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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Don't know what to do...

45 replies

starlover · 30/03/2005 10:11

DS is now 7 weeks and I am almost at the end of my tether.
My boobs have been cracked and sore forever now and feeding him has become agony.
I sat there in tears feeding him last night because it hurt so much.

I desperately want to carry on breastfeeding him, but I can't seem to do it right Midwife, HV and breastfeeding counsellor have all said that I have him in a good position, and get a good latch (when he finally stops flailing his head around)... so I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

SOme days it seems a little better, and I feel like things are getting better, but then it just gets worse again.
I have tried everything. I walk around topless as much as poss, I put breastmilk on my nipples, and I've got through nearly a whole tube of lansinoh... but they just won't heal.

I am crying now because I don't want to bottle feed him, but I can't stand the pain of b/f any more.
Even between feeds my breasts feel tender and I get these shooting pains through them.

We had such a sticky start with him, and I was over the moon when he finally started to feed from me... and now it's all gone wrong.
I feel like such a failure, and a bad bad mother because he loves booby milk and I am thinking of taking it away from him and giving him formula.
It's like someone giving you lovely, delicious home-made food all your life, and then suddenly turning round and saying you have to have skanky microwave meals.

I don't know what I want anyone to say... I just need to get it all out I suppose. I want someone to give me a magic answer on how to make it not hurt anymore, but I know that won't happen.

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 30/03/2005 17:11

starlover. the shooting pains between feeds sound like thrush to me. Could you ask a pharmacist if they could give you something for it in the meantime. Don't know if you can still get it but I used an oral gel for thrush when ds2 was tiny and I put some on my nipples as well. Can't believe the length of time it takes to see a GP in the UK! We pay our GP in Ireland but get to see them the same day (usually!

MarmaladeSun · 30/03/2005 22:43

Hi. I am pretty sure that this IS thrush. I had it with DD2 (who is now 8 and a half months old)and it started when she was a couple of months old. I mentioned it to my mw first, and she wrote a prescription for the baby for drops. The giveaway was that her tongue was covered ina white film which at first looked like milk. However, the thrush had been passed to me, and had gone quite deep into my boobs, so I had to use a cream after every feed which the HV prescribed (or got the GP to, I can't remember). The pain cleared up almost overnight, and I am still bf now and it is wonderful. I almost gave up as the pain was excrutiating and I'm so glad I asked for help. Please go and see the HV NOW and get the cream and the drops, as the longer you wait the worse the infection will become. I really really feel for you, it's awful but believe me, a few applications of the cream and you'll be right as rain. Good luck.

Original poster

starlover · 30/03/2005 23:02

thank you all... just noticed that ds does have some white patches inside his mouth. his tongue looks a bit yellowy...

will definitely phone the doctor tomorrow and ask for an emergency appointment

OP posts:

moondog · 30/03/2005 23:19

starlover, I had this and suffered just like you. I found that the cream you can use to apply to your nipples was not really useful. What worked like magic for me was a pill which clears thrush throughout the body. Damn, forgotten the name! I think on the packet it says not to take when b/feeding but my m/wife (ABM counsellor) told me this was b*cks.

Exactly the same thing happened with my second baby so I knew what to do straight away.

I've been there as have so many of us and it's horrid, but with the right support you will work through it.The Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers have a helpline too, hang on (rummaging through my magazines...) it's 0870 401 7711.

Lovely people.

Keep posting, you'll get lots ogf help here. mears Tiktok and Pupuce in particular are all fantastic, in case you didn't know already.

XXXXXXX

moondog · 30/03/2005 23:20

You demand an appointment! Bloody outrageous!!!
B**ds!!

marthamoo · 30/03/2005 23:23

Oh you poor thing - no experience to recount but wanted to add my support. (((hugs)))

doobsy · 30/03/2005 23:26

you poor thing, you are not a failure or a bad mother at all. BF is so hard, i tried for 3 weeks with my first before giving up, i had such a terrible time with it and felt incredibly guilty for stopping, but she was perfectly happy to change to formula milk and looking back i deffinatly made the right decision for me and my dd.

moondog · 30/03/2005 23:30

Hopefully though doobsy,with skilled help and support, noone should have to give up unless they really really want to and the decision is not sort of forced upon them.

doobsy · 30/03/2005 23:37

yes i agree, i just came to the stage of not being able to cope and felt it was the best option for me and dd, but it is different for each mum

throckenholt · 31/03/2005 08:14

these might help

www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/thrush.html
www.breastfeed-essentials.com/thrush.html

Diflucan (fluconazole) - this is the stuff I have heard people say is very effective - licensed in the US for breastfeeding but aparently not here so can sometimes be difficult to get a prescription. A friend had it and was prescribed by the HV I think - so if you can't get to the gp then try the HV.

Prufrock · 31/03/2005 09:14

Oh I really feel for you starlover. I bf my dd for 11 months, and ds for about 6 before I had a bout of thrush and I was so depressed about suddenly not being able to do something that I really wanted to do. I hated the fact that I was resenting my poor ds for wanting feeds. But 5months later I'm still feeding him (well, if he ever wakes up this am I will ) If it is thrush you have to make sure the doctor treats you, and the baby, otherwise he will just pass it back to you. Nystatin is what they use for the baby (oral drops) and I was given just daktacort cream - though many people say you should have the diflucan. Good luck this am - demand that appointment.

Original poster

starlover · 31/03/2005 09:28

well, phoned the surgery this morning ready to demand an appointment, emergency one if necessary... and the nice receptionist was on and they had a cancellation... so am going at 10.50!

I am hoping to god that it is thrush, because then it can be treated... otherwise it's just me not doing it properly!

Will let you know how I get on... and thanks again for all the support!

OP posts:

Girly · 31/03/2005 10:18

Ditto here Starlover, can totally sympathise, I have been b/f dd for 4 weeks now and it has got really painful and I have the exact same symtoms as you. I phoned my HV who said it sounded very much like thrush and said i should get a gp emergency appointment, again like you I got a nice receptionist who also had the same thing so she got me an appiintment this afternoon.

We should compare notes! Just so as you know, its not only you feeling like this, not much compensation I know but at least your not alone!

LIZS · 31/03/2005 10:32

Good luck Strlover. Hope the gp helps you.

Original poster

starlover · 31/03/2005 11:53

back from GP... have a prescription for me, and one for Linus... so hopefully things are on the up!

Good luck with your appt this afternoon girly!

OP posts:

Lolasmum · 31/03/2005 12:07

Hi Starlover, I have felt like crying reading your post. I was in exactly the same position when dd was 7 weeks. I used to cry in anticipation of and during feeds. I used Lansinoh and I think that stopped the cracks from healing. They only started to get better when I gave up on the cream. I also found that the feeds were less painful if I lay on my side. Dd latched on in a different way and didn't catch my cracked nipple so it wasn't too painful. This method is fine when you're 'round the house but not so good if you're out and about! I carried on feeding on my side until the cracks cleared up. Hopefully the tablets will help you too and you will be feeling better soon. I can't tell you how much I hated BFing to start with, but I cried when I finally gave up when dd was 16 months as I had grown to love it so much. Good luck!

Girly · 31/03/2005 19:02

Had my appointment with gp who checked it our thoroughly and has given me a prescription for Flucazone (sp?).

He also checked dd for signs of it in her mouth and there was only milk spots, no thrush as yet. He seemed to think that the small amounts of flucazone would not affect dd so after much consideration deemed it safe for both of us.

It should work within 48 hours, here's hoping!!!

mumofthomas · 31/03/2005 20:31

Dear Starlover,

I also wanted to cry when I read your messages. I know how hard it is for you. My ds is now almost 4 months old and I'm still breastfeeding him but I very nearly gave up. He is a very inquisitive little boy and loves looking around all the time, bobbing on and off to feed when he likes. About a month ago, we both developed thrush and I was in agony every time he fed. It was made worse by the fact that he took so long and came on and off all the time. I went to the GP who prescribed Nystan oral suspension for the baby and Canesten cream for me. This helped for both of us. The only thing was that ds hated the drops - they tasted and smelt like horrible fake cherries and he gagged everytime I gave them to him which was 4 times per day . I also learnt the hard way that you mustn't give it after a feed! I tried this once and he projectile vomited about half his feed over me.
I really hope the medicines your GP prescribed help you. Just another suggestion. I used comfrey ointment on my nipples right in the beginning when I started bf and my nipples were sore and cracked. It's a great healer and seemed OK for ds.
Hang in there and good-luck. Please don't think that you are a bad mother! You're doing a fantastic job by the sounds of it, but I know it's easier said than done...

helsi · 31/03/2005 20:33

I was exactly the same startlover as what you describe in your post. You have done well for 7 weeks - I only managed 15 days. I then tried expressing and bottle feeding but couldn't express enough so went onto formula in bottles - I have to say it was the BEST THING I DID (for me BTW). Wouldn't put myself through all that next time. DD is healthy and has no allergies etc so it didn't do her any harm. Sorry but Breast is not always Best.

NannyJo · 31/03/2005 20:42

starlover, i went througha stage like yours and also gave myself a REALLY hard time over it but had to convert to bottle at 10 weeks. Still to this day feel a bit crap about it but when i read your comment at the bottom it made me cry nearly to hear you feeling so down and what you were going through. it did however make me realise i did make the right decision cos it's not worth putting yourself through it. Remember the main thing is that your happy and relaxed and then your baby will be too. Good luck

(Ds also had thrush at 12 weeks so i knoe what that is like too)

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