 - Natural M/C - 7w1d - 4/30/11
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  • I bought a manual pump for about $30 - the Medela Harmony - and I really like it. I only use it occasionally so I'm not sure if it would be enough to keep your supply going, but it's definitely easy to use to pump away from home.  It sounds like you really want to keep breastfeeding, I hope it works out for you!  Good luck with your surgery and whatever you decide.
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  • nah82nah82 member
    haha, thanks for helping me not feel like the only one that has happened to!
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  • nah82nah82 member
    I just called the LC at the hospital I delivered at and she gave me the number for the only place that rents them in the area (an hour drive for me!) and they wanted $55/month plus $45 for the tubing, etc.  So I think I will just buy a miPump, they seem to get good reviews.  I know Evenflo suck from prior experience and a manual will take way too long pumping all day in the hospital, especially if my arm ends up being sore.  At this point, if I don't pump while I'm there I'm going to be hurting, regardless if I decide to continue bfing or not.  So I might as well stick with it!
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