- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
February 2013 Moms
KD79
member
My Breastfeeding Journey
KD79
member
So, breastfeeding has not gone well. At all. And I'm a BTDT mom. I wanted to share my journey in case anyone else is experiencing something like this and needs some support.
Lucas is 9 weeks old now. In the hospital, he latched on like a champ and really took to nursing. We didn't have any problems, aside from the second day he seemed very gassy and wanted to nurse constantly.
The first couple weeks were fine, aside from him nursing VERY frequently. During week 3, he all of a sudden became totally miserable. He would cry in pain, his stomach would gurgle and rumble, and he had frequent diarrhea. This continued for a couple of weeks, until I decided that even though he was nursing well, we needed help.
I met with the LC at my OB's office when he was 5 weeks old. She told me that he was eating so frequently (every 40 minutes to an hour during the day) because he had developed a bad habit and that I needed to let him cry and space the feedings out to two hours. She also told me that he probably had a milk protein sensitivity and that I should cut dairy out of my diet and that it would take 3 weeks to see whether or not that worked. And finally, she told me what I already knew, that I had a forceful letdown (milk ejection reflex) and that was probably causing him some gas issues as well. We talked about me block feeding to see if things would help.
I left the appointment discouraged but also hopeful that we could work through everything. I stopped eating dairy that day.
Two weeks later, my son was still nursing frequently despite our efforts and I gave up on making him cry (it was heartbreaking), he was still having forceful diarrhea, which was then mucousy, and he started spitting up. Basically, he was still pretty miserable (as was I).
So, I called and made an appointment to see the LC at the hospital where I delivered. In that office, they also have a pediatrician that specializes in breastfeeding.
We had our appointment last Wednesday. After a thorough exam of Lucas and my nips, our history, and watching him nurse, they determined the following:
1. I have a forceful letdown
2. Lucas likely had acid reflux
3. Lucas was transferring about 3 oz of milk every time he nursed and because he nursed so frequently, he was overeating. He was nursing so frequently because of the acid reflux, and the overeating was then causing his gas and other tummy issues, and also making his acid reflux worse.
4. The diarrhea could be related to a milk protein sensitivity, but there was a test that we could run that would tell us if it was likely an issue.
I left the appointment with an Rx for Zantac for Lucas, and with instructions on how to collect stool samples so that the tests could be run to help determine why he was having diarrhea.
A week later, we don't have the test results back, but Lucas is now eating more like every 2 to 2.5 hours, he's MUCH less fussy and isn't really spitting up anymore. He's also now sleeping about 5 hours in a row during his first sleep stretch at night.
Of course, we are now also dealing with thrush (Holy PITA!!! especially if you are a working mom who then has to go home and boil all your pump parts and bottle parts each night).
And finally, I have an excess lipase issue this time around, which means that the lipase works quickly at breaking down the fats in my breast milk and instead of it staying good in the fridge for about 7 days, it develops a funky smell and horrible taste after 2. So, in order to salvage any of the milk that I pump that I want to keep longer than 2 days, I have to scald it and then freeze it. Doesn't that sound like fun? IT'S NOT.
I am definitely pro breastfeeding (actually, I'm really pro "whatever works best for you and your family), but I think every person has their limits. I'm right at my limit. Yesterday I learned that I will likely be boiling bottle and pump parts, taking medication, and applying Newmans All Purpose Nipple Ointment for at least another two weeks...and then I may need to do it all again because thrush is so pervasive. Formula may not even be an option for us even if I hit my limit, because if Lucas really does have a milk protein sensitivity, it's a lot easier to control with my limited diet than by switching him to formula.
Long story short...if you have any of these issues going on, feel free to reach out to me. I seem to have become in expert in almost all of the breastfeeding issues that you can encounter!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: My Breastfeeding Journey
Wow it's been quite a journey for you so far! I'm sorry you're dealing with all of that!
We are dealing with some of the same issues. LO has reflux and we are on Zantac for that as well.
I also have a forceful letdown, and LO ha
my blog :: the domestic wannabe
Yowza! That's... ooph. It's nice to know I'm not the only one hanging in there through troubled times.
I actually came on this board to share my experiences. I didn't want to invade your board, so I'll just leave a link and be on my merry little way
Tuplip114, you can feed the baby in a reclined position, use the football hold to keep baby more upright, unlatch baby during letdown and spray into a towel (if you spray, I don't...I apparently just drip really fast!!), or even pump a tiny bit during