Friend needs help ASAP!

[Beating Earth]

Hi mamas,
I need some help/advice/suggestions asap please!!
My friend R gave birth to her daughter on Friday. 9lbs 4 oz. She wanted a home birth but due to some problems didn't get it. She ended up with an epidural and forceps birth. I am so sad for her.
Now the problem is that during labour and birth her tailbone broke!! She is adamant about breastfeeding but finds it to be excrutiating whether she is sitting or standing. She asked me if there were other ways to do it and I told her I dont know.
Please help me help her. I know she is probably very upset about her birth experience (she called it the worst experience of her life) and I want to help her bond as best she can with baby D.
Is it ok if I copy and paste your responses into an email to her. Some support and advice straight from all of you might be a lot of help.
TIA,
Misha

[alegna]

Side lying! Some moms have trouble getting the hang of it, but dd and I managed it pretty well from the beginning.

hope she feels better soon! ouch!

-Angela

[Beating Earth]

She's tried that too. Says it hurts just as much

[alegna]

How can she get comfortable with the tailbone? Then I might have some good position ideas.

-Angela

[jencen]

What position does she feel most comfortable in when she's not nursing? Maybe if you can think of a way to position the baby around her so that the baby is not putting any pressure on her body and that she is not putting any pressure on her spine in adapting a position to accommodate the baby. Maybe like the baby lying belly down on a pillow perched over her breast while she is on her back. Does she have someone that can help her and the baby get into/ out of position? Poor thing

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Beating Earth

Is it ok if I copy and paste your responses into an email to her. Some support and advice straight from all of you might be a lot of help.

Email her a link to this thread! Then she can read the responses directly, and if she wants to sign up, she can clarify, ask more questions, give us updates, etc.

I'd suggest finding whatever position is the least painful, and then find a way to get the baby to latch on in that position. Also remember that most pain meds ARE safe for nursing moms- she shouldn't have to make a choice between pain releif and breastfeeding. Of course, no pain meds are able to take away 100% of the pain, and she'll still have to be careful with positioning no matter what.

[veganone]

I agree with the PPs - what position is she comfortable in?

As for pain management, most pain meds are safe for bfing. They need to check the Hale's guide for safety, NOT rely on the drug company info. If you know the names of the medications she's taking people on MDC may be able to check them for you, or she can buy a copy of the guide herself.

[Carita]

I am soo sorry about your friend! I agree with all the other PP. If lying on her stomach is better, she can try propping her stomach up with a pillow, and leaning forward so her boobs are on top of the baby. does that make any sense? Or, I have laid back before and just let DS nurse vertically on my tummy, sort of crawling on my chest. For some reason, that was comfortable for him. Just concentrate on her getting comfortable and then bring the baby to her nipples! Soon once she gets the hang of BFing, she'll be able to BF while swinging on an trapeze if she wants to - LOL!

[flapjack]

Ring around here there and everywhere and get her a valley cushion: I know so many people who have used them, and they really can ease issues like broken tailbones. She also needs to take some homoeopathic arnica, and to get some proper, heavy-duty pain relief sorted out.