Having a hard day and it's only 10 am!

[Amber Lion]

EVERY feeding last night hurt like heck. I don't know what is going on with her latch b/c it looks the same as always, but it's hurting a LOT now. Especially my left nipple. She slept ok, but every time she woke up I'd dread getting out of bed and nursing her b/c of the pain. It's never hurt like this, even in the very beginning! It's supposed to be getting better, not worse!!! And in the middle of the night I can either try a million times to get the latch better, which hurts like heck and never actually works... or let her have a less than perfect latch, which hurts like heck. The latter takes less time though, so I was going with that last night. My nips don't *look* like they've been abused, but OUCH!

Then this morning, when I desperately needed her to sleep her 9-11 stretch, she's been wide awake. I tried just having her awake in bed with me while I slept, but while she's not fussy she demands attention when awake. So now I've got her in my wrap and am eating breakfast, but SO TIRED and she's not liking the wrap like she usually does.

I'm feeling burnt out already and it's only 10 am! I've nearly cried twice. Dh isn't going to be home until about 10:30 tonight either. I don't know how I'm going to feed her every 1-3 hours today, but I guess I don't really have a choice. That just seems so hard right now with my nips still smarting from the last feedings. I know some sleep would make me feel better, but that's not happening either. It's pouring rain, so a walk would be cold and wet.

This all doesn't sound like much, I know, which doesn't help. I just wish I could pass her off to someone for a good stretch of sleep and I wish someone else could do just one feeding to give me a break. I love her to death and she's looking at me right now and it just melts my heart, but I still want to cry it's being so hard today.

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[Baby_Cakes]

Oh Em!

I'm so sorry you're having such a tough day. It does sound quite miserable. I've had days like that myself where you just need sleep and/or someone else to take over! Make sure you're eating - I find that if I'm bitchy about Nora wanting to eat it's usually b/c I haven't eaten and my patience is non existent.

On days like this, I put something good on TV, either a movie or a show that I'm ok to watch, and I get comfy with her in my arms all propped up so I can relax, and I let her nurse to sleep before falling asleep too. Even if it hurts. Is it hurting throughout the feed or just initially? I know you're having a tough time with the nursing, but the pain does ebb and flow. Especially if your nips don't look any more beat up, they could just be sensitive from more frequent feedings or something.

Hang in there. If you can grab even 30 min of sleep 10:30 will be here before you know it.

[audsma]

Oh, I wish I could help you! Is there an LC who you could talk to? Are your nursing pads saturated and making your nipples hurt more?

I know about the lack of sleep-- just leave me alone feelings. You are basically echoing my last couple of days in what you wrote. I know I should be napping right now, but I also need to feel like I have a little human contact going, so am spending precious nap moments on MDC.

I hope she gives you some sleep time soon! Take care, mama!

[txgirl963]

aww, mamma. I wish I could help. I'd love to hold your baby for you, even if she was fussy that I'm not her mamma.

grab what sleep you can, when you can.

[NotTheOnlyOne]

any chance you have thrush? Thrush can get in your nipples and it DOES hurt like hell when they nurse.. and even after sometimes too. If you see any white spots in her mouth... check her cheeks and tongue then its any easy fix. You can get Gentian Violet from the pharmacy (you might have to ask for it, sometimes its behind the counter, but not Rx) and use a cotton swab to coat her mouth and your nipples too. Then boil any pacifiers or bottle nipples you have been using and wash your bras in vinegar (? I think) We have already had this once since Phin was born. BTW, the GV stains and will leave her mouth and your boobs purple for a day or so. And this is something my pediatrician does in their office on a routine basis, thats how I know about it.... my first ds had it done several times, but then I relaized I could do it myself.

I hope your day gets better.... can you go to the mall and walk around? Go rent some good movies from the video store?

[ferretfan]

with my first dd, breastfeeding was excruciating for the first six weeks. almost as bad as labor itself.
do you have a pump? when it got so bad that each feeding made me cry (dont be afraid to cry ) i pumped that side while she nursed the less painful side for 24 hours, that really helped. breast tissue heals fast, and the pump was far more tolerable than her little barracuda mouth. dont forget to air those nips out too. cold lettuce leaves, lanolin, and breast milk left to dry on them help also

dd2 has been much easier. there was some initial blistering, but nothing like the first time. feedings are almost pain free now....almost

[trimestersdoula]

I could have written your post myself, mama. I know how you are feeling. I too am having issues with just one nipple....only its my right one. It is very frustrating and extremely painful. I don't blame you for wanting to cry. Hang in there I am sure it can only get better......at least I hope.

[mamanurse]

Originally Posted by NotTheOnlyOne

any chance you have thrush? Thrush can get in your nipples and it DOES hurt like hell when they nurse.. and even after sometimes too. If you see any white spots in her mouth... check her cheeks and tongue then its any easy fix. You can get Gentian Violet from the pharmacy (you might have to ask for it, sometimes its behind the counter, but not Rx) and use a cotton swab to coat her mouth and your nipples too. Then boil any pacifiers or bottle nipples you have been using and wash your bras in vinegar (? I think) We have already had this once since Phin was born. BTW, the GV stains and will leave her mouth and your boobs purple for a day or so. And this is something my pediatrician does in their office on a routine basis, thats how I know about it.... my first ds had it done several times, but then I relaized I could do it myself.

I hope your day gets better.... can you go to the mall and walk around? Go rent some good movies from the video store?

That was my first thought regarding your nipples after reading your post. I seriously hope your day gets much better!

[farmerjess]

My nips started hurting more too after initially getting almost totally better. Turns out I have thrush...you may want to look into it....I don't have any of the classic symptoms, my nips and baby's mouth look normal. I am just having nipple pain and burning throughout a feeding though his latch is ok. I am treating now and it's feeling better. I am using grapefruit seed extract and an antifungal cream, but I think I will try the gentian violet tonight.

I hope you can get some help, that's a long time to be alone with a baby.

[Amber Lion]

Thanks Mommas! I did end up crying when she started rooting again only an hour later and then just kept popping off - and on my left side too! But then she fell asleep so I got some too, but only an hour. Hey, it's better than nothing at this point.

NotTheOnlyOne - I was reading about thrush this morning. My nipples do seem to burn after a feeding, but the only whiteness Addie has in her mouth is a thin film on her tongue which didn't sound like the description. My nips are red though and she's been uncharacteristically gassy. Does this sound like thrush to you?

ferretfan - I'm planning on getting dressed and going and buying a pump right now. We've been putting it off due to cost, but I think a credit card purchase is in order. Just to be able to give my left nipple a break sounds heavenly.

trimestersdoula - sorry you're going through the same thing!!! This totally sucks and rather ruins the whole thing b/c nursing is something we do so often.

I really can't tell if what is causing the pain, but it's either gotta be something like thrush or a problem with her tongue. I've been paying real close attention to our latching process and I can't find anything externally wrong with it. However, I have noticed that when she opens her mouth wide her tongue is kind of in the middle of her mouth,not down with her bottom lip most of the time. If it is down there I quickly try to get her on, but I think she moves it. This could cause pain, right? I posted in the bfing forum but didn't get any responses. My LC is also my friend and I've already used the hours with her I'd gotten from my baby shower and can't afford more. I don't want to abuse our friendship by asking her to work for free, but maybe I should call her anyway?

[mkmb129]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. I've been having a rough few days with the nips as well. My girl is killing me! I went to see a LC today out of desparation and got a few tips and the last few nursings have been so much better. It will, will, will get better as I know from my first. That's the only thing that keeps me going!

And I'd call your friend.. imo any good LC wouldn't turn someone away who couldn't afford help, friends or not. Most who are dedicated to it would rather see a baby nursed and a mom without pain even if it meant them 'losing' a few bucks. I hope she can help you!

[Marcimama]

How are you doing Amber? I hate long days with out my dh too! Remember it is ok to put her down and take a shower or have a cup of tea if you are getting too burnt out. She will probably fall asleep any way. As for the pain, do call some one, it is amazing how helpful they can be (my ped and family dr have people that are lac trained). Also, my los do good if I put them in a sling and take a walk, it refreshes both of us. Hugs! We have all had those days! You are a strong mom and woman!

[heidirk]

Hey Em, how goes the battle?

If you're nipples burn AND are unusually red, it really sounds like thrush. They can get 'shiny' too, which sounds weird until you see it and are like, 'WTH?'


Wearing cloth pads contributed to mine, infortunately. Oh, and if you're using Lansinoh, get a new tube, the one you have now could be contaminated.


By the time they're 1, you don't remember any pain!

[farmerjess]

It does sound a lot like the thrush I am experiencing. My LO doesn't have any white patches in his mouth either. He does have a white coating on his tongue and I read on one website that that can kinda be like a pre-indicator for thrush.

[Amber Lion]

Well I got out of the house, shopped at target, and went and visited my midwife at my old job. It was really good to get out, to have my old coworkers fawn over Adelh, and to realize that I can do an outing all by myself that takes longer than one sleep cycle.

Interestingly, while out, I had to bf without any pillows and got a painless latch on the left (!) boob and a near painless one on the right! WTH?! That makes me think it's latch, not thrush. The weird part is that with no support and her hands flying everywhere we were able to get a better latch than we have in days.

So, that was an awesome interlude to a bad beginning day. But now I've got a headache that so far tylenol hasn't touched. Dh will be home in an hour and I'm passing her off to him for sure. Maybe a long nap would have been better than the long outing, but it sure did feel good to get out too!

Thanks for all the support ladies, it really makes a difference when I'm feeling so frustrated and alone.

[trimestersdoula]

Nmnd

[farmerjess]

Glad that things are looking up for you. And I really hope you don't have thrush...it totally sucks.

I wish I could go out today, but I don't have a carseat installed in my truck yet. Next week we will be hitting the town by ourselves!

[CookAMH]

I'm not in your DDC and am sorry you had such a rough day....your daughter is soooooo cute. I love her little round head and fuzz of hair!!

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Amber Lion

But now I've got a headache that so far tylenol hasn't touched. Dh will be home in an hour and I'm passing her off to him for sure. Maybe a long nap would have been better than the long outing, but it sure did feel good to get out too!

Thanks for all the support ladies, it really makes a difference when I'm feeling so frustrated and alone.

This is after the fact, but how was your eating during the day? Maybe your headache was sparked by not quite enough food. That happens to me.

SO glad you had a good outing and a GREAT latch while out!

[heidirk]

Yay for NIP!!! That can be very challenging, and you did great!

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