Struggling Breastfeeding my 10 m/o

[jihan]

This is my first post, and just like many who break their silence, I need help.

My nearly 10 m/o DS and I have had a series of struggles with breastfeeding since he was born - postpartum hemorrhage, posterior tongue tie, a maxillary labia, bad latch, doctor mandated formula supplementation, low milk supply, you name it we've gone through it.  After about 3 months of hell, even though I'm a working mother, we've enjoyed an EBF relationship due to daycare being steps away from my office and having a workplace flexible enough to let me leave multiple times a day to feed him.  I'm so lucky.  

He's an early teether - he has 8 teeth, started at 5 months, and that hasn't been great for his latch, no matter how much we've worked on correcting it.  We cosleep and his latch at night is even worse.

A month ago we started to get thrush.  This was nicely timed with the return of my cycles.  His pediatrician spotted a mild case on him and diagnosed me with it.  Some diflucan and nystatin cleared it up really quickly but not before his latch that had never been too great cracked both areolas.  I immediately reverted to my training from the early days - saline/vinegar rinse 2x a day, APNO after every feeding.  Both sides healed a bit, and then as one nearly closed up the other randomly got worse, no matter how well I treated it.  It's now the size of a pencil eraser, and the nearly healed side has just broken open again, too.  His latch seems to be getting EVEN worse, as it feels like he's chewing me at night rather than nursing anymore.  I'm also extra sensitive post ovulation, which isn't fun.  

I've just been to my midwife and she recommended Soothies + Aquafor but that seems to be doing nothing at all.  The guy at the natural remedy store suggested tamanu oil to help encourage tissue regeneration, which I've been trying... but none of it seems to be closing them up.  

The latch, in addition to chewing, is accompanied by a distractable baby that keeps turning his head to look at stuff that's going on behind him with my nipple still clamped between his teeth.  I'm wondering if that's doing more damage than the latch itself.

Would anyone have any suggestions of what I can do to fix this?  I don't want it to get even worse.

Thank you!

[stephbrownthinks]

Maybe someone else will chime in with an idea for helping the healing... but in the meantime what about a nipple shield? it might give you just enough protection from the teeth that it helps you heal. Also what about coconut oil? thats usually my go to remedy for anything skin related, and its fine if your little one ingests some. Maybe you should cross post in health and healing?

[PatioGardener]

nak

oh mama, you have been through the wringer!

i can only suggest for 1 issue right now.  distractable baby... why not try a nursing necklace?  it helps mine to focus on one thing as he nurses.

[sosurreal09]

I've got a biter too! When she bites me I put her down and say ouch you hurt mama! She cries of course and I give her a hug and say be nice to milkies.

As far as night time goes maybe he doesn't need the milk at night anymore? Try soothing him another way.

I second trying a shield for a little while.

[PatioGardener]

oh for got to add - the steroid in APNO can actually thin the skin with prolonged use, so you may want to try just a bacterial ointment, or just a cream for thrush if needed, while you have healing issues.

[jihan]

Wow, you're so right.  I stopped using the APNO yesterday, and overnight both wounds started healing.  I also bought some LilyPads instead of using the absorbent disposable pads to keep the wounds moist and they're closing up!  

Thank you ladies!!!    A month of all this and all I needed was serious moist healing.  I had tried Soothies, but they slid around a lot.  I used the disposable pads with Lansinoh but the Lansinoh just disappeared within minutes (because it was being absorbed into the pad, duh! silly me).  

The LilyPads are silicone and non absorbent and they stick, omg do they stay in place.  It's like a wish and a dream.

Thank you again.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by jihan 

Wow, you're so right.  I stopped using the APNO yesterday, and overnight both wounds started healing.  I also bought some LilyPads instead of using the absorbent disposable pads to keep the wounds moist and they're closing up!  

Thank you ladies!!!    A month of all this and all I needed was serious moist healing.  I had tried Soothies, but they slid around a lot.  I used the disposable pads with Lansinoh but the Lansinoh just disappeared within minutes (because it was being absorbed into the pad, duh! silly me).  

The LilyPads are silicone and non absorbent and they stick, omg do they stay in place.  It's like a wish and a dream.

Thank you again.

YAY!   So glad to hear!  I hope you are able to keep nursing   come back if any other issues come up - the mamas here have lots of info to share and some may work for you and your baby.
 

[jihan]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

As far as night time goes maybe he doesn't need the milk at night anymore? Try soothing him another way.

If only I could figure out how to soothe him another way.  He goes ballistic if he doesn't get to nurse every 2-3 hours at night (at least).  I think it's mostly due to the fact that he's in daycare all day and a) doesn't want to feed often because he's too distracted and wants to play and b) wants his Mommy time.   It's the price I pay for working full time I guess. =/

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by jihan 

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

As far as night time goes maybe he doesn't need the milk at night anymore? Try soothing him another way.

If only I could figure out how to soothe him another way.  He goes ballistic if he doesn't get to nurse every 2-3 hours at night (at least).  I think it's mostly due to the fact that he's in daycare all day and a) doesn't want to feed often because he's too distracted and wants to play and b) wants his Mommy time.   It's the price I pay for working full time I guess. =/

I think 10 mo is too young to expect a baby to go without nursing at night.  Mine nurses every 2-3 hours too.  What a great connection for your baby - hard on you, but so wonderful for him. 

[jihan]

That was my instinct.  Thanks for the reassurance. :)

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener 

Originally Posted by jihan 

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

As far as night time goes maybe he doesn't need the milk at night anymore? Try soothing him another way.

If only I could figure out how to soothe him another way.  He goes ballistic if he doesn't get to nurse every 2-3 hours at night (at least).  I think it's mostly due to the fact that he's in daycare all day and a) doesn't want to feed often because he's too distracted and wants to play and b) wants his Mommy time.   It's the price I pay for working full time I guess. =/

I think 10 mo is too young to expect a baby to go without nursing at night.  Mine nurses every 2-3 hours too.  What a great connection for your baby - hard on you, but so wonderful for him. 

Just to clarify, I think it's too young too, BUT some babies do night wean themselves. He isn't nursing if he's just nibbling on you're nipple every 3 hours. I mean is he even getting milk?

My DD is 15 m/o and still nursing at night

[goldenwillow]

I am so glad to see a mama that doesn't give up!  Good for you!  All these posts are fantastic and took the words right outta my mouth!

I have a 18 month DS who is a 2-3 time night nurser to this day! 

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by sosurreal09 

Just to clarify, I think it's too young too, BUT some babies do night wean themselves. He isn't nursing if he's just nibbling on you're nipple every 3 hours. I mean is he even getting milk?

My DD is 15 m/o and still nursing at night

Exactly.  What I meant by 'too young to expect' is if a baby nightweans him/herself at that age then it was right for him/her, but to force a baby to nightwean at that age is imo too young.  I see you agree as you have a night nursling as well

OP, have you thought about calcium and magnesium supplementation for your sensitive ovulation time?  Some mamas have had success with that.

[jihan]

OP, have you thought about calcium and magnesium supplementation for your sensitive ovulation time?  Some mamas have had success with that.

The sensitivity totally went away when I stopped the APNO.  It's pretty amazing how much trouble was being caused by my using the APNO... 
 

My poor baby boy has gotten sick again (damn you, daycare) and I think that's just making life difficult for us all.  I give him Benadryl so he can actually breastfeed (he can't breathe otherwise) and then when he gets off of it it takes days to get back into a good rhythm and sleep, and then he gets sick again.  Blah.

Thank you, Mamas, for all of your help.  I'm still injured, but it's healing (slowly).