Sometimes good, sometimes bad

[Stefka]

I am pretty confused as to why this is happening. Sometimes I have a feed that is not painful. A bit uncomfortable but not sore. Then the next time I try to do the exact same thing and it hurts. Obviously I must be getting the latch right sometimes and not others but I can't see what the difference in what I am doing is. I try to take him off and reattach him but I can only do this a few times as after the first five minutes he just won't go back on at all.

Thanks Monkeybird

I feel sad that I didn't have more help with latch in the early days. I feel it could have prevented or at least reduced the problems I've had with latch. The thrush is a different story, however if I'd known more about it I could maybe have got help before it became so excruciating. I didn't even know thrush in milk ducts existed. I might have paid more attention to my diet if I'd known about it.

The NCT bf counsellor I've been getting help from assured me that the pain would diminish - and it is - but she did say it might continue for a few weeks. Knowing that has reassured me, bizarrely, because correcting the latch did not make the pain cease immediately - possibly because of the lingering thrush?

BUT, my DD is thriving, 90th centile for weight, lively and healthy and fat and happy! This gives me a lot of motivation to go on, and I know once we're up and running it will be much more convenient to bf than ff.

MN has once again been a fabulous source of moral support.

I agree that the support on MN has been fab - I don't know what I would have done without it. My DH is supportive but doesn't get how soul destroying the constant pain can be. As well as how tiring it all is. I just don't get why sometimes it's good and sometimes it is total agony. Hopefully the HV will be able to help today. Just hoping he doesn't wake up until she gets here.

Well the HV has been and gone. I managed to get him on my good side pain free but the other was agony. She latched him on and it still hurt. There were times his mouth wasn't wide enough when I did it but even when it was it still hurt every time he sucked. Breast feeding worker is out tomorrow and the HV and midwife will be back on Thursday. I don't get why I was able to get it pain free on my bad side yesterday but now I can't.

My dh thinks I should express for a day. I am not so sure.

Stefka - it's up to you to decide what's best. What is it that worries you about expressing?

It takes up so much time and I don't want to give him a bottle. I tried before and he wouldn't settle anyway. When I am not feeding or changing nappies I want to be asleep.

I just had a good feed on my good side. I am getting more confident with that side. If I could just make these good feeds consistent I would be laughing.

I still think I might have thrush. I have so much pain in between feeds including pain in the breast. My nipples burn after feeds. It just doesn't seem right.

Stefka have you seen GP re thrush? I popped along yesterday just in case (someone cynical told me that HVs might not recognise it). I got the all clear which at least made me focus on the latch side of things.
I called BFN today and they gave me yet nore conflicting advice...that's the hardest to cope with I think, the fact that no too people tell you the same thing.
Really anxious about baby's weight too, although he won;t be weighed until Thursday I am paranoid that I am starving him.
God this is the most stressful thing - dare I say it harder than pregnancy/childbirth!

Stefka

Pain in between feedings, and deep in the breast (like a deep stabbing pain) could be thrush. You can also get very pink/red nipples as a symptom and sometimes your baby can have white patches in their mouth. I've had this too and it is worth seeing your GP although not all of them recognise thrush in the breasts... But if you're still getting wedge shaped rather than rounded nipples it may still be your latch is not quite right - you defo need to get the BF specialist out again...

You should have a look at websites on thrush in the breast - try this BFN page for link to leaflet on thrush
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/leaflets-and-publications.html

First line of defence is daktarin cream for your nipples, plus daktarin oral gel for baby you can get both these from the chemists over the counter though Oral Gel isn't supposed to be used for young babies - but lots of people do use it; or GP can prescribe nystatin for baby. If that doesn't work or you have a particularly sympathetic GP go straight for fluconazole or after the Daktarin if it doesn't work. You might have to persuade them to prescribe it for you (BFN website link explains why)

You also need to take precautions not to get it again - changing breastpads every feed, clean/dry bra at all times if poss, boil washing things that come in contact with skin etc. Think some people put vinegar in the wash but not sure about this...

What a bummer for you if it is thrush (please get some face to face advice on this) but if it is it can be treated

I was tested before and got the all clear but have something else which I am on antibiotics for so it might be that still. I dunno - I agree Mandler it really is harder than childbirth!

Well they think I do have thrush although they haven't actually tested me for it. I can't go out so I can't get to the Dr so they are just dropping the prescription off. The breast feeding worker said she had never seen nipples as badly damaged as mine and that she thought they would take ages to heal

Oh I'm feeling for you - you're not having an easy time at all. Hopefully the thrush treatment will deal with one source of pain at least.

Did the BF worker help in latching or helping your nipples to heal at all?

Maybe consider the expressing option for a couple of feeds to help the healing process? And some people do find nipple shields helpful though I've never tried them...

Do speak to someone in person on one of the helplines if you need to: they're fantastic even if you just need someone to blub to!

And can I say how fantastic you're doing to keep feeding through what must be pretty gruelling... women's bodies are amazing aren't they?

She checked the latch and helped me to get him on which has given me more confidence with that but it still hurt on my bad side and it seems there is nothing I can do until I heal. I am a bit nervous about expressing as the last time I did it I became engorged! Hopefully the medication will at least get rid of the burning pain I get after feeds. Going to make a post for tips on dealing with thrush.

Thanks for your support by the way - it's been amazing.