Mumsnet Talk

I have a horribly plugged duct/ducts since my milk came in 2 days ago. Dd is 5 days, and she is starting to refuse that breast, not sure if maybe the plugged duct is making it too hard to feed from? She also has a posterior tongue tie we're getting dealt with next week.

I'm sitting here pumping the affected boob with a heat pack on it - it is agony. I've also been massaging it, and offering it more often (which she will only take piddly feeds from it isn't that much of a relief!)

I'm seriously worried about her - had huge issues feeding my son, and although we're off to a better start (yes really! I actually have milk - DS never brought my milk in and it was an uphill struggle from there). Breastfeeding support have said all is looking good - her latch is good, she has wet and dirty nappies (although we're still at dark poo but not meconium which worries me too!), and she seems to be getting a good amount judging by her behavior at the breast ( swallowing sounds etc).

Midwife is round tomorrow but I'm so worried and sore. I need some hand holding and advice.

I'm giving you hand holding, a and a huge well done for all that colostrum you've already got into your dd, not to mention bf this time despite the rocky start last time.

An going to reread your post and then post some info on the specific issues.

About the plugged duct, is there a white mark on your nipple- sometimes called a bleb? If so, you tried softening it by a bath and gently rubbing the skin there?

Are you very engorged at the moment in the sore breast? If so, that may be making it difficult for your dd to latch. You could try reverse pressure softening or hand expressing a little just before she feeds to make it easier for her to latch?

Thank you, welove. No bleb, and I've been trying both expressing and reverse pressure softening on it for her. For some reason on that boob alone, she tries to use that nipple as almost a dummy - we'll go to latch on, and she'll give two sucks, then just completely break suction.

I really thought given how much milk I have this time (it runs out the right boob when I manage to feed from the left, but the left is no longer as accommodating!), that things would be ok.

Bunty it may well still be completely fine in a few weeks - this is just the hardest bit. I remember crying a lot in these few days because I was so hormonal after the birth my let down was painful and I was exhausted. Once I got to 2 weeks bf actually started to feel ok, then nice and then I ebf one feed at a time to 6 months.

You can definitely do it and your determination sounds like it will carry you there. You have got so much sorted already - established there is a blocked duct, worked out the tt and how to deal with engorgement.

Are you doing the 'bag of marbles massage'? If not, you could google that. If she isn't taking the sore side much you can express to keep the supply up and ask the mw tomorrow about that.

I know of someone who successfully fed a baby on one side only and it is very common for babies to favour one side. Remember your body could feed twins if it needed to!

Some un MN hugs coming your way.

Thank you. Will google this massage!

Madam is currently whimpering in her sleep - disconcerting.

that she is unsettled.

Hopefully she will feed ok tonight and you can then see the mw tomorrow. You can ask her about expressing to keep up supply and syringe feeding ebm if mw doesn't think she is getting enough bm.

Off to bed now, but will be back tomorrow to see what the mw says.

Hope you get some sleep and offering you a hand to hold until tomorrow.

Hope things are better and mw was helpful?

Hope today was better. Saw this just now and thought I'd something from my mw that helped me. My block was under my arm and she got me rugby ball holding with the affected arm in the air which really helped. Awkward but effective! Changing position can help, I was also going to try the 'dangle' hanging over her but it cleared before I did. I had mastitis twice with my first & really don't want it again! Good luck, hope it's better today.

Thanks both - she has been feeding all day today and has settled about an hour ago. The blockage seems to be resolving thanks to rugby ball hold, which my DS wouldn't countenance, and heat packs. I pretty much took to bed today and we skin to skinned and fed.

She has lost 8% at day 6 - midwife not worried ATM, ESP in view of tongue tie. No poos yet today, although big wet nappies. I so just want some yellow poos from her!

Bunty it all sounds as though it's going in the right direction, which is good. She is feeding and hopefully you are less sore.

My DS list 8% too irrc and they said that was fine - he is now a big bouncing boy and was perfect weight for height at his one year check.

Hopefully you'll be posting later to say you've seen that nice yellow poo

Did she poo yesterday in the end?

Thanks, welove we had a tiny poo yesterday morning, but nothing since

Good that there was one though and hopefully a yellow one late tonight

We have a poo! An epic one still transitional, but it is something. Got DH to weigh her today - it looks like she's back up to 7lb11oz from a birth weight of 7lb14. Hoping my scales are accurate, but fairly sure they are. Hoping we've turned a corner, and next week when we see the feeding coordinator it'll just keep going from strength to strength.

There is a really good tongue tie group on facebook. Look up tongue tie babies support group and ask to join.

There is often more to dealing with tongue tie than just a snip I'm afraid, it might be worth having a look before your appointment next week.

That all sounds fab then Bunty! Sounds like she is putting on weight beautifully and getting there with the poo

Thanks, maw - interesting you should say that as DS had/has a severe tie which has been snipped on numerous occasions but kept regrowing.

welove thank you for your continued support poo again today (seems to be a massive clear out girl rather than little and often!), which is steadily getting lighter. She is bright eyed and alert and doesn't have the pinched look my poor DS did when he was losing. Midwife back on Tuesday so am hoping to report great things then

Good news! Sounds like yellow poo really is on its way now

You are doing great - we were about 7/8 days before we got decent mustard seed pops. Hope the tt cut helps

Thanks.

Sat here in floods. Have weighed her myself an I'm getting her at 7lb dead on - a 12% loss. It's all happening again. I can't do this to myself again. She looks so healthy compared to what DS did, she wakes and demands feeds, she's not jaundiced, she pees a lot - but just will not put on weight or give me those dirty nappies.

Oh god we're going to end up readmitted. My poor baby.

Where are you based?

Near wrexham.

Bunty but don't prejudge things - your scales could be completely off - if mw is coming today wait for her to tell you what the position is - sounds as though she has been keeping a close eye on you. Don't despair.

Even if you do need more help with her feeding for a while then there is nothing to say that it won't be something you can resolve and move on from with help.

Wish I could be there in RL to make you a cup of tea. You sound like a lovely mum.

Thank you, welove (even though you made me cry again!).

3 big poos in the last 2 hours. Have just weighed her again and now saying 7lb 14 ... Think my scales are maybe not quite right .

She's been feeding all day since 7am, which I'm sure is helping supply, and I've pumped a couple of times when I get 2 minutes respite from the feeding.

Does anyone know if my boob stops leaking (my right leaked when feedig off the left up until yesterday) if that's ok or means my supply is drying up? Or just that boobs are regulating themselves? Blocked ducts on left now completely cleared thank goodness, but not feeling full (which given how often she's been feeding today I suppose is understandable).

She is 9 days today. I know it all starts to sort itself out but not sure when, and worried the lack of engorgement and leaking is a bad sign. [sigh]