Had major issues 1st time, any tips this time?

[mrforbes]

Hi,
I'm currently pregnant w/#2 and am trying to get a head start on my bf'ing problems. W/DS I only nursed 5 months (pumping a lot in the end) but we used donor milk until about 16 months because he has really bad allergies. This time I'm determined to BF because of DS's history of bad allergies (esp.food)

W/DS I had constant thrush starting about a week after birth and lasting until the end of nursing, I had recurrent mastitis, Reynaud's & primary vascular spasms ( my mom has these really badly to this day - she once went to the hospital thinking she was having a heart attack and so did they, until they realized it was a vascular spasm) and I kept getting infections in my breast tissue - all this resulted in an autoimmune response resulting in more breast tissue infections. I did pump a lot esp. in the end.

Since stopping nursing I've still had a lot of breast pain, primarily in the spots I kept getting infections in the tissue and then still getting spasms.

Any thoughts on the continuance of pain even after nursing stopped? I REALLY REALLY don't want to go through this again and I REALLY know this baby needs bf. I would also like to not get into pumping esp. for occassional use, I had a great hospital grade pump but it's stressful to have a nursing relationship w/my LO when my nursing relationship is w/a pump. DS didn't have latch issues in the beginning I just couldn't take the pain of actually nursing 24/7.

[ewe+lamb]

I really feel for you, and understand all the difficulties and you did so well, and now you want to breastfeed again, my first response is to recommend the new Womanly Art of Breastfeeding it's a brand new edition and I'm really impressed with the difference between this one and the one it has replaced. Also go to your local LLL meetings now, start meeting up with mothers who have successfully nursed and can support you in your time of need - if it comes to that, you need to set up your own community - surround yourself with successes and compassion. Phone around Lactation consultants make sure that they have th IBCLC qualification and are maybe a LLL Leader as well, somehow I find that they are more compassionate towards mothers - but that's just my experience and maybe not be so for you, do this now so that you can go and see someone as soon as any problems rise rather than fish around once they have occurred. Has the pain in your breasts been there since you finished nursing with DS1 or has it started with your pregnancy? You may need to be super careful and even have a mammogram to rule out any lasting problems, I commend you that you are doing all this before the event and not leaving it to the last minute, make sure that your health care provider is breastfeeding friendly and supportive of your choices so that they don't just start offering artificial milk as a solution to your problems - if they occur. There is the candida diet which you can try - I have done it for a few weeks at a time and although it is really hard it does make a difference, remember Apple Cider Vinegar and Oregano Capsules are great in fighting Thrush.

[mrforbes]

Thanks, I actually have a great IBCLC person who is also a MD who specializes only in breastfeeding mothers (she's awesome!) plus my doula is a lactation counselor who was w/me last time and helped w/my problems then. I feel lucky to be planning another home birth so it's prob. as BF friendly as possible.

Is it possible to have infections and thrush while pregnant and not yet nursing? Because that's how I feel....

[ewe+lamb]

Well, if that's how you feel then it's probably best to get things checked out before it's too late or more difficult to mend - if feel absolutely comfortable with your dr I'd have a chat with them just to see what they think and if there is anything that can be done, you may need a mammogram or something along that line just to make sure that everything is ok from the last time. Personally I think that's what i would do.