Post-Partum Recovery Discussion - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[cristeen]

OneMore - the spot of blood can be normal for little girls, as a reaction to the birth hormones.  Just double check for any other reasons (labial adhesions or similar).  The lump I'd probably keep an eye on and maybe take her in for, depending on my gut feeling. 

[BubbleMa]

Layla had a little bit of blood in her diaper one day.  I freaked out and Googled it.  Apparently it can be completely normal and harmless.  The most common causes are either hormones from birth or swallowing blood from cracked nipples.  There's another thing no one ever tells you about!  No insight about the lump though, sorry.

[Just1More]

Originally Posted by Onemoreontheway 

I got frustrated last night. it was 3 hours straight of nursing and when i would put her down she'd wake and cry. DH had to work and DD2 would wake & start grouching...so  there was no where i could go without bothering someone, the frustration passed quickly but all I could think of was how much easier bottle feeding is.
Managing the nipple shield and the baby and keeping the shield attached - so frustrating sometimes.
I really need to find a way to get an electric breast pump.
 I loathe dealing with the WIC dragon lady. but I think I will call tomorrow morning just so I can get some milk stored up too.

made it 10 days ebf though!!
this is all new to me, and I am just thankful I have not had the skin crawley feeling I've had with the other three.
oh, question!


She passes a spot of blood in her diaper and has a swollen lump on her chest - she getting my overload of hormones?

doing better today. even got some dishes done and dinner cooking (just a casserole. some scary combo of shepards pie and tator tot casserole)...oh and 3 loads laundry done. i feel almost normal today.
i need a new sling. i like the moby, but i like the ease of the sling at this stage.

Ok I am going to get a shower. I have had a nice 30 minutes with both of my hands and so now I will see if I can squeeze a shower in before dh gets home from work!

Wow...you sure are productive! Don't forget you are still recovering, too!

My last baby had the lump thing. We put a tiny piece of cabbage over it and wrapped around her chest with a bandage that adheres to itself. A day or so and within a day or two it was gone. I had a hard time getting my hormones regulated with my last baby, and she showed the effects, like dodi is. You might want to consider some herbal balancing tea or something. I wish I had been more aggressive in working it out last time. I was a mess for months.

[sosurreal09]

I wouldn't pump until at least 6 weeks it can mess up supply right now.
 

[MeredithA]

Sosu, what does pumping do to mess up supply? I have a forceful let down & Deacon sometimes starts choking/coughing when he starts nursing & I thought it might contribute to his gassiness. So, I've started block nursing (nursing on one side for a few feedings and then switching to the other side for a few feedings) & I'll pump the other side & freeze the milk in case we ever need it. I've been doing this for a couple days w/ no problems but now I'm curious ~ should I not be doing this?

[cristeen]

You'll just wind up needing to continue pumping indefinitely.  Your body will get used to the higher demand, and produce more than the baby needs.  If you're planning on going back to work at some point though, feeding on one side and pumping on the other from the start can be a great solution to the freezer stash problem. 

[MeredithA]

Thanks Cristeen! I have to go back to work in August so I've got a couple months to build up my freezer stash. I'm just using a manual pump right now but my sister gave me her Medela double electric pump for when I go back to work.

[sosurreal09]

Yeah it can lead to oversupply and if you supplement with pumped milk and don;t pump that feed can cause under supply too. Tricky business. That's why they say after 6 weeks b/c your regular supply is established then and you build on the pumping.
 

[forestmushroom]

When I worked full time away from babe there was no way I could have waited until 6 weeks to start pumping....

even with a really good double pump there was no way I pumped as much as as I would release nursing a real baby... It was just different. I also had a high stress job, so that might have contributed to it. But with growth spurts, etc. I was glad to have a huge stash of milk.  It made it easier.

My guy also reversed cycled a lot, and nursed a lot at night, so that made it easier to keep up the supply.  But really, taking advantage of the over production now can work for a lot of mamas.

[alittlesandy]

Originally Posted by forestmushroom 

When I worked full time away from babe there was no way I could have waited until 6 weeks to start pumping....

even with a really good double pump there was no way I pumped as much as as I would release nursing a real baby... It was just different. I also had a high stress job, so that might have contributed to it. But with growth spurts, etc. I was glad to have a huge stash of milk.  It made it easier.

My guy also reversed cycled a lot, and nursed a lot at night, so that made it easier to keep up the supply.  But really, taking advantage of the over production now can work for a lot of mamas.

I had to go back to work four weeks after having my son, so started pumping at three weeks. Was planning to wait a bit longer this time around, but ended up having two long sessions of dental work, so pumped for those. I've now started building my freezer stash for going back to work in the fall. I find that my supply remains consistent as long as I always pump during missed feedings. Forest, I agree that it's so nice to pump in the mornings when my breasts are extra full. With my son that sense of fullness went away after three months (although I was still producing plenty of milk), which made it harder to pump a good amount.

[alittlesandy]

Weird double post. Not sure how that happened! :)

Edited by alittlesandy - 5/22/12 at 8:43am

[Astraia]

I'm a bit jealous of moms who can pump anything. It would be nice to pump for an occasional bottle so I could leave the baby with Grandma or my husband but I can never get more than a few drops. I have some weird let down or something and I've tried numerous pumps and they're all pointless :/

I think the constant nursing must have been working on my supply. I've been extra-full yesterday, and Everett still nursed a lot but then he was HAPPY in between feeds. Slept ridiculously well. I'm starting to feel pretty good - stitches are still pully, everything down there is still hurty, but I'm mobile and have energy again. I'm going into my work finally to show off the baby, and meeting up with a friend before for tea. Should be a good day :) I hope! Unless Everett decides today is another good day for screaming.

[sosurreal09]

I can't pump either Astria. Tried a whole bunch of pumps etc never got more than like 1/2 oz from both breasts...Gave up my career to nurse LOL
 

[cristeen]

I couldn't pump with DS, either.  Which was a huge contributing factor to losing my milk.  It's one of the reasons I've been so adamant this pg about lining up good pp support - I'm not going to do that again if I can help it. 

[alittlesandy]

Since I'm the breadwinner of the family, I had no choice, it was either pump or give formula, so thank god I was able to pump. For me, it has never been about convenience, wanting to "get away," or having a career. It's about survival. I think if breastfeeding rates are going to improve in this country, we need to provide more support for working women (learning how to pump, etc.) rather than assuming that working is a choice.

[JynxGirl]

My physical recovery has been awesome this time around.

It's my mental recovery I'm worried about. :(
Patrick had to be taken to the NICU right away after birth because of low blood sugar. (1.6mmol/L.. really really low). Then he wouldn't nurse effectively and developed jaundice. Between the bili lights and the nurses pushing me to give him formula, we ended up having to use bottles and formula to get him healthy enough to come home.

Only, now he won't nurse at all and just screams at the breast, I'm pumping, but not enough to keep him satiated, and having to use formula is making me feel so guilty and horrible because he just sucks it back with such gusto.

We've rented a hospital grade pump, and I'm pumping roughly every two hours. I'm just getting really exhausted physically and mentally. Right now the routine is feed the baby, pump, clean the bottles and the pump, sleep for about an hour, and start again.

Someone needs to tell me this will get better and mean it. Because I need to know that this is doable long term if that's what it takes. :(
 

[KM84]

The lactation consultant I was working with said to wait two weeks before pumping, and 3-4 weeks to introduce her to the bottle. We just ordered an electric pump, and I'm trying to find some good resources on when / how much to pump.  I'm still a little confused as to how this works. Right now, DD will empty one breast and take a little bit of the next, so I'm thinking I can finish the 2nd with the pump.

The postpartum hormones are hitting me hard. I've been having nightmares about people trying to hurt my husband / daughter, and I started feeling REALLY anxious about something happening to her. I've gotten all helicopter-parent, and it's driving my husband nuts, and frankly it's driving me nuts too. He's a great dad and very responsible, she's probably in better hands with him than me, but I can't help fussing over every little thing when he has her.

For those of you on your 2nd (or more!) kid, did you go through that? Does it pass?

[cristeen]

Jynx - You need to get him back on the breast.  It's not easy.  It takes serious commitment, and a couple days.  I went through this with DS and it was emotionally very draining, but it did work (would have worked better if I had any milk to offer).

So this is what my IBCLC had me do... Commit to 3 days of doing nothing but baby duty.  Line up other people (DH, family, friends, whoever) to take care of everything else.  Spend the time topless and skin-to-skin with baby.  Put the bottles away.  Offer him the breast and nothing but the breast.  You have to be strong during this time, because he will resist.  Never force him on to the breast, but do offer it to him, repeatedly.  He will resist at first, but with persistence he will get less and less resistant to the breast.  For us, by the end of 2ish days he was back on, but not thrilled about it.  By the end of the 3rd day it was a done deal. 

Once you feel better, I would suggest writing a letter of complaint to the hospital about the nurses pushing formula.  It is NOT in the best interests of the baby, the mama, or the hospital, and they need to review their policies.  How many mamas have given up on BFing because of that attitude?  5 years later I really regret not having written a letter about my treatment on the L&D ward with DS1, because I have to wonder how many other mamas have been treated that way, and it's simply not okay.

As for cleaning the pump - don't clean everything every time.  Clean it once a day.  Between times just pop it all in a large ziploc bag and stick it in the fridge.  You're exhausting yourself needlessly. 

KM - talk to your OB or MW about how you're feeling.  It is a variation of normal, but not a good one.  Discuss PPD/PPP with them.  Some anxiety is to be expected, and it does pass with time, but that's my first gut reaction to what you wrote.  I went undiagnosed with DS, and life would have/could have been so much better if ANYONE had told me that I had PPD.  It took me 18 mos to come out of it on my own, and those 18 mos are a HUGE blur... not what you want when you have this beautiful child to concentrate on. 

[Sky]

Jynx!!!!! HUGS!!!!!

It will get better! BTDT with Sång she was in NICU for 4 weeks! so I had to pump and then when we came home ist was nurse her then feed her a bottle then pump, the LC called it triple feeding. I called it exshausting.  Sång  did go through a little bit of time where she would scream at the breast, I was devistated because I EBF our other two kids from birth and they weaned at age 4! Now Sång  is champion nurser....

I have to go to an appointment but I will come back to add more about this just know it can get better!!!!

Edited by Sky - 5/22/12 at 10:16pm

[MeredithA]

Jynx, as always, Cristeen's advice is fantastic. I had the same issue with Ds1 and ended up giving up breatfeeding /pumping after 6 weeks. I wish I had really taken the time/had the patience to get him back on the breast. It is so sad that hospitals aren't more supportive of breatfeeding!

KM, moodiness is completely normal, as is a bit of anxiety as your body adjusts and your hormones shift. If it gets more severe (which it sounds like might be w/ those nightmares) ask your midwife about ppd. I have the anxiety for sure -- especially with regard to germs/people touching or holding the baby etc., and I got very worried about DS2 while I was in the hospital and right after I got home when I had to rely on others to care for him. I had 3 bouts of crying the first week - just sobbing uncontrollably but it has since gotten better. I had my placenta encapsulated and taking the capsules is supposed to really help. Perhaps it is just a placebo effect but I think it's helping.

AFM, I woke with a 102.2 fever, shaking, and red streaks on my right breast. Cabbage, garlic, and compresses didn't seem to help so I just called the midwife and am getting a prescription for an antibiotic. I really didn't want to take medicine (I haven't had so much as a Tylenol the entire pregnancy!) but it seems necessary at this point. I guess block nursing & pumping was a bad idea after all. I sent DH for probiotics ad yogurt as well ~ I'm worried about baby getting thrush. My sister had the same thing happen and her baby got the worst case of thrush :-( plus I have been trying to cut out dairy because baby Deacon is so gassy, but I have always eaten yogurt daily while on antibiotics so ... I don't know... Maybe I'll just stick w the probiotic capsules.