uncomfortable bf due to stitches, bad hips etc

[margherita76]

I had rather a lot of stitches after delivery plus I am getting over SPD so breastfeeding in bed is v uncomfortable. I was thinking of getting a nursing chair but think that maybe I should just try more pillows before committing to a chair. Wondered if anyone has any v newbie advice for me.

I had the same problem. :(

First and foremost - what are you doing to help your stitches heal? I found frequent baths were the key to soothe them, esp. salt baths which my mum reckons makes them heal faster (mine did rapidly heal after a salt bath but that could just be because we were already at that point, so not proof at all). Lots of salt in a small amount of water, splash over your stitches.

How are you breastfeeding in bed - lying down or sitting up? I found lying down helped but only if I had one leg up (totally starkers to get air to the stitches). Don't know if that's viable with the SPD though.

It will get better, honest :)

Can you get to a shop and try a nursing chair? Some stores even have them in the breastfeeding room so you can try it out properly.

I'm getting a glider chair as I think I'll have the same issue (various other health issues too) and I find the chairs so comfy. Haven't breastfed in one yet, but I think the chair will make breastfeeding more feasible for me.

I can't really get to a shop at the mo- I've sent OH off to the shops to get as many pillows as poss, so I'll try your idea Jem. And if that doesn't work I'll try your idea Japhrimel! Do you think you need to buy specifically nursing chairs?

Jem, I am only just beginning but so far I am rinsing a lot and bathing with a few drops of tea tree. The stitches hurt and I daren't look but it's all compounded by massive piles- less serious but more uncomfortable so far. Oh the glamour!

Margherita - I kept a bottle of water by the loo too (I am sure you are anyway) but found a sports bottle to be most useful as you can "direct" it more easily iyswim. In that I dropped a couple of drops of lavender oil which was less stingy than the tea tree. Healed up very quickly. Also witch hazel on cotton wool helps soothe piles too.

Re breastfeeding, have you tried lying on your side to do it?

jemjabella is right, salt baths and lots of airing and keeping the area very clean will help healing. and get lots of rest!

as for breastfeeding, the midwives kept encouraging me to feed lying down, but neither my DS nor i could get the hang of it. now we have finally go the hang of it, so its worth persisting.

you should experiment with different positions so you can see if you and baby have a preference/ find one more comfortable. i initally found for some reason that i could only feed with my right breast in rugby ball position.

also get OH to help as much as he can. ive been very ill and in the early days there were times when i was so weak my DH had to hold DS to my body to get the milk.

I also found it very uncomfy feeding in bed after I had a c-section. I thought about buying a nursing chair bu my Dh couldn't be convinced to spend the extra money! I ended up just getting up and sitting on the couch. I found a bf pillow helped as I found it hard to hold my DD up. Even after healing, I have continued to get up and feed upright during the night. I know alot of bf'ing mums like the convenience of feeding in bed but I find it easier to get up, put the telly on and get a drink of juice andchocolate.

If you keep trying to feed in bed, get your OH to help out by passing your DC to you and taking your DC from you after feeds. I found it paticularly soor getting in and out of th bed holding my DD.

Oops sorry for the typos

what a lot of good advice. I have got the sports bottle which I shall put lavender in.

Jem - I have heard mixed advice about the salt. Some say yes some say it doesn't make any difference and will sting.

And I shall be airing...

I am definitely going to move DD to the other side as DP had been passing her to me when I moan loud enough.

The worst thing at the moment is that the laxulose has given me the runs which means the piles are not going down and are KILLING me ( midwife said it was the biggest she had seen - which didn't make me feel any better!). Why is there no hardcore piles treatment like for example you get hardcore painkillers?

margherita76 - you definitely don't need a specific nursing chair, but they are so comfy!

The hardcore treatment for piles is surgery and they probably wouldn't offer that atm as they may go down on their own when things settle down. I presume you're using suppositories? If they hurt all the time, not just when you go to the loo, then you should be given pain-relief, just like with any pain.

Have you stopped taking the Laxulose?

Japhrimel, yes I certainly have - yesterday was agony. I'll stick to the fibogel and apricots.

I am not using anything but Anusol and witch hazel. I cant cope with the idea of suppository at the moment and I found that they can be messy and then cause itchiness (when I used them in pregnancy)

I am already on 2 painkillers- but it doesn't hurt so much as just cause uncomfortablness ( is that a word?!). And i can 'feel' it all the time.

I think i better go and lie down again!

Re: salt baths stinging - that's why I waited so long, because I'm a big chicken. I didn't feel a thing though, honest :)

seriously give the salt baths a go, i was told by all the midwives they would sting and then when i finally gave them a go i didn't feel anything and i saw how much of a difference it made i was so annoyed by all the wrong advice i'd been given to not do them. apparently its old school medicine.

And the suppositories - they help so much more.