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October 2014 Moms
Breastfeeding Links & Talk
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Breastfeeding Links & Talk
I woke up very achy, have a fever of 99.8, and my whole left breast is very sore, tender. Its especially the top and outside under arm. Its a little red but no streaks or pus. And no specific area with a lump. Also when do I get help and who do I go to-my OB?
Ive tried warm compresses, massages, and pumping.
She has wet diapers but her poops are more like...well, wet farts. She has a good dirty diaper about every other day but almost every wet diaper has some poop in it.
I'll try to keep this short:
We had a tough first couple of days, including the lactation consultant and nurses at the hospital telling me her mouth was too small while frantically trying to get her to latch. I left the hospital with a painful patch, but hoped we would figure it out at home. I did see a different lactation consultant when LO was a week old and she said the latch was good, but I'm still in a lot of pain that seems to increase throughout her feeding and am getting the "lipstick" shaped nipple when she's done.
I've watched tons of videos and read all kinds of tips and feel like I'm doing everything right. It seems like LO's jaw is really tight and even if I can get her to open wide at the beginning, she tenses up as she continues feeding. Pulling down on her chin either doesn't do anything or makes her tense up even more.
I'm planning on making another appointment with the lactation consultant on Monday and/or going to the local LLL meeting on Wednesday, but figured I'd see if any of you have had a similar issue (tight jaw) or if it's possible she just has a small mouth like they said at the hospital.
Sorry this is so long! If I have any luck I will certainly share in case anyone else is in the same situation!
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/
Sounds to me, based on your symptoms, like a call to your OB is in order. Best of luck!
@MrMrsandBaby Some 3wk olds nurse every 2-3 hours and others nurse every hour - even less! It's really normal for young babies to nurse often, both for comfort and for nutrition, and growth spurts are very frequent early on. Nursing on demand ensures that LO's needs will be met, whether she's growing, about to hit a developmental milestone, fighting off a bug, or just nursing a normal amount for her.
@Cantisa Hydration is really important for nursing mothers, but not getting enough to drink today won't affect your supply. Chronic severe dehydration could have an effect, but that's unlikely. Just drink to thirst. Here's some more info:
https://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-calories-fluids/
Pumping 2oz is a great yield for a breastfeeding mom who is pumping in addition to all normal feeds. You may find that your yield increases somewhat after consistent pumping. Also, as you become better and better at pumping, you may get a bit more. Breast massage and compressions can help increase pump yield too.
@sweetadeline31 This does sound normal. Might be her normal or might be a growth spurt. Are you able to nap at all during the day when baby does? That could help get you a few extra total hours each day. ((Hugs)) I know it's exhausting. It really isn't like this forever - I promise!
You could always see if you can keep her awake and nursing a little longer, maybe offer the second breast (or the first one again if she nursed at both), and see if she sleeps a slightly longer stretch after a longer feeding. It may or may not have an effect - breastmilk metabolizes fast and she might be ready for another feeding soon regardless, since she's a growing newborn!
@Katedann The lipstick shape does indicate a shallow latch. Have you tried laid-back breastfeeding? The LLL Leader or LC can give you some tips on how to nurse in this position, which works with gravity to help LO get a good, deep latch. Also make sure you're not holding baby's head or neck tightly when you're nursing in cradle/cross cradle/football positions, and maybe ask the LC or LLL Leader to rule out lip ties (and tongue tie). Good luck!
I feel so sad for her she spits up a lot Everytime I feed her lately. I try not to lay her on her back right afterward but it doesn't matter.
Eta: After she is sick, she wants to eat again right away.
Spitting up usually peaks between 2-4 months. It's also very common when mom has an oversupply, so if you have a bit of an oversupply, she may spit up less as your supply regulates.
I guess this is really a rant. I'm just frustrated that I've had very little improvement. I had what I thought was a great day on Thursday but by the third session in a row my nipples were a mess. The LCs that have seen my nipples have commented on how bad they look and that they haven't seen this much damage in a while. The abrasions that look like oval shaped white blisters that cover half of one side of my nipple have not improved at all. It looks like a blister but the LC and OB think it's just nipple trauma. Unfortunately the mostly pumping and letting them heal has only worked enough for me to get in one or two pain free sessions before they need to heal again. I know it can take time to improve her latching following the tongue and lip procedure, but I'm
not sure how she will ever learn if I can't tolerate her nursing more than a couple times a day. It just feels like an endless cycle of the same thing.
I know my baby will be fine no matter how I feed her, it's the not being able to do something I've worked hard to do that is hard to deal with mentally. I just needed to get all that out. Thanks for listening.
She also is not birth weight yet. Shouldn't I be feeding on demand? I feel like I am getting conflicting info. :-<
I've been researching ways to improve the latch and have been using the cross cradle hold, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. My right nipple has the lipstick look, but it's the one that hurts less. It's the smaller of my two nipples, so I think that's why he has an easier time latching, but it still hurts and it still looks like lipstick. When I was in the hospital this nipple was doing great, nice and elongated after baby detached from feeding, so I really have no idea how this all went to shit as soon as I'm home.
Left nipple is different. This has always been my slightly bigger breast, and the nipple on it is bigger/puffier than the right nipple. I honestly think it's too big for his mouth. Even when he opens wide and takes a big "bite", a good amount of areola still shows. This nipple doesn't have the lipstick look, instead it is flat on top with deep horizontal creases in the circumference. The pain on this side is seriously excruciating. It feels like my LO has a mouth made of glass shards when he feeds (most of the pain is in the areola where his lips are latched). I have tears in my eyes right now just thinking about being due for another feed on this side.
I will be contacting the LC first thing tomorrow since the office is closed today, but I need help or some insight/suggestions. LO also has a pedi appointment and they will have another look at his tongue tie (LC in the hospital did say it looked like he has a slight one but didn't think it needed to be clipped). I just don't know how I'll get through the night like this
@FamousEa Is LO congested? Could he have a cold or an ear infection? Try some different positions to see if he will latch onto that breast in another position.
I plan on going back to the Breastfeeding support group tomorrow for support and some time with a LC.
I really hope this gets better soon.
Is she uncomfortable from spitting up? Because there's really nothing that needs to be done about it unless she's in pain. It should go away on its own in the next several weeks.
I'm sorry you're having such a rough time and are in so much pain. Calling an IBCLC tomorrow morning is an excellent plan. As much as you can, leave your nipples open to the air (go shirtless or wear a sweater or button down shirt open) and express breastmilk onto your nipples and allow them to dry. If necessary, nurse LO for tonight on the good side and pump the side with the trauma.
((hugs)) and best of luck! Let us know how it goes with the IBCLC!
Pump after a morning feeding, when your supply is highest.
My babe is four weeks old on Tuesday and feeding ALL DAY pretty much. She only goes about an hour (or less) before she's hungry again...she's either eating, asleep, or fussy for the most part. She will also nurse for looong periods of time. She isn't always transferring, but if I unlatch her instead of waiting for her to unlatch, she gets mad. She also does the sticking out the tongue/sucking motion hunger signal immediately after a good feeding. Is she really always hungry? My boobs are constantly feeling flat and empty bc she's eating so frequently, and my nipples are sore even though her latch is great (we have seen an LC and had her tie clipped) just from the amount of time she spends nursing. I know it could be a growth spurt; but she had kinda been like this since birth. Am I not making enough? She has plenty of wet/dirty diapers and gaining fine; so I don't think that's it, but I just don't know what else it could be! I can also only pump about .5 oz after morning feeding (been pumping for a week).
My mom suggested that she just has a strong need to suck, but I've tried five different kinds of pacifiers and can't get her to take one.
Any tips/suggestions/ideas?
I should also add I burp her well and she doesn't really spit up, and I keep her upright after feedings, so I don't think the fussiness is gas or reflux.
DD born Oct 2014 via C-Section (footling breech)
Baby #2 (AND #3...SURPRISE!) Due Nov 17, 2016. Found out it was twins at 18+5!
As for comfort nursing, LO has spent 10 months being snuggled by you, and having every need met such that she never knew she had any needs! Now she is experiencing hunger, needing to pee and poop, sensations of cold and hot, direct light and noises and other stimuli. You are safety and warmth and comfort and food, and she doesn't yet realize that you and she aren't one and the same.
Also, check this out!! https://www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/2012/9/21/diaper-output-milk-intake-in-the-early-weeks.html
"...diaper output measures, when applied in the home setting, show too much overlap between infants with adequate versus inadequate breast milk intake to serve as stand-alone indicators of breastfeeding adequacy...While it can be helpful to track diaper output on a daily basis between regular checkups, diaper output alone cannot substitute for an accurate weight and other indicators of good milk intake, such as alertness, responsiveness, and growth in length and head circumference."
I was also wondering about diet - I think my LO has her freak outs due to gas so wondering if my diet is making her so uncomfortable. I will eat asparagus wrapped in beets with a side of grilled kale to get 3 straight hours sleep....
Someday her feedings will be like 5 mins total.
Allow her to finish the first breast first, then offer the second. She may or may not need the other breast.
Contrary to common belief, your diet won't make baby gassy (sensitivities to proteins and other components of foods that pass into your bloodstream can cause reflux and other symptoms, though). Breastmilk is made from your blood, not from your digestive system, so the onions and broccoli that make you gassy won't make baby gassy.
Newborns are gassy because of the immaturity of their digestive systems and because they take in air when they latch and cry. Attending to them quickly to limit crying and making sure she has a good latch will help. Also burping during feedings.
This is for you too, @PurpleHippo19
FFMC If my baby is crying and chomping her hands at an hour I'm feeding her no questions asked.
I thought it was weird advice.
These misinformed pedis make me want to pull all my hair out! I suppose someone had to graduate bottom of their class in med school...
ETA: sorry. Hormones. I'm sure your pedi is really good and just made a not so great rec. I'm just sleep-deprived and grouchy
Got our prescriptions and now to sterilize everything. I plan on exclusively breast feeding her just to avoid the daily sterilization. It just sucks, because I'm pretty sure I contaminated the gripe water I've been using...
And we got her to latch without the shield today. Woohoo for a successful tongue tie clip!