Please tell me how to stop nursing - Page 2

[foreverinbluejeans]

You said you were concerned about your husband having to care for your baby. Since you are not feeling well go to bed with your baby. Put a cooler beside your bed with drinks and snacks.

When my preemie was a couple of weeks old I got pneumonia and septicemia. I got my doctors to release me after 24 hours in the ICU and went home for 3weeks on IV antibiotics. I kept my little baby in bed with me and somehow took care of my two other kids. My husband had deserted us while I was pregnant. Don't know how I did it but I know it can be done. Nurses would come check on us every day but I did 100% of baby care.

You can't tell how much milk your baby is getting when she is breastfeeding. Any milk at all is better than none.

[thepeach80]

Have you had baby's suck strength evaluated and checked for a tongue tie? When she latches on, can you just pull her off w/out breaking the latch? You mentioned it took her a long time to eat w/ the SNS and I was just wondering if that might be an issue. We went through that w/ Ilana and we didn't know (I had a feeling, but no one would say yes, this is a real problem) and my supply went to nowhere land and she was basically FTT at 4 mos b/c of it. She just didn't have a lot of jaw strength so she didn't nurse like she should. It would originally take her 20 mins to get an oz out of a bottle b/c she was so weak. More hugs~

[buttercupmama]

I didn't have mastitis, but I had plugged ducts most likely because of my oversupply. I believe they're dealt with similarly? I could be wrong...anyone please correct me. Well, one day out of the blue, I got a plugged duct. The pain wasn't unbearable but it had only just started and I didn't want it to get worse. So we nursed on that side more than the other while I used light compression and massage on the area. And then...wouldn't you know...the other side started getting a plugged duct too. But I barely even squeezed in bathroom breaks between the nursing and it cleared up within 24 hours.

Luckily, my DD has an insatiable appetite, so it was pretty easy for me in that regard. She had a shallow suck though, so my nipples were always a mess. Thank goodness her mouth grew big enough to handle it by 4 1/2 months. I think I almost lost my mind.

Perhaps try lightly massaging the lumps before you pump too. Also, someone mentioned gravity. If you ever nurse on your back, try to at least keep that to a minimum. Otherwise gravity is working against you then.

I know you're in a lot of pain, some of which is emotional too. Know that it can get better. With anything, you just need to find the right balance of things for you. Breastfeeding was honestly torture for me at first. The ony reason I didn't give up is because I'm the most stubborn person in the world--I think so anyway. While breast is best for baby, mama being sane and well is also best. 6 weeks is better than none. Many don't make it past the first day, so be proud of yourself. You've done a great thing for your baby.

[Mama_2_two]

The first few weeks are so difficult...just remembering back to the newborn weeks after my first baby was born makes my heart start to palpitate as I recall the complete exhaustion and pain.

The best advice my midwife gave me to alleviate the plugs was to put baby to the breast and as babe is nursing, press down quite hard on the lump with your thumb (it's uncomfortable) and continue to press down while nursing...the lump will greatly diminish and should be gone after a session or two. When I switched to an electric pump and threw out the manual one, the plugged ducts diminished. You can use the same 'pressing' technique with an electric pump.

Finally, have your baby checked for a tongue tie..even it's a minor one baby's latch will not be good and will result in a lot of pain and repeated plugged ducts.

Fenugreek and Milk Thistle worked well to increase supply for me.

You are a good mother...do whatever you need to do to get through the day and nourish your new baby..with or without the breast. A happy well-rested mama makes for a happier more content baby...