Tendinitis from bfing « Back to Group Discussions

[cat13]

Anyone else here dealing with tendinitis? My left wrist is killing me lately, and I dropped a large binder this morning when I tried to balance it in my hand while holding my coffee in the other hand. I imagine it's related to bfing, so I've been trying to reduce the pressure on that area, but I swear I can't find a comfortable way to use pillows for bfing. I have the Boppy and My Brest Friend and lots of bed/couch pillows and not much works, so I usually just bf without pillows.

I was reading that chiropractic care could help. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by cat13 

Anyone else here dealing with tendinitis? My left wrist is killing me lately, and I dropped a large binder this morning when I tried to balance it in my hand while holding my coffee in the other hand. I imagine it's related to bfing, so I've been trying to reduce the pressure on that area, but I swear I can't find a comfortable way to use pillows for bfing. I have the Boppy and My Brest Friend and lots of bed/couch pillows and not much works, so I usually just bf without pillows.

I was reading that chiropractic care could help. Does anyone have any experience with this?

It can, with some much more helpful than others.

Massage is also awesome.

Charlie has gotten big enough now that I sit in my recliner or a chair with arms, have him straddle my left leg, at an angle and nurse the right boob. Then my arm is on the arm of the chair and under his head, supporting him, but nothing hurts my wrists because mine were getting unhappy, too. Would this work for you? I can take a picture if needed, no problem :)

He's too big for pillows, I think, it's uncomfy for us both.

Also! As a massage therapist, my wrists are cranky. What would be very helpful is an ice bath. It hurts so I'm whiny about it, but eh.

You fill up your kitchen sink with cold water (or something that's big enough that you can soak your arms up to your elbows), add a whole ice tray of of ice. Not really in that order. Try for a minute with your whole hands and forearms in there. I often do 30 seconds, pull out, whine a lot and then do the next 30. It'll numb you up so you feel better right away and it helps decrease swelling so it helps keep things better over time.

Also, then you can run around the house touching people and they'll be all sad because you're cold. Very fun :) Daily is best but it's hard to want to.
 

[cat13]

I'll try the ice bath tonight, thanks. I think I'll wait until Colin gets home so there is someone to hear me whine. :P

I can't quite get the leg straddle thing to work yet. My boobs are so small that his head has to be just right to nurse, maybe when he gets a little more core body control?

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by cat13 

I'll try the ice bath tonight, thanks. I think I'll wait until Colin gets home so there is someone to hear me whine. :P

I can't quite get the leg straddle thing to work yet. My boobs are so small that his head has to be just right to nurse, maybe when he gets a little more core body control?

Maybe so! Mine aren't small at all, so it makes some things easier, some things harder. Have you looked at BFing books or anything for positions? I haven't but I think about it ;)

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Beckily 

Maybe so! Mine aren't small at all, so it makes some things easier, some things harder. Have you looked at BFing books or anything for positions? I haven't but I think about it ;)

All I really see in them is for newborn and small babies: cradle (what we do while awake), side lying (what we do while in bed), cross cradle (yeah right!) , and football hold (never could figure this one out). La Leche League talks about Laid Back Breastfeeding which is leaning back on the couch/chair and having the baby drape themselves over you, but that's really awkward for us, and I need like 10 pillows to make it work.

Maybe I gave up too soon on the leg straddling thing... gotta try it again tomorrow. 

[Baby_Cakes]

I don't have the tendonitis but I'm having trouble being comfortable while nursing, too.  River is huge too, right?  I'm just overwhelmed having a toddler sized infant with no real body control.  Everything hurts - neck, back, legs even.  It's crazy.  I have small boobies too, so I really have to support his weight somehow and it's tough.

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

I don't have the tendonitis but I'm having trouble being comfortable while nursing, too.  River is huge too, right?  I'm just overwhelmed having a toddler sized infant with no real body control.  Everything hurts - neck, back, legs even.  It's crazy.  I have small boobies too, so I really have to support his weight somehow and it's tough.

Yes, I guess he's around 20lbs and 30" long now. I'm trying to recognize when he's going to fall asleep nursing, so we can just go directly to the bed to nurse lying down. It seems like the extended sleepy-nursey while sitting up is what really kills me. Any luck with side lying nursing for Finn yet?

[Italiamom]

Martha isn't nearly as big as River, but she's still fairly hefty (16lbs), and nurse almost exclusively side lying these days. I let DS bring toys onto the bed, or watch TV on the laptop next to me, and I just lay around a lot. She seems more comfortable not being constantly shifted in the chair, and my parts don't fall asleep. I was getting tingling in my forearms, but I really only nurse her sitting up maybe twice a day now, and it has gone away.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by cat13 

Yes, I guess he's around 20lbs and 30" long now. I'm trying to recognize when he's going to fall asleep nursing, so we can just go directly to the bed to nurse lying down. It seems like the extended sleepy-nursey while sitting up is what really kills me. Any luck with side lying nursing for Finn yet?

Finn is also just over 20 lbs but not quite 30".  Man we make big boys in this DDC.  No luck side lying.  Idk - I haven't tried in a good long while, maybe in over a month.  Maybe I'll try again.  When I'm not too tired.  That way if it doesn't work I won't be *as* annoyed by all the puke.

But seriously, nobody else's baby has issues with puke coming from their nose when they side lie nurse?  Nobody?  Hmm.

On the couch at least I've invented my own position.  Kind of like toddler football hold with me holding his head.  He sits on the couch next to me, and faces me, leaning over toward me.  Once he can sit unassisted this will work like magic.  It also drains the lower ducts in my boob so they don't continuously hurt.  Only thing is he can't fall asleep that way so...

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Italiamom 

Martha isn't nearly as big as River, but she's still fairly hefty (16lbs), and nurse almost exclusively side lying these days. I let DS bring toys onto the bed, or watch TV on the laptop next to me, and I just lay around a lot. She seems more comfortable not being constantly shifted in the chair, and my parts don't fall asleep. I was getting tingling in my forearms, but I really only nurse her sitting up maybe twice a day now, and it has gone away.

Maybe I just need to camp out on the bed more often too. Weekend plans = check!

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Finn is also just over 20 lbs but not quite 30".  Man we make big boys in this DDC.  No luck side lying.  Idk - I haven't tried in a good long while, maybe in over a month.  Maybe I'll try again.  When I'm not too tired.  That way if it doesn't work I won't be *as* annoyed by all the puke.

But seriously, nobody else's baby has issues with puke coming from their nose when they side lie nurse?  Nobody?  Hmm.

On the couch at least I've invented my own position.  Kind of like toddler football hold with me holding his head.  He sits on the couch next to me, and faces me, leaning over toward me.  Once he can sit unassisted this will work like magic.  It also drains the lower ducts in my boob so they don't continuously hurt.  Only thing is he can't fall asleep that way so...

I'm not sure if he's 20" yet, but he was 18.5 at our last WBV and is definitely longer now. I swear he's gonna be taller than me any day now.

I have to try this position you describe when I get home today! Hopefully having him face me doesn't distract him too much. One thing I like about the cradle hold is that he looks mostly at my arm, which is kinda boring, so doesn't get distracted. While lying down, it's only cute the first couple of times he pulls off and looks up at me with a big toothless grin while milk sprays on his face!
 

[MayM]

If the change in positions doesn't fix things, I would highly recommend acupuncture!

I had terrible carpal tunnel in both hands in my second trimester and acupuncture was the only that helped.

I went from constant pain and numbness from my hands to my elbows, to being pain free after six weeks of regular acupuncture.

I'm not sure where you live, but here in Boston there are "community acupuncture" offices that have a sliding scale of $15-30 per visit which made it affordable for us.

I believe there are similar offices in many other places as well.

Good luck!

[cat13]

May, I've been considering that as well. I'm going to contact my chiro's office and see what they say. They have chiro, accupuncture and massage. Thanks!

[elove]

us - not puke but milk comes out of her nose sometimes, is that weird?

i lay on the couch and drape her across my chest and have her nurse. i usually need a pillow under my elbow on the side she is nursing. her feet usually are on the couch on my side so that takes a bit weight off..

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Finn is also just over 20 lbs but not quite 30".  Man we make big boys in this DDC.  No luck side lying.  Idk - I haven't tried in a good long while, maybe in over a month.  Maybe I'll try again.  When I'm not too tired.  That way if it doesn't work I won't be *as* annoyed by all the puke.

But seriously, nobody else's baby has issues with puke coming from their nose when they side lie nurse?  Nobody?  Hmm.

On the couch at least I've invented my own position.  Kind of like toddler football hold with me holding his head.  He sits on the couch next to me, and faces me, leaning over toward me.  Once he can sit unassisted this will work like magic.  It also drains the lower ducts in my boob so they don't continuously hurt.  Only thing is he can't fall asleep that way so...

[Baby_Cakes]

I suppose it's milk, then some snot, then it chokes him and he can't breathe.

But ladies, breakthrough!! At 6 this morning, I tried side lying and it worked!! No issues!! If nothing else , maybe we can do it to sleep in a little!!

Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

I suppose it's milk, then some snot, then it chokes him and he can't breathe.
But ladies, breakthrough!! At 6 this morning, I tried side lying and it worked!! No issues!! If nothing else , maybe we can do it to sleep in a little!!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

[Jbouck5]

I don't know what it is exactly, but I have had major issues with my left wrist fir a few years now, and hedging around my 17lbs of baby has really exacerbated it. The ways I cope are: I still use my boppy when i am at home on the couch, it allows me to nurse pretty much hands free. If I'm not using the boppy, i have E sitting in the cradle made by my legs (I always sit Indian style) and just sort of cradle her upper body to help keep her in position.

[Jbouck5]

Ps. My boobs are medium sized

[Ree Tee]

Yes, I've been having issues with my left wrist for a couple of months. It actually feels a bit better than it did when the pain started; when I move my wrist in certain positions I get sharp pains...I figured it came from how I was carrying the baby, as well as nursing positions...

Edited by Ree Tee - 1/18/12 at 9:58pm

[cat13]

Irene, I'm sorry you've had pain as well. 

I went to my chiro last week. He did TENS treatment, heat, and massage on my wrist, he adjusted my neck and back, and recommended a wrist brace for a couple weeks to rest it. 1 week later and it still feels the same, but the brace does remind me to go easy on that wrist. I might go again next week. My insurance covers chiro with a $15 co-pay, so I should take advantage of it, but it's hard to find the time when I'm working full time right now. 

[Beckily]

My arms are killing me :) And I don't WANNA ice them :P