Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Advice on expressing - last attempt at keeping up with BF

57 replies

Stefka · 10/11/2007 09:42

After sobbing my way through yet another feed last night I knew I couldn't stand to put him back on my left breast again. So I am going to try and express from that one and alternate a bottle with my less sore side to see if I can get this crack to heal. I am hoping my least sore side will hold up so that I can stand it.

I have a hand pump - it takes ages and I was up half the bloody night with it but I guess that is just what it is going to take. I only seem able to get about 30ml every time - how do I know if that is enough for him?

Aso how can I tell the difference between when he is hungry and just wanting comfort. I had fed him recently and he started crying and I was about to feed him again when he found his thumb and five minutes later he was asleep!

OP posts:

ib · 11/11/2007 13:52

I don't know but bumping for you.

moondog · 11/11/2007 16:16

Poor you Stefka.
Hoping Tiktok can come along and provide some expert guidance.

shreksmissus · 11/11/2007 19:03

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Stefka · 11/11/2007 20:53

Yes he has gel for his mouth and cream for his bum. It's really been the hardest three weeks of my life and I am nearly at the end of what I can handle now.

I have a nipple shield but it didn't help. I might try it again though.

OP posts:

moondog · 11/11/2007 23:15

Stefka, have you had a link to Silverette?
They seem to work like magic. Hang on...

moondog · 11/11/2007 23:16

Silverette

Original poster

Stefka · 12/11/2007 09:40

I have them but I also have thrush and when I take them off my nipples are soaked in milk. I think thrush lives in the milk so I figured it wasn't a good idea to keep using them but maybe it would be ok - I don't know.

OP posts:

moondog · 12/11/2007 18:16

Bump for poor Stefka.

NineUnlikelyTales · 12/11/2007 18:28

Stefka I had thrush and it is soooo painful. You have my sympathy and admiration.

I found that taking acidophilus 'good bacteria' tablets from the health food shop worked wonders for me, in conjunction with the other treatments. Are you washing your bras at at least 60 degrees and changing every day? Okay, don't answer that question but if you aren't, do Otherwise you will keep being reinfected. You can also try cutting down on any sugar in your diet, as thrush feeds on sugars. You will also need to change any breast pads very frequently.

How are you feeding your DS the EBM? If you are using a cup and you are expressing instead of BF direct (and very frequently, ie 8 times a day including at night), you could probably afford to have a break of 24 hours or so to give your nipples a chance to heal. But expressing can be really hard on your nipples too. Are you still using the hand pump?

Keeping my fingers crossed that you heal quickly.

kittock · 12/11/2007 19:13

Stefka - so sorry this is still a nightmare - I had thrush too following mastitis and I know what agony it is, not to mention the exhaustion of constantly feeding and pumping.

I would really recommend hiring a proper electric breast pump: it can make a big difference - less painful and much much quicker than a hand pump.

Which nipple shields were you using? My breastfeeding counsellor advised Medela shields - they come in two sizes and were much much easier to use than the avent ones - you can get them online at www.medela.com. I know that nipple shields are not always recommended, but in extreme cases they can really help to relieve nipple trauma(they did for me).

Call in as much help as you can too so that you can get as much rest as possible when you're not feeding or expressing.

Well done for getting this far - you're doing a fantastic job in really really hard circumstances.

monkeybird · 12/11/2007 21:06

bumping again for you Stefka - hope it gets better for you soon

monkeybird · 12/11/2007 21:19

Just had another thought - I vaguely recollect - but could have dreamed this - it was a long time ago that I had it! - that thrush, once treated, can feel slightly worse before it gets better (don't know if anyone else can verify this?). If so, hang in there just a bit longer.

Have you managed to resolve the expressing thing? You've been doing so brilliantly - I'm really rooting for you to get a break soon...

Original poster

Stefka · 13/11/2007 10:15

The after pains are still bad - especially at night.

Someone is going to lend me an electric pump which is good as I am skint! She is bringing it round tonight.

I am really tired and fed up and starting to wonder how much longer this can continue. I am still dreading every feed - this is not a nice way to exist.

Thanks again for all the support

OP posts:

monkeybird · 13/11/2007 10:22

Morning

You must have been taking the fluc for a couple of days now? It should start improving soon as far as I recall - I remember about 2-3 days after starting it I began to feel better.

Hopefully once you've dealt with the thrush you'll be able to get on top of those cracks too.

Are you able to take care of yourself in between feeds? Sleep when the baby sleeps, try and get some food down etc?

love2sleep · 13/11/2007 10:43

Hi Stefka.
Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. How is your DS? Hope you're getting a bit of time to enjoy some cuddles.
I found that a dummy really helped. It made sure that DS wasn't using me as a dummy!
xxx

Original poster

Stefka · 13/11/2007 10:45

I am not getting enough sleep but I certainly can't stop eating! I have not been that healthy though - well I am trying to be but I tend to eat the healthy food then eat the bad food anyway.

It is hard to sleep in the day - there is always something to do but then at night time I am exhausted. I guess it just goes with the territory though.

OP posts:

moondog · 13/11/2007 12:34

Hi Stefka.
Don't worry about the food aspect.Whatever keeps you going is good.
Hope the electric pump helps.

love2sleep · 14/11/2007 10:52

Hi Stefka.
How you doing?
Has the pump helped?

laundrylover · 14/11/2007 11:11

Stefka,

i haven't read the whole thread but it sounds like you are having a nightmare.

I had thrush with DD2 and there are two big things to remember. For me Flucon didn't work but what did work was a supplement of Extract of Grapefruit Seed (also called Citricidal). I took Exspore tablets (get them online or ask at health food shop) and used liquid citricidal to wash my bras and DD2s nappies.

Second thing is that thrush will live on your breast pump - I kept geting reinfected until I started using Milton. It's the only thing that will kill it as even boiling won't do. Generally I don't sterilise at all but in this case you have to use Milton until the thrush goes.

I had thrush for months. It was awful, esp at nights like you say. Luckily she was my second bfed baby and the thought of how easy and convenient bfing could be kept me going. If she had been my first I think I would've given up. So glad I didn't though and am still bfing at 19 months!!

Good luck with getting rid of it and hope you can enjoy pain free bfing very soon.

Original poster

Stefka · 14/11/2007 18:07

Things still very painful. I am not pumping anymore as my breast became engorged again and I needed him to feed on it. It's still very painful.

I had another person come out to watch me feed. That makes person number six. She was at a loss as to how to help me. It's those bloody cracks on my nipples that are doing my head in - they hurt so much

OP posts:

bracingair · 14/11/2007 18:20

i used to put lanisoh on and then gauze pads on top (well i guess like plasters?) so that would speed up the healing.

feel strong!

moondog · 14/11/2007 20:00

OPh Stefka.
You poor poor love.
Are you walking about topless? (In private obviously) Let the air at them!

Original poster

Stefka · 15/11/2007 09:36

I have been for the last few days but I have gone back to the jelonet. I find being topless all day a bit tiring and also my breast keep getting knocked which is painful. I just feel better if I can put them away for a bit!

OP posts:

love2sleep · 15/11/2007 10:37

Hello Stefka.
Congrats on keeping going. I think you're fab!
I know it's not a long term solution but what pain killers are you taking? Personally I'd have no problem in taking the strongest things allowed while you you heal. And chocolate definitely helps. So does hot chocolate.

laundrylover · 15/11/2007 11:30

Stefka,

Take ibruprofen if you're not already as it is anti imflammatory so will help with the engorgement.

Has the flucon worked and did you manage to get any extract of grapefruit seed? It's called Citricidal in a bottle. BTW you can put this diluted into your nipples which will zap the thrush but it is very drying so will have to follow it up with whatever you are using for your cracked nipples.

I am soooo impressed that you are carrying on with the bfing - well done you.
You can get through this and one day when you sit down and do a pain free feed it'll all be worth it. Hang on in there.

Flip

1 2 3