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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Please remind me why i am doing this again? BF-ing

40 replies

scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 07:40

Baby is 5 weeks and we appear to have thrush for the 2nd time. She is also feeding all the time, growth spurt time maybe?

Her mouth has it as do my nipples. Yesterday she was on my boob for hours, she isn't normally.

All i thought about yesterday was formula. She is my 3rd baby but first breastfed one so i am very new to this.

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 24/05/2008 07:46

Sounds like another growth spurt to me. Things should settle down again in a few days. In the meantime, can you stay in bed/on the sofa for as long as possible?

You're doing a great job

ChirpyGirl · 24/05/2008 07:47

Oh poor you, that's the worst, you are doing brilliantly to keep it up with thrush

reasons to BF....hmmm
You don't have to do any washing up or sterilising.

5-6 weeks is a big growth spurt, it's the last one before it settles down a bit (there are more growth spurts but this is a bad one) She is just 'finalising' the supply. It does end soon and then she will go longer and longer between feeds, promise.

scuse disjointed typing, dd's climbing all over me but didn't want you to go unanswered

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 07:48

She is doing very well at night, just the day is awful at mo.

I am home alone with dc today but when dh gets back i will probably just take her to bed with me.

OP posts:
BumperliciousNeedsToSleep · 24/05/2008 07:50

Aw scorpio, that's tough, but this is the hardest time, it will get easier and will be so worth it. Imagine if every time you leave house you have to think about how many bottles you might need, make them up, think about where you are going to warm them up etc.

EffiePerine · 24/05/2008 07:50

retreating to bed a VERY good idea .

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 07:52

it would be ok if i didnt have thrush again, that and im so tired.

DH is also being difficult at mo which makes feel like i have no support iyswim.

OP posts:
IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast · 24/05/2008 07:52

Oh scorpio, you poor thing! Hang on in there - it doesn't feel like it but you're almost through the really hard bit, it will get easier from here, promise!

Reasons to continue: Snuggly time together, vanilla breath, less ear infections/diarrhoea/colds, reduced risk of some cancers for you, reduced risk of osteoporosis for you, great way to help shift baby weight, so quick and convenient when you're travelling or just out of the house, and you will feel a sense of achievement however long you feed her for. Well done for sticking at it through adversity

BumperliciousNeedsToSleep · 24/05/2008 08:01

That's tough about DH. Me and my DH had rocky times over bfing, especially when he could see how hard it was on all of us, but now he would have it any other way and sai a while ago he hoped I would do it until DD is a year. Give him a kick up the arse and tell him if he wants to take DD to the dr's when she gets ill, get up with her in the night then to carry on being unsupportive!

It must be so hard with your other DCs too. What are your biggest issues?

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 08:04

i think its just the pain of the thrush mostly; i feel like its my fault in some way that we have it again. i dont even really mind her feeding for ages.

DH is being ok about the BF, just other stuff he is being crap about and i feel like i dont need it at mo and he should realise that.

OP posts:
IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast · 24/05/2008 08:16

It's not your fault at all! You mustn't think like that.

Sorry your DH is being unhelpful. Perhaps he needs gently reminded that although this is DC3 it isn't any easier having a 5 week old than it was first time round!

BumperliciousNeedsToSleep · 24/05/2008 08:17

Have you got stuff for the thrush?

I'm sorry it hurts so much. I hope it gets better for you soon.

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 08:18

i have stuff from last time - drops for her and cream for me.

OP posts:
Thomcat · 24/05/2008 08:28

Oh you poor sausage.

Establishing breastfeeding can be the most difficult thing int he world and it feels awful.

Established breastfeeding is the most wonderful, natural, easy thing in the world. It can just take time to get there.

I had mastitis twice with DD3, my nipples were blistered and bleeding. It was awful. I had to feed her away from DD1 & DD2 as I had to breathe through the pain of feeding her while gripping the table, tears streaming down my face.

Then the establishing part was over and it became established and I as so happy I'd stuck with it.

DD3 is now 8 months old, still being BF and those days of non-stop feeding and pain are such a distant memory, feels like it never happened.

You're doing amazingly. If you can stick with it and get through this patch you'll be glad you did.

You'll get loads of support here, xx

FrannyandZooey · 24/05/2008 08:36

Wow, 5 weeks, IMO the most difficult part is behind you now

a tricky time as you have worked so hard but it hasn't - YET - got any easier

the next week or two should show things improving - people do usually talk about 6 or 8 weeks being the trickiest

Thomcat · 24/05/2008 08:45

The non-stop feeding and feeling like they are feeding doesn't stop at 5 weeks. That's when that sort of starts, or can do, imo. They get to like the feeling of having nipple in mouth, become more aware and want that comfort thing. I was well down the one with BF when I began to feel like a human dummy. it was hard and I was tired but I got through it by just taking my nipple out everytime she sucked but wasn't swallowing. It took time but we got there. She slept in bed with me and I dozed off lying next to her as she fed and when I was able to I'd slide away from her a bit. Sometimes she'd wake up and mither till she had my nipple back, sometimes she didn't. Then it got better and better until we were sorted. Took time and patience, actually endurance!!!

Now I give her a taggie blanket (she's 8 months now though) and as I finish feedign her at night and lay her back into her cot I lay a taggie into her arms and she puts one of the little labels into her mouth and goes to sleep. Just so she doesn't feel so exposed after being snuggled into my breast for the last 15 minutes.

Piccalilli2 · 24/05/2008 08:48

Scorpio, just wanted you to know you're nit alone, it's exactly the same here - can't seem to shift the thrush, in pain all the time, so so tired and dh is being useless. What's keeping me going is knowing the nights are much harder when you have to make up bottles, and it's so much easier going out when you don't have to think about bottles - which is particularly important as we have older kids. Also, my doctor promised me yesterday that it will get better very soon. We just have to hang in there a bit longer.

Thomcat · 24/05/2008 08:50

It absolutely will get better, it really really will. You'll barely be able to remember these days soon.

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 13:16

am feeling a bit more positive, its not too sore at mo.

OP posts:
TheProvincialLady · 24/05/2008 13:51

Great news As well as the drops and creams, are you washing your bras daily at 60 degrees and making sure that anything else that comes into contact with your DD mouth is sterilised each time? And changing breast pads very frequently? I just wondering why you have had a relapse of the thrush. It is so painful, well done for keeping going.

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 13:52

yes to pads, but no to bras and her dummy....

OP posts:
Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 13:53

i dont htink it really went totally tbh, there was no pain but still very pink nipples when they are normally brown iyswim.

i normally wash at 40, btw.

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 24/05/2008 14:06

washing at 40 doesn't kill thrush whereas eashing at 60 does. But you probably wouldn't want to wash your Hotmilk bras at 60!. Could also be the dummy, beat to sterilise it though it is a pain.
I've just had mastitis and actually almost passed out feeding ds4 one morning, the pain was so bad. But I've bf all my babies and I know that this early stage is the worst and the advantages eventually outweigh the disadvantages!

VictorianSqualor · 24/05/2008 14:08

this is why you're doing it.

You're fab and doing wonderful.
xxxxx

Original poster
scorpio1 · 24/05/2008 14:10

i totally didnt know that about bras, will change to plain ones and hot wash them, and its easy enough to sterilise her dummy each time in microwave, only takes 6 mins.

OP posts:
naturelover · 24/05/2008 15:00

I haven't read the whole thread.

Did you get (the correct dose of) fluconazole the first time? I was given a low dosage and the thrush returned 3 weeks later.

Once I had the correct dose I knocked the thrush on its head.

I also cut down on sugar, yeast, alcohol, and tried to get more rest, did hot washes of bras etc (useful tips on LLL website somewhere IIRC). It's not forever, I went back to eating loads of cake and the thrush never came back (DD is 9 months old, we are still bf).

I hope it all improves soon. I found breastfeeding very tough at first but I'm glad I stuck with it. It's quick, convenient, no faffing with bottles and - a bonus - I'm slimmer than ever before and I eat NON-STOP.