Looking for answers not a pep talk please - Page 3

[BlueIrises]

Valian-I wanted to say I just had a pain-free nursing session, maybe a fluke b/c I have had several pain-free ones in the past and then was whammied the next time, but I'm hopeful your trick worked. I pushed/lifted the under part of my breast as he was eating and I wasn't in pain...he also seemed to eater faster on the left side which is usually his slow fussy side...I'm hoping the 3am feeding goes as well...he nursed so well he unplugged my duct...well I'm off to try to get some z's before I feed again. Thanks!

Oh I am going to meet with my LC tomorrow at her place (1/2 the cost if I go to her) to help me with positioning and latch and get a re-evaluation of what the heck is going on here...wish me luck!

[Valian]

Originally Posted by BlueIrises

Valian-I have to check my nipple shield size...but I have to say I am afraid of the Lansinoh b/c my LC told me that it feeds the thrush...Please tell me what you do about the feeling I described? What is causing it? Is he biting down as he sucks? How do I fix this? I am constantly trying to stuff more in put pressure on spots to try and adjust the pain...I can't wait it out 2 more months...it just hurts too badly!

I'm so frustrated tonight b/c yesterday and today things were really bearable and I felt like I was moving in the right direction...we had two DR appt today and I nursed there fine...took a nap and when I woke up huge lump in my left breast again and alot of pain while he nursed b/c he kept scraping me with his "teeth"...tonight is going to be a long and horrible night.

Thanks again ladies

For us the nipple shield was sufficent to either dull or block the pain of the scraping and malpositioning of Ds jaw on my nipple shaft. Its such a flimsy thing I know, but it also perhaps improved his latch, forced him to keep his mouth more open. I could still feel if he was clenching hard, but even that didn't hurt so much as it was just pressure. The clenching grew less frequent over time, and eventually just died away on its own--so I'm afraid I don't have any specific tips for speeding it up. Again, I'm fairly certain his good looking, painful feeling latch was something he had to grow out of--thank goodness we found a way to nurse until he did. The other thing the shield did was allow me to unlatch and relatch him repeatedly without the pain so we could work on the latch without me winching/screaming/hitting things.

I personally didn't *need* the lansinoh to keep the shield on but I know its one of the tips on the package and when I was using lansinoh for my nipples it certainly made things sticky enough. If thrush is a concern though I'd make that a bigger concern and avoid lansinoh if you think its best. I just rolled the edges up a bit and then placed it over the nipple and flipped the sides back down. Then I held the shield around the base of the nipple part so no air was going through until he had sucked enough to pull the nipple into the shield and then the shield stayed on.

I know that a nipple shield might not be the right thing for you so please don't feel like I'm pushing it on you. I just want to try and help put more options on your plate.

Originally Posted by BlueIrises

Valian-I wanted to say I just had a pain-free nursing session, maybe a fluke b/c I have had several pain-free ones in the past and then was whammied the next time, but I'm hopeful your trick worked. I pushed/lifted the under part of my breast as he was eating and I wasn't in pain...he also seemed to eater faster on the left side which is usually his slow fussy side...I'm hoping the 3am feeding goes as well...he nursed so well he unplugged my duct...well I'm off to try to get some z's before I feed again. Thanks!

Yay for pain free nursing! Yay! I hope for your sake it wasn't a fluke too!

[oregongirlie]

Didn't read all the posts, but have you tried nipple shields? They really made it bearable to nurse. They're used to train the latch, but I used them for pain management. We're just starting weaning off them now, but it's not a tragedy to keep using them.

I had thrush and 200 mg fluconazole daily for 6 weeks, probiotics, changing pads after each feeding, apno, soaking everything in vinegar, nipple shields to allow healing, grapefruit seed extract, vitamin C and occasional drying of the nipples with a hairdryer is what worked for me.

[LilyHall]

I'm sorry if this has already been covered, but have you tried contacting a doctor who specializes in breastfeeding problems? I've had terrible problems too, which are still not fully resolved, but seeing a specialist who has more than superficial knowledge of thrush, vasospasms, etc., has been very helpful. (For example, I found that our pediatrician, whom I like very much, wasn't as up-to-date on current treatments for thrush -- she didn't seem aware of how much more persistent thrush is these days.) In the NYC area, Dr. Mona Gabbay is the person to call. She does housecalls and is extremely knowledgeable.

[BlueIrises]

I haven't seen a specialist who deals specifically with BF...I don't know any...I've just been talking to and seeing a LC, but I don't feel like I am making any real progress...I'd love more info on Dr. Gabbay...Is she in the city? Private practice or does she work with one of the hospitals?

Thanks for the help..

[LilyHall]

Dr. Gabbay is in private practice. If she accepts your insurance (I have United), all you pay for the housecall is the co-pay. She is recommended by a lot of lactation consultants. (Even the LC who does the lactation helpline for the corporate lactation assistance program at my firm, who is not in NY, knew of her.) Her # is 914-632-7999. She has been tremendously helpful to me. I am still dealing with a case of treatment-resistant thrush, but it's improving, and she was a lifesaver on other issues I was having.

I hope that helps. I really empathize with what you're going through -- when I read your initial post, I felt like it could have been written by me.

[Momby2]

Originally Posted by BlueIrises

I have been posting here since my son was born 6w5d ago. BF is aweful! The mere fact that I say this makes me cry uncontrollably, but I hate it most of the time. I have been battling thrush, Raynaud's Syndrome, OALD, plugged ducts, engorgement for 5 weeks now. 95% of the time BF is excruiating. I've spent hundreds of dollars on a LC, $400 on a pump and parts, and I'm doing every conceivable thing to treat the thrush...GV, GSE, Nystatin, APNO, Diflucan, vinegar wash. I'm in pain and I keep chugging through hoping, wishing praying this is the week that things will get better. Frankly, I'm really feeling like I've done my best and it is time to move on. However, when I think about formula, I cry b/c BM is best. Yet crying and writhing in pain is not healthy for me or my son and neither is the frustration I feel toward him sometimes.

Everyone keeps telling me it will get better it just takes awhile...but at what cost. I feel like I have lost so much these past few weeks with my son due to the intense pain.

I do understand. My daughter had a huge overbite that caused cracking and bleeding and pain during the feedings. And it never went away. It did get a little better after 6 weeks but I was always sore. I wish I knew about the breast shields because I quit b/f when kaitlyn was 2 months and I have always regretted it. Ironically now my 4 month son is b/d beautifully and I love it. Good luck and go get those shields,


So what I am wondering is...is there anyone out there who kept BF and it didn't get better pain-wise but you stuck with anyway...and I mean pain not slight discomfort. I'd love to hear truthful stories on people who made it many months w/BF and it was toe-curling the entire time but you kept chugging through b/c of the health benefits.

P.S...it is not his latch...

I do understand. My daughter had a huge overbite that caused cracking and bleeding and pain during the feedings. And it never went away. It did get a little better after 6 weeks but I was always sore. I wish I knew about the breast shields because I quite b/f when kaitlyn was 2 months and I have always regretted it. Ironically now my 4 month son is b/d beautifully and I love it. Good luck and go get those shields,
Momby2