The ped wants us to stop nursing ***UPDATE PG 3*** - Page 3

[Momtwice]

Some lactation consultants will waive their fee for low income moms. (This may be rare and some LC"s may not be in a position to do so, but I have heard of it happening.)

Sometimes you can get WIC if you are in the USA and meet income guidelines, they may have an LC or may not.

La Leche league leaders will help for free and may have other ideas on how to get free, skilled, experienced advice.

[3babiesin2years]

Thanks so much for all the support. You guys are truly amazing.

I did find a LLL leader in my area but she wasn't available yesterday so I am going to try again today. Also I have noticed that over the last 36 hours or so, it is not hurting as much!! I really think it's not thrush and I just have a very powerful sucker. So I am still hanging in. My midwife called me in a RX of Reglan. I haven't picked it up yet. Does anyone know anything about side effects? My older dd had reglan for reflux and she had some kind of small seizure type thing happen so I took her off of it, so I am little wary of the Reglan.

I think my milk supply is going up. We have drastically cut down on the amount of formula we have given her. And she seems more satisfied with just me. Also her diapers are continuing to look like a breast fed baby diaper. And she is having more pee diapers too.

I think we are turning a corner.

Audrey

[maxwill129]

Good for you guys!!! You are doing awesome, mama! I'm so proud of you for sticking with it! You will LOVE nursing once you are completely pain-free. Please continue to keep us posted with how things are going!

Shannon

PS-Sorry, I don't know side effects of Reglan. My children were both on Zantac (ick) and I hated that. Could you try to Google Reglan and see what comes up?

[pumpkinhead]

I've skimmed most of the replies and just wanted to add a couple of points. You've gotten some great advice already.

First and foremost, if you suspect thrush at all, do not, I repeat do not use lanolin. It's great for use as a preventative and to treat sore nipples, but yeast love lanolin and it can make a great enviroment for them to live in. Instead, see if you can get your health care provider or LC to write you a perscription for Dr. Jack Newman's all purpose nipple ointment. Here's a link
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/c-candida_protocol.html

Now, it is possible that this isn't thrush. Does your baby have white patches on his tongue or lips or gums? Are your nipples bright red and feel as if they are on fire? Do your breasts ache or do you exeperience sharp pains in them as if they are filled with shards of glass? These are al signs and symptoms of thrush. Nipple pain is just one.

If it hurts less to express milk with a pump, I would suggest to you that this might be a latch issue. I had thrush for months and, even tho my nipples were sore, the pain didn't intensify during a feed. I had pain during initial latch on, but it stayed the same or lessened as the feed progressed. When ds's latch was bad, the pain got worse over time. It's entirely possible that your baby isn't getting enough milk because of a poor latch.

This CAN be remedied!! Have you tried breast compression at all? If you go to www.breastfeeding.com, there are several videos on how to get a proper latch.

Was your delivery fairly fast or was your baby born via c-section? If so, You might also want to consider cranial sacral therapy.

I hope that you can get the help you need

[Miss Information]

One of the major side effects of Reglan is depression. For that reason, if you do use it, be aware of the possibility and if you do notice signs of depression, discontinue using it. I was on Reglan once, but not on the right dosage to actually produce depression - or to increase milk supply either. For me, 1 10mg pill a day did nothing to increase supply

Another product domperidone, which is not easily available here, but at compounding pharmacies with a drs prescription, or overseas through the internet, is more effective with less side effects. There has been concern regarding possible heart attacks with usage of dom, but that was in the IV form, not pill form and not in the dosages breastfeeding moms use.

Here is an article regarding domperidone and also a few details regarding the use of Reglan and depression.

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/O...atements.shtml

Good luck.

[Camellia]

Are your nipples blanched (white in appearence) when your daughter comes off the breast? Some of what you describe sounds like the Reynauds I had with my daughter. The blanched nipples are a key sign of that though.

IF that is happening, Vit B6 clears it up in a couple weeks. I'll check back and explain more if the blanching is happening.

GL Mama, and you are doing such an awesome job!

[3babiesin2years]

I really think it is just a latch issue. I don't really think she is latching wrong as much as she is strong. It's funny how in the last couple of days I am less stressed about it and things are going much better. She is going througha growth spurt and eating a lot but it is not as painful so it's not as big of a deal.

I did look and it seems like my nipple look white at the tip when she gets off.

I am really glad that someone mentioned the depression with Reglan. I am VERY prone to depression. I have relly just gotten over it this time and it still pops up some days. I don't want to do anything to make that worse.

[Camellia]

Originally Posted by 3babiesin2years

I did look and it seems like my nipple look white at the tip when she gets off.

Most women are low in B-vits, so I highly reccomend picking up some 50mg Vit B-6 tablets. If you are having some Reynauds going on it will take care of it. I had it really bad and had shooting pains through my breasts, burning while nursing and severe pain as the blood went back to my nipples after nursing.

If you do take b-6, make sure you don't take more than 50mg/day. Mine was bad and I took 200mg for 1 week, then 100mg for a week, then 50mg regurlarly. If you take too much (100+mg for more than a couple weeks) it can reduce milk supply.

I'm glad things are getting better!

[Mountaingirl3]

Audrey,

Good for you! You are doing a terrific job . I just wanted to tell you that the last of my (severe) nursing pain went away at eight weeks. I'm so thankful that I made it through those eight weeks (with the help of narcotics prescribed for c-section) because we went on to nurse for 15 trouble-free months!

I didn't have thrush and three lactation consultants said our latch was perfect. The only explanation that makes sense for the terrible pain is Reynauds, but I'm not absolutely sure it was that either. One LC said that she sees this more in women with very fair, freckled skin, paired with vaccum sucker babies :LOL .

[3babiesin2years]

Thank you.

I think we are in a growth spurt. How long do they typically last? Or how long until your milk catches up? She basically ate every hour for about 30 min at a time yesterday and during the night. I'm a little tapped out.

Audrey

[3babiesin2years]

Mountaingirl3 We posted at the same time. Thank you for the support. That may be what the problem is. I am pretty fair skinned.

[sohj]

Exclusively breastfed babies NORMALLY lose a little weight during their first week. Again, that is NORMAL.

This is SO normal that when my pixie gained nearly half a pound in his first week and a whole pound in his second, the paediatrician we had was shocked. And wondering what my milk was made of. He said he was toying with the idea of asking for a sample to have tested but then he thought that my little one should just get every drop there was.

Unfortunately, you don't have a terribly knowledgable paediatrician.

AND, really, you don't need to take more stuff to make more. That sounds like a really normal curve for the beginning.

If you want to take something, try red clover tea instead. Galactogogue and good for your energy level and all-around health. And tastes nice.

Or hops. Doesn't taste so nice (bitter), but a really great galactogogue and the bitters are good for the gall bladder & liver.

[maxwill129]

Originally Posted by Mountaingirl3

I didn't have thrush and three lactation consultants said our latch was perfect. The only explanation that makes sense for the terrible pain is Reynauds, but I'm not absolutely sure it was that either. One LC said that she sees this more in women with very fair, freckled skin, paired with vaccum sucker babies.

I had an LC tell me this, too! Glad you shared this info.

Audrey,
I'm so proud of you for sticking with this! You won't regret it!

Shannon

[red17]

My mother, who's British, always said that BFing mothers were given a prescription for stout beer -- Guinness is one that comes to mind -- because it stimulated milk production. She BF all three of us and never had issues with milk production. (I can't help you with the pain though.)

I really dislike the taste of stout, but if it would help with producing more milk, I'd give it a shot. If memory serves, it was 6 oz. a day. There was another reply about hops helping, so perhaps it's worth a try. If you can stomach it, maybe try half a bottle of stout for a few days to see if it ups your milk production.

Sounds to me like you're determined. Congrat's. I hope that when my turn comes in Sept. I will have as much resolve too -- I'm also fair skinned, freckeled, and a redhead, so this discussion has been eyeopening for me too. Good luck Audrey! I know you'll be a BF'ing champ in no time.

[3babiesin2years]

Thank you so much for the support. It is such a nice feeling to come here.

Guess what? Leah gained almost a pound in the last week!! SHe was 11lb and 5oz last thursday and today she was 12lb 2oz!! The ped was very surprised when I told him that I am nursing and she is actually getting very little formula per day. Maybe 4oz at the most. He said, "Well you must be doing something right!" Well DUH!! Really he is very nice and admittedly does not know much about nursing, so it is good to be able to educate him a little. But still I am looking for a new ped. I want someone a little more natural and I have girls so I am going to need to find a woman that I like.

Anyway!! Yeah for Leah!!

Audrey

[corysmilk]

in my experince growth spurts lasted about 12 hours, that was with dd nursing every 45 min. but they usally last any where from 24 to 48. stay really hydrated. let her nurse as much as she wants, even if you feel empty. she is making more milk the more she sucks.

your a great mom.

[orangebird]

I did look and it seems like my nipple look white at the tip when she gets off.

White at the tip of the nipple when they get off is usually due to poor latch, not getting enough of the nipple far enough into the mouth.

I'm so glad things are getting better!

[3babiesin2years]

Ok ladies.

I thought we were doing better. It turns out we're not doing as well as I thought. She's still not gaining weight.

Here's the weight gain...
Birth- 10lbs 12oz
2 days- 10lbs 1oz
2 weeks- 10lbs 8oz
4 weeks- 10lbs 12oz
6 weeks- 11lbs 5 oz (after 5 days of supplementing)
7 weeks- 12lbs 2oz
11 weeks- 12 lbs 3 oz

She only gained 1 oz in 4 weeks. The ped wants me to supplement after every feeding. And I tried but she really isnt interested. And last night I was gone and my husband fed her and she only ate 3oz of formula. She's eating for like 7-8 min on each side. Sometimes even less. She starts whipping around and not swallowing and then she just pops off. I am not feeling full and I just attributed that to her being almost 3 months. She's very happy!! She is going 4-5 hours at night and 2 1/2 - 3 hours during the day.

I have to take her back in next week and if she hasn't gained weight they are going to do some blood work.

Any advice?

Thanks

[snugglemama]

I strongly recommend contacting an LLL Leader to speak with over the phone. She may come out to your house, or you could go to a meeting so she can evaluate the latch. A combination of pain and slow weight gain indicates a problem with the latch or the babies suck. Even though an LC thought the latch was fine, another person may have another opinion. An LLL person will also be able to show you how to do breast compressions to help the baby get more milk and hindmilk at each feeding, and it's much easier to trouble shoot IRL than over the internet.

A couple questions, does dd use a pacifier? Does she eat according to schedule, or on demand? What color are her poops? Sorry if these questions have been asked before, I didn't have time to read through all the posts.

[3babiesin2years]

A couple questions, does dd use a pacifier? Does she eat according to schedule, or on demand? What color are her poops? Sorry if these questions have been asked before, I didn't have time to read through all the posts.

Thanks for responding. No she does not take a paci, she has kind of put herself on a schedule of 2 1/2 to 3 hours but I feed her whenever she cries basically. Her poop is mostly greenish and soaks into her diaper. Occassionaly we have a seedy, yellow bf baby poop.

I will contact a LLL leader. I have not done it before b/c I thought the problems were worked out.

Thanks
Audrey