Miss you Ladies! Here's an Update...

[bluesymama]

Wow, Ladies! Having a newborn is such an amazing trip...I am SO overwhelmed, and exhausted- yet completely in LOVE and besotted :- what a wonderful but tiring journey! I am, by the way, COMPLETELY IN AWE of those of you with other wee ones to look after- I literally grovel at your feet! Even with the help of my 3 Big kids- I am completely worn out! I feel like such such a novice! MOTHERS ARE SUPERWOMEN! And huge kudos to those who have managed to post birth stories- or post at all for that matter- you are truly masters of multi tasking, and your Jedi skills are something I desperately wish to aquire!
Toren Wolf is WONDERFUL...Eating voraciously, growing rapidly- sleeping beautifully- but we have had one pretty major problem. Right from the start- nursing him was making me really sore. I mean REALLY sore. While still at the birthing center- the Lactation Consultant tried repeatedly and un-succesfully to help me with this problem- but to no avail. : The trouble is- his latch looks perfect! Sweet little duck lips- wide open mouth- all the right stuff in all the right places. Nobody could figure it out! I refused any intervention- and just kept trying. Once we were home- I decided to 'tuff it out'- figuring that I was just sensitive after almost 10 years of not nursing- and determined to see it through. By the end of the first night home- I was in serious pain- and after a few days- bleeding, cracked and scabbing over! (Waaaaah!) It got so bad I COULD NOT put him to the breast without crying- so I pumped and we gave it to him with finger and tube for a day- (supply is no issue & pumping doesn't hurt at all) until boobies were healed enough to nurse again that night- but after another night and a day- I was back to bleeding- and then we couldn't find the tube and had to resort to a bottle of breastmilk. I know it's silly, but I cried like a big weenie the whole time we had to give him the bottle- I felt like a failure- and also felt so jealous and frustrated- I just want to nurse him, dang it! Fortunately- he totally prefers the breast- so switching back and forth hasn't been a problem. He very reluctantly takes the bottle! (yay)
So after reading up on some posts- I noticed someone (can't remember who) referring to a 'short lingual frenulum'. I've been doing TONS of research since discovering that post (THANK YOU for sharing that info- by the way!) and I really think that might be what we have going on here! I have looked into his little mouth- & though I'm no expert, it really looks to me like his frenulum is too short. His toungue does seem to stay behind his gum more than it should- and that would sure explain the pain! I can't get him in to see someone to have it confirmed or otherwise until after the holidays- but I sent my honey to get me a nipple shield in the meantime- I am hoping that it will reduce the pain enough so that I can nurse him until we can get it looked at. (and possibly snipped? but I'd have to hear more about that first.) I HATE giving him the bottle- I can get used to it if I have to, but I really don't want to have to! : I'd love to hear any advice or similar stories or info. on frenulum issues...I've never experienced anything like this before! Besides the pain, everything else is great- he's had nothing but breastmilk, burps like a champ- has no tummy or bowel issues, seems really content and peaceful- absolutely LOVES to nurse- and is gaining plenty of weight! Ugh! If I could just eliminate this darned pain...
Anyway, I just want to say that I love all of you and miss being able to post and gab with you lovely girls! I am just so busy with this troublesome nursing issue...but not giving up!
Our Christmas was lovely- and I hope all of yours was as well! Happiest of Holidays to all- Congrats to all the Mamas of new babies, and big belly rubs to all who are still waiting!
(And sorry this was so long! )

[VickV]

Serenity, I'm sorry you're having so much pain {hug}

My advice on the frenulum would be to see a doc sooner rather than later - the pedi ENT we saw will do the snip-snip in his office for the first two months - after that it's an in-hospital, general anesthesia procedure. He also said that the longer the babe is compensating for the short frenulum with a crappy latch, the longer it takes, post-procedure, for it to be corrected.

After having Olivia's snipped, it's been a lot easier to work with her on her latch. She's still not as good at it as Isabel was, but she's doing better and draining boobs like a champ.

[SheBear]

nak in the dark!

Ditto what Vick said about getting it checked asap!!

one trick to doing a sort of "self diagnosis" for short frenulum is to look at the shape of his tongue when he is full-on crying....you know how when they do that "I mean business" crying and their tongue rolls back, KWIM?

Look at the tip...it should come to a little point. If it pulls inward into the tongue, making a heart shape, that is an indication of a too-short frenulum.

[kittywitty]

Congrats!

Sorry about the nursing issues. I always have very sore, bleeding nipples the first couple of weeks and the latch looks fine.

[HumbleLuna]

Using a nipple shield saved me during the first few days nursing my Dd. I was able to breastfeed pain free,and it helped Dd develope a better latch. I hope you are feeling better soon.

[SheBear]

Also, to help heal the tissue damage you already have, try to find some Soothies breast pads.

They were an absolute life saver for me with my tongue-tied firstborn! I had to get them from a lactation supply place (that rents pumps, etc.), but recently I've seen them at Walgreens, CVS, etc. Gerber has a version called Breast Therapy gel pads, I think.

Anyway, they are really helpful--buy a couple pairs and keep one in the fridge (the coolness feels SO good!) and switch them out.

Hope that helps!