Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Hi Everyone, Owen is doing great and gaining like a champ, he just loves breastfeeding! Unfortunately, I couldn't hate it more! My nipples are cracked and painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. So many moms tell me that had the same or similar experiences and somehow they kept breastfeeding, but right now, I want to quit soooooo badly. I have had 2 midwives and my doula watch me and they all said Owen's latch is great. No one will tell me how long it will take for the nipples to heal, and that doesn't give me a lot of hope b/c they are really not getting better. The best time is the middle of the night feeding, b/c he is now sleeping 4-5 hours before he wakes for that, and b/c my nipples have had a good rest, it isn't too painful. But he eats for a really long time (usually about 20 minutes on one breast and then 15 on the other) every 1.5 - 3 hours during the day, so by afternoon, the pain is excruciating again. It hurts to take a shower, it hurts to sleep on my stomach and the pain is really draining me. I have thought about pumping on the worst breast for a couple of days but I really don't think I can feed Owen exclusively on one breast and have him be satisfied, he is such a little milk piggy! I also don't know that the other nipple could do it, I am afraid it will get even worse than it already is. I have tried letting my nipples air out, I have tried lansinoh, I have tried breastmilk on them, and nothing gives me relief. Any words of wisdom to help me through this? Thanks! Debbie deb Christmas gifts for mind, body and spirit http://www.debrasrhapsody.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Debbie, I breastfed all three of my children. I usually used all cotton breast pads in my bra to soak up the leakage that always happened. The only time I got a breast infection was when I substituted the 'throw away' pads that are lined with plastic, that you buy in the grocery stores. I think it was related to a lack of air circulation somehow. It happened on two separate occasions, and I swore those plastic lined thin pads off. I didn't have the cracked nipple thing going, just the breast infection - high fever, flat on the couch type of illness. Also, that only happened with the baby that used the pacifier, don't know if it was related. I hope you get it figured out, it sure can take the wind out of your sails to be sick like that. Pamela Debra McDuffee [deb] Friday, December 10, 2004 6:14 PM Hi Everyone, Owen is doing great and gaining like a champ, he just loves breastfeeding! Unfortunately, I couldn't hate it more! My nipples are cracked and painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. >> SNIP << Any words of wisdom to help me through this? Thanks! Debbie deb Christmas gifts for mind, body and spirit http://www.debrasrhapsody.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Hi Deb! Great to hear from you. You have a couple of people who should be experienced telling you that the baby is latching on correctly. However, you are also experiencing an infection. If I were you I would go to a LLL leader or meeting asap (http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebUS.html) and ask them to watch and make sure the latch is indeed correct. These women have real life experience having supported many mothers exclusively regarding breastfeeding. Next, I am going to give you some options that you may not find in the LLL information pages. Why? A lot of them aren't advocated by LLL who takes a strong stance on 'just keep going.' You obviously are willing to keep going and you have been so now you need more than that. For now, the infection sounds like a continual yeast infection. It would be going back and forth from you to baby. You need to check both you and baby and treat both of you. That infection may keep him nursing pretty long - it's relieving the discomfort to his mouth and you are very soothing and comforting to him! Go to http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/yeast.shtml for some recommendations that have been found to be very effective according to mine and my peers' experiences specifically the Gentian Violet. From Jill, black tea bags boiled for two minutes then placed on the nipples as warm/hot as you can stand them in between feedings a few times a day. Another trick: rub a little Anbesol on your nipples a few minutes before you nurse Owen every few feedings just to give you a break from the pain. One other issue to rule out: an underlying staph infection. Find yourself a good FAMILY practitioner to check you out. A family practitioner will view you as a unit - not always a strong point with pediatricians or a primary care provider. I love family practitioners. You could feed him exclusively on one breast to give your breasts a break. The concerns are that you may not be getting to the root of the problem and that you end up getting comfortable that way and your body gets a different milk supply signal. The amount of feeding Owen is doing I wouldn't worry too much about the latter! The pain would drain anyone and that is the last experience you need right now. Don't quit! Don't give up!! Resolve to do something for your mental and emotional health now: a sniff of rose otto, diffuse your favorite eo blends very lightly around your house, allow others to do what needs to be done around the house and you either nap or just do whatever relaxes you. Let Owen get a bottle feeding - pump for that feeding and have someone feed him for you if you are asleep (or happen to choose for some time alone). Do not worry about this causing nipple confusion. You won't be doing it consistently and for an extended period of time!! Breastfeeding is not always the calm picture usually portrayed but Owen is always worth your effort. This too shall pass. xo Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Debbie, You have mastitis -which is what happens because of 1.Stress, 2. Dehydration 3. Not paying attention to feeding cues (allowing others to hold him when he is providing these cues) and 4. Not enough REST! Did you receive antibiotics during / after your birth? It could be thrush - an oral yeast infection. What are you doing exactly? Are you RESTING when your baby does? Are you drinking plenty of fluid? Are you using HOT compresses to help get milk flowing? Is your baby on a shedule or do you feed on demand with out regards to the clock? For sore nipples - and those of you who are LLL leaders or whatever, don't knock this until you have had sore cracked nipples! Take a Black / Orange Pekoe CAFFIENATED, SINGLE SERVE tea bag and place in a cup of hot water to steep about 5 minutes. Remove the teabag and place it on your breast, over the sore cracked nipple - hot as you can stand it. Leave it til it cools (about 15 to twenty minutes). Repeat 3 times per day. This will heal a cracked sore nipple and the tannic acid in the teabag will avert systemic yeast. (thrush) I have tons more info if you would like it. Tomorrow is Saturday, and my cell minutes are free, so I can call you, if you would like to provide me with your number privately. Jill Mc. Alabama Dress up your holiday email, Hollywood style. Learn more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Hey Deb, CONGRATS on your little bundle of joy What a birth story! You've already gotten some great suggestions and I'm not going to bore you by repeating them ... one thing I can suggest for now is try to get him to switch more often, that way each boob gets a bit of a break during each nursing - even if its say 5-10 minutes on one side, then switch for 5 to 10 and switch back again ... If there is thrush going on, I'd try a wash with a decoction made from the herb taheebo as it is excellent for clearing up thrush and yeast infections (and my teacher in herbology school mentioned that breastfeeding women would, in addition to washing with it, drink it to clear thrush in them and baby). Never fear, you will soon have nipples of steel that can be stretched further than your wildest dreams ever imagined - but they don't just start out that way, it is earned *lol* Do me a favor gal, write me off list with your addy *Smile* Chris (breastfeeding list mom - going to bed for real now, and probably will end up nursing my milk piggy as soon as I get there *lol* http://www.alittleolfactory.com Debra McDuffee [deb] Hi Everyone, Owen is doing great and gaining like a champ, he just loves breastfeeding! Unfortunately, I couldn't hate it more! My nipples are cracked and painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. So many moms tell me that had the same or similar experiences and somehow they kept breastfeeding, but right now, I want to quit soooooo badly. I have had 2 midwives and my doula watch me and they all said Owen's latch is great. No one will tell me how long it will take for the nipples to heal, and that doesn't give me a lot of hope b/c they are really not getting better. The best time is the middle of the night feeding, b/c he is now sleeping 4-5 hours before he wakes for that, and b/c my nipples have had a good rest, it isn't too painful. But he eats for a really long time (usually about 20 minutes on one breast and then 15 on the other) every 1.5 - 3 hours during the day, so by afternoon, the pain is excruciating again. It hurts to take a shower, it hurts to sleep on my stomach and the pain is really draining me. I have thought about pumping on the worst breast for a couple of days but I really don't think I can feed Owen exclusively on one breast and have him be satisfied, he is such a little milk piggy! I also don't know that the other nipple could do it, I am afraid it will get even worse than it already is. I have tried letting my nipples air out, I have tried lansinoh, I have tried breastmilk on them, and nothing gives me relief. Any words of wisdom to help me through this? Thanks! Debbie deb Christmas gifts for mind, body and spirit http://www.debrasrhapsody.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Deb, The advice I got when I was breastfeeding was to use A & D Ointment--I'm not sure if there's petroleum-based product in it but it sure do help tons with the soreness, especially with the cracking. Try putting it on right after nursing (might want to gently rinse off first) and it should be absorbed before the next feeding. HTH, Serra Debra McDuffee wrote: > Hi Everyone, > Owen is doing great and gaining like a champ, he just loves breastfeeding! Unfortunately, I couldn't hate it more! My nipples are cracked and painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. So many moms tell me that had the same or similar experiences and somehow they kept breastfeeding, but right now, I want to quit soooooo badly. I have had 2 midwives and my doula watch me and they all said Owen's latch is great. No one will tell me how long it will take for the nipples to heal, and that doesn't give me a lot of hope b/c they are really not getting better. The best time is the middle of the night feeding, b/c he is now sleeping 4-5 hours before he wakes for that, and b/c my nipples have had a good rest, it isn't too painful. But he eats for a really long time (usually about 20 minutes on one breast and then 15 on the other) every 1.5 - 3 hours during the day, so by afternoon, ! > the pain is excruciating again. It hurts to take a shower, it hurts to sleep on my stomach and the pain is really draining me. I have thought about pumping on the worst breast for a couple of days but I really don't think I can feed Owen exclusively on one breast and have him be satisfied, he is such a little milk piggy! I also don't know that the other nipple could do it, I am afraid it will get even worse than it already is. I have tried letting my nipples air out, I have tried lansinoh, I have tried breastmilk on them, and nothing gives me relief. Any words of wisdom to help me through this? > > Thanks! > Debbie > deb > Christmas gifts for mind, body and spirit > http://www.debrasrhapsody.com > -- eBay Seller ID jadenhaize Check out the opening of my eBay store!! Nice stuff and great prices! http://stores.ebay.com/SerrasSecretSurplus ScentedStuff blog: http://scentedstuff.blogspot.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Hey Debbie, First congrats on little Owen! Second if you really believe in the breastfeeding then just hang in there! I know it can be rough when your nipples are sore. It usually gets better after the first few weeks. When mine were really sore and it hurt so bad when baby fed, I'd close my eyes and do gentle deep breathing to get through the worst of it. Then, I'd look at my precious babies face and somehow just knowing that I believed what I was doing was best for my baby, I made it through it. You can too! Sometimes all we breasfeeding women need is some encouragement to help us get through. You could try rubbing a little unrefined shea butter on them right after a feeding to help with the cracking and it may help ease some of the pain. And...it is generally not a good idea to bottle feed the baby even using your breast milk until baby is 6 weeks old. (if that is what you thought about when referring to pumping) They get " nipple confusion " and then start to reject Mom since the bottle is easier to feed off of. Overall, you go girl! Hang in there and treasure every blessed moment with your precious gift. Thinking of you and wishing you the best and a speedy healing for some relief. Sincerely, Margaret > >Hi Everyone, >Owen is doing great and gaining like a champ, he just loves breastfeeding! >Unfortunately, I couldn't hate it more! My nipples are cracked and >painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, >pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. So many >moms tell me that had the same or similar experiences and somehow they kept >breastfeeding, but right now, I want to quit soooooo badly. I have had 2 >midwives and my doula watch me and they all said Owen's latch is great. No >one will tell me how long it will take for the nipples to heal, and that >doesn't give me a lot of hope b/c they are really not getting better. The >best time is the middle of the night feeding, b/c he is now sleeping 4-5 >hours before he wakes for that, and b/c my nipples have had a good rest, it >isn't too painful. But he eats for a really long time (usually about 20 >minutes on one breast and then 15 on the other) every 1.5 - 3 hours during >the day, so by afternoon, the pain is excruciating again. It hurts to take >a shower, it hurts to sleep on my stomach and the pain is really draining >me. I have thought about pumping on the worst breast for a couple of days >but I really don't think I can feed Owen exclusively on one breast and have >him be satisfied, he is such a little milk piggy! I also don't know that >the other nipple could do it, I am afraid it will get even worse than it >already is. I have tried letting my nipples air out, I have tried >lansinoh, I have tried breastmilk on them, and nothing gives me relief. >Any words of wisdom to help me through this? > >Thanks! >Debbie >deb >Christmas gifts for mind, body and spirit >http://www.debrasrhapsody.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 >Never fear, you will soon have nipples of steel that can be stretched >further than your wildest dreams ever imagined - but they don't just >start out that way, it is earned *lol* ROFLMAO! What a great way to look at it! I am done nursing my little milk piggies but I definately " earned " what I got. teehee Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 This is good advice. I breastfed both of my kids. My first, I did everything the nurses told me and I produced milk like a walking cow and while I didn't get engorged or an infection, I still got sore, swollen nipples. Using the tea bag is good. I would have done that had I known, but I just used a hot rag and basically you do have to stick with it. My soreness went away after a week and yes, I was climbing the walls from pain. I thought surely with my second I wouldn't have any problems and again, I got raw, sore nipples and I was doing the hot rag. And it hurt as much as with my first. But the pain does go away after about a week more or less, at least that's my experience. Michele Robles , Jill McDanal <birthmamajill> wrote: > Debbie, > You have mastitis -which is what happens because of 1.Stress, 2. Dehydration 3. Not paying attention to feeding cues (allowing others to hold him when he is providing these cues) and 4. Not enough REST! Did you receive antibiotics during / after your birth? It could be thrush - an oral yeast infection. > > What are you doing exactly? Are you RESTING when your baby does? Are you drinking plenty of fluid? Are you using HOT compresses to help get milk flowing? Is your baby on a shedule or do you feed on demand with out regards to the clock? > > For sore nipples - and those of you who are LLL leaders or whatever, don't knock this until you have had sore cracked nipples! Take a Black / Orange Pekoe CAFFIENATED, SINGLE SERVE tea bag and place in a cup of hot water to steep about 5 minutes. Remove the teabag and place it on your breast, over the sore cracked nipple - hot as you can stand it. Leave it til it cools (about 15 to twenty minutes). Repeat 3 times per day. This will heal a cracked sore nipple and the tannic acid in the teabag will avert systemic yeast. (thrush) > > I have tons more info if you would like it. Tomorrow is Saturday, and my cell minutes are free, so I can call you, if you would like to provide me with your number privately. > > Jill Mc. > Alabama > > > > > > > Dress up your holiday email, Hollywood style. Learn more. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 I am going to mostly agree with our wonderful member Wise Ol' Lady Margaret (I totally love her <grinz> I use a good deal of unrefined shea butter in my nipple cream formula, as it is great stuff! One thing I will say about bottle feeding though (and I am a member of The Militant Breastfeeding Cult *lol*) is that if your boobs really NEED a break (and if you have a thrush infection, they very well might) don't feel bad about pumping and feeding the baby once or twice a day with the bottle (Advent bottles are the BEST out there to avoid the nipple confusion issue) until you're feeling better. Better to supplement with some bottled breastmilk a little bit than be in so much pain that you end up giving up breastfeeding all together! *Hugs* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com Margaret Helm-Duell [naturalindulgences] Friday, December 10, 2004 11:51 PM RE: OT: breastfeeding help Hey Debbie, First congrats on little Owen! Second if you really believe in the breastfeeding then just hang in there! I know it can be rough when your nipples are sore. It usually gets better after the first few weeks. When mine were really sore and it hurt so bad when baby fed, I'd close my eyes and do gentle deep breathing to get through the worst of it. Then, I'd look at my precious babies face and somehow just knowing that I believed what I was doing was best for my baby, I made it through it. You can too! Sometimes all we breasfeeding women need is some encouragement to help us get through. You could try rubbing a little unrefined shea butter on them right after a feeding to help with the cracking and it may help ease some of the pain. And...it is generally not a good idea to bottle feed the baby even using your breast milk until baby is 6 weeks old. (if that is what you thought about when referring to pumping) They get " nipple confusion " and then start to reject Mom since the bottle is easier to feed off of. Overall, you go girl! Hang in there and treasure every blessed moment with your precious gift. Thinking of you and wishing you the best and a speedy healing for some relief. Sincerely, Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 My nipples are cracked and painful, I had a breast infection all last week -- high fever, bedrest, pain, yuck! -- and I am just not sure how to fix it at this point. My friend Maggie makes an awesome salve that has healed the breasts of many nursing moms. It is cheap, it is so safe you could spread it on bread and eat it, and it makes an effective and safe lip balm too. Just olive oil, plantain, comfrey, chickweed, all organic, and a bit of beeswax. Get some, OK? While you are waiting for it, try a poultice of cabbage leaves. Just wilt them a bit and apply them to your breasts. Here is the link to Maggie: www.flyinghandsfarm.addr.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2004 Report Share Posted December 12, 2004 Christine, I'd have to say that even with pumping, your nipples can get sore. My second child had trouble latching on, so I was predominantly pumping and I had the Avent Isis handheld pump (best pump I ever owned), but I still wound up with sore breasts. Michele Robles , " Christine Ziegler " <chrisziggy@e...> wrote: > I am going to mostly agree with our wonderful member Wise Ol' Lady > Margaret (I totally love her <grinz> > > I use a good deal of unrefined shea butter in my nipple cream formula, > as it is great stuff! > > One thing I will say about bottle feeding though (and I am a member of > The Militant Breastfeeding Cult *lol*) is that if your boobs really NEED > a break (and if you have a thrush infection, they very well might) don't > feel bad about pumping and feeding the baby once or twice a day with the > bottle (Advent bottles are the BEST out there to avoid the nipple > confusion issue) until you're feeling better. Better to supplement with > some bottled breastmilk a little bit than be in so much pain that you > end up giving up breastfeeding all together! > > *Hugs* > Chris (list mom) > http://www.alittleolfactory.com > > > > > Margaret Helm-Duell [naturalindulgences@h...] > Friday, December 10, 2004 11:51 PM > > RE: OT: breastfeeding help > > > Hey Debbie, > > First congrats on little Owen! > > Second if you really believe in the breastfeeding then just hang in > there! > I know it can be rough when your nipples are sore. It usually gets > better > after the first few weeks. When mine were really sore and it hurt so > bad > when baby fed, I'd close my eyes and do gentle deep breathing to get > through > the worst of it. Then, I'd look at my precious babies face and somehow > just > knowing that I believed what I was doing was best for my baby, I made it > > through it. You can too! Sometimes all we breasfeeding women need > is > some encouragement to help us get through. > > You could try rubbing a little unrefined shea butter on them right after > a > feeding to help with the cracking and it may help ease some of the pain. > > And...it is generally not a good idea to bottle feed the baby even using > > your breast milk until baby is 6 weeks old. (if that is what you thought > > about when referring to pumping) They get " nipple confusion " and then > start > to reject Mom since the bottle is easier to feed off of. > > Overall, you go girl! Hang in there and treasure every blessed moment > with > your precious gift. > > Thinking of you and wishing you the best and a speedy healing for some > relief. > > Sincerely, > Margaret > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Hey Chris, >I am going to mostly agree with our wonderful member Wise Ol' Lady >Margaret (I totally love her <grinz> You're so sweet.. > >I use a good deal of unrefined shea butter in my nipple cream formula, >as it is great stuff! > >One thing I will say about bottle feeding though (and I am a member of >The Militant Breastfeeding Cult *lol*) is that if your boobs really NEED >a break (and if you have a thrush infection, they very well might) don't >feel bad about pumping and feeding the baby once or twice a day with the >bottle (Advent bottles are the BEST out there to avoid the nipple >confusion issue) until you're feeling better. Better to supplement with >some bottled breastmilk a little bit than be in so much pain that you >end up giving up breastfeeding all together! > Good to know. Been out of the bottles and breastfeeding for almost 2 years now. I did hear those bottles are the best. I agree too with you about the being in so much pain that you give it up. I am such an advocate of it really. And hugs backatcha (()) Margaret ps. this was the last email I got then bumped me, said I was bouncing. Oops. So I may have missed out and need to go catch up in the archives. >*Hugs* >Chris (list mom) >http://www.alittleolfactory.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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