Day 3, milk coming in, so sore, help!

[Artichook]

DS is still v sleepy and not eating very efficiently. I have no pump. I've suffered with mastitis with previous children so scared of that. My breasts are HUGE and lumpy and so incredibly sore. Other than encouraging DS to feed what can I do???

[delilah88]

Hot bath? Poor you! Remember, it will go. x

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

If you need to you can hand express a small amount to take the edge off.

[thistlelicker]

Hand express. Hot bath and massage them. Cabbage leaves x

[Artichook]

Hand expressing doesn't seem to work. Maybe I should go and buy a pump.

[delilah88]

Hand expressing can be ineffective and can actually generate bigger, harder boobs as you do lots of little 'sucks' with your fingers but not much milk comes out, your boobs get a message that there's a hungry baby needing even more to be supplied! be careful!

Take two paracetamol I reckon, you sound in agony.

[LAF77]

Putt a hot water bottle under your arm pits as it will help with the sore tissue in a tricky area.

[Artichook]

Thanks. I've taken paracetamol but I'm just terrified of mastitis. My new DS is tiny compared to my last child and a much less enthusiastic eater, I think my breasts have prepared for another starving 10.5 pounder and that's not what I have! DH has gone to buy a pump but might that also stimulate more supply?

[RedKites]

There are lots of tips for engorgement on Kellymom - it includes information on reverse pressure softening which might be useful if your DS is finding it hard to latch on. And I found the tips on hand expressing in this leaflet helpful. I hope it passes soon and congratulations on your DS!

[lightrain]

I just went through this a week ago, I sympathise greatly!

Hot shower really helped, paracetamol and cabbage leaves. I didn't pump as I was worried about encouraging supply more than strictly nessecary (boobs were HUGE).

I was in agony and cried on my poor DHs shoulder, but it got better by the end of the next evening (much quicker than with my first DC!).

Wishing you a quick return to normality!

[milktraylady]

You can also take nurofen- it's anti inflammatory. New GP guidelines ok for ibuprofen when bf.

[Artichook]

Thanks all. That Kellymom site is great. I sent DH out for a pump and cabbage leaves and he returned with no pump and a bloody lettuce. Meanwhile DS has refused to feed at all and simply sleeps as soon as he is put to the breast. Aaaggghh!

[delilah88]

If all else fails and you do end up pumping, why not freeze some of the milk? Then, in a few weeks when things calm down, your DH can use it to do some night feeds while you catch up on sleep.

[Artichook]

Now I have a fever of 101 and feel so cold. Just as doctors surgery closes. What on earth do I do now?

[thistlelicker]

Ring te ooh doctor x fever is normally a sign of the milk coming in

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

Re hand expressing- try it immediately after a feed (ie when LO has started your letdown), rotating your hand to get different areas of your boob. Lean forward as much as pos that can make an amazing difference. And don't do too much.

Throw the bloody lettuce at DH and tell him to go get a sodding cabbage!!

That's all my knowledge I'm afraid but lots of and as it sounds to me like you might be in for mastitis again. Nhs direct or out of hours GP?

[TerracottaPie]

Things that helped me last time when mastitis was hovering and/or ducts were blocked were hot shower and massaging from outer areas of breast down towards nipple. Repeatedly and all around the whole boob. Then trying to hand express after that whilst still in the shower. I'd be in there ages. It was sore sometimes actually doing it but I'd usually feel a little better after.

It did do the trick a lot of the time but I still had mastitis 3 times anyway. I dread the thought of it again too.

Really hope you get sorted. But yes to OOH doctor if you're worried about it being mastitis.

Just a thought - I only properly learnt how to hand express with DS when a breast feeding coordinator came round after the 2nd bout of mastitis and showed me. I thought I'd been doing it right but I hadn't at all. Is your technique ok do you think?

[Wildwaterfalls]

No advice other than what's already been said, but just sympathies and a massive at your DH and his lettuce.

[Artichook]

I'm so depressed, I am shsking and freezing and hot all at once. I was enjoying breastfeeding but after recurrent mastitis with DD2 I know I can't do this again. I can't be ill over and over. I will have to stop because clearly my breasts just can't process milk effectively.

[Artichook]

I'm so depressed, I am shsking and freezing and hot all at once. I was enjoying breastfeeding but after recurrent mastitis with DD2 I know I can't do this again. I can't be ill over and over. I will have to stop because clearly my breasts just can't process milk effectively.

[VisualiseAHorse]

Look at youtube for good videos of hand expressing. Saved my sanity (well almost).

Sounds like you've got mastitis though, with the shaking/hot/cold thing Get yourself to the doctor ASAP.

[TerracottaPie]

With your last post I hope you've got in touch with OOH GP? Really feeling for you Arti.

Don't forget you'll be having the baby blues period about now too so get some antibiotics in you ASAP and see how you feel in a few days? Might not feel so much of a mountain to climb. You'll be best keeping on feeding through the treatment anyway won't you? Of course don't beat yourself up if things don't quite work out will you.