Bad day, anyone else?

[tinkerbellvspredator]

Anyone else want to commiserate with me about their bf woes? DS is 5 weeks and we've had nothing but ishoos (pain, weight, tongue tie) whenever things start looking up we have a set back.

Currently I'm being treated for thrush. Extremely painful, although ibuprofen is taking much of the edge off. What's getting me down today is that we're on day 4 of treatment and no sign of improvement.

What if it takes ages to get rid of - I'm not sure I'm willing to keep bearing this pain for weeks on end? What if it isn't thrush - baby hasn't got symptoms (I've had pain from the latch throughout but it was getting better then suddenly this intense pain started). What if it gets better but I still have the pain and vasospasm I had previously - even though I've had lots of support and no one could see anything wrong with his latch?

I feel bad my baby is getting all these drugs in his system. I feel bad that my DD is spending most of her time after school watching TV. I feel bad I was going to spend today catching up on sleep but despite being in bed all day I haven't slept. I feel bad that my maternity leave is trickling away while I cry.

I wish it was easy to give up breastfeeding but despite everything I enjoy the feeds most of the time. I have more good days than bad. DS sleeps well and gained loads of weight last week. In his world it seems every upset can be solved by booby! So I just keep going through the bad days.

[Tomkat79]

Didn't want to read and run. No real advice really, just a bit of hand holding.
I had supply issues and aversion with bf...then I read 'the womanly
Art of breastfeeding' book that seemed to restore my faith. 6 months down the line all is well.
Hope things improve for you soon xx

[FlossieTreadlight]

I'm with you - tongue tie, reflux, vomiting, prolonged feeding, poor weight gain, exhausted, feel like I'm letting toddler down. Only 3 weeks in and I don't know if I can keep this up.

[Awakeagain]

It really does get easier
With ds1 I had issues but by 6/7 weeks after seeking help and persevering we were like pros

I'm bf ds2 now and have learnt so much from my mistakes with ds1

[TheToadLessTravelled]

Bad day here too. Bf ds1 for 17 months so thought I had it cracked but here I am with 5 day old ds2 and feel like I am back where I started. Cracked nipples, painful latch, dreading the start of each feed. I know it gets better but today was not a good day

[Chottie]

No advice but just some hand holding and

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

Tinker - he won't be getting any drugs that any reputable GP wouldn't be happy to prescribe you. You sound like you're having a hard time, do what's best for you, if you're enjoying feeding most of the time, carry on, if the bad days outweigh the good, stop.

When I had DC2, DC1 spent A LOT of time watching TV whilst I fed, but that was ok, he snuggled up beside me & we talked & watched, he was close to me & happy.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself, if you want to & feel like you can carry on then do, but, if it's too much, then don't, he's had five weeks which is brilliant, much more than many children have.

My children were fed for one & three years respectively, I was on a bottle from the start, DD & I both have eczema & she was the child that had three years of BF, don't stress, rather a FF baby than a mother who is running herself ragged to try and achieve a ridiculous ideal. Go easy on yourself, small children are hard work and the only reason I BF for so long was because I'm a lazy sod & it was easy for me, as I suspect it was for many of the proselytisers.

[tinkerbellvspredator]

Thanks Hound, I completely agree about doing what's best for everyone not just baby. I am just surprised how much I want to stick with bf now I've made it this far. DD had expressed and formula so I hadn't experienced it before.

[tinkerbellvspredator]

Oops sorry didn't see everyone else's replies!

Flossie hope you're feeling better today? Have you had the TT snipped yet? Reflux must be tough to deal with, could that be the reason for poor weight gain? DS hadn't regained birth weight by 4 weeks and then he put on 13oz in one week so things can turn around quickly. I didn't do anything particularly different though try to do breast compressions during most feeds if he stops actively feeding.

[tinkerbellvspredator]

TheToad hand hold from me. My lowest point was when DH was helping me to latch on my more painful side and I screamed. I decided to express from that side for a couple of days, didn't get much milk but seemed to not affect supply too much. Luckily I only had a few days to go until the tt procedure so there was a light at the end of the tunnel otherwise I would probably have given up that week. Have you been checked for tt (not just by midwife looking?)

[tinkerbellvspredator]

Thanks for the hand holding Tomkat Awake and Chottie. The support from breastfeeding groups I've had and chats with friends and reading positive stories on Mumsnet really help with the emotional side of things.

I had a bath last night, got dressed into clean pjs and watched Grantchester on iplayer. All was right with the world again.