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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

cracked skin on fingertips and feeling nauseous when bfeeding, why???

36 replies

muminko · 21/02/2009 23:14

I have now been exclusively breastfeeding for five months and its going well. I had an emergency c-section and whilst staying in hospital received lot of suport with bfeeding (also attended NCT classes). Bfeeding going well but after just 4 (intensive) weeks, I have developed vertical lines on skin of my fingertips. At times these feel quite tight and my skin looks shrivelled as though I have been in bath for a long time. Fingertips are sensitive to touch. I have also been taking iron tablets as I had an iron defficiency. This I dont think had caused my fingertips to look and feel "funny". I thought I may be dehydrated but I drink plenty of fluids. Also in last 2 months or so I feel quite nauseous when doing an evening feed. It almost feel like I want to throw up. Anyone else is experiencing weird things like this? HV told me to express some milk and do the bottle feed in the evening instead, but I dont want to do this and also it does not explain the cause of my maladies.

OP posts:
hercules1 · 21/02/2009 23:18

Your hv is talking crap. It is not breastfeeding that is causing this.

funnypeculiar · 21/02/2009 23:19

Bumping for you as no experience here. I would agree that the fingertips things sounds quite like dehydration - plus the bad winter - my hands are all dry and weird (I'm not even bf ) and I'm blaming it on snow/extra central heating etc.
How much fluid is 'plenty' - could you try necking down even more - it's amazing how much liquid bf takes out of you ...

hercules1 · 21/02/2009 23:19

When breastfeeding as at any other time you only need to drink to thirst.

PillicockSatOnPillicockHill · 21/02/2009 23:20

yes re the nausea thing

i often have this when bf and if you search the archives there are many other mumsnetters experience similar

MrsMcJnr · 21/02/2009 23:21

Can't help with the causes I am afraid but I did have sore, cracking skin on my fingers after DS was born. I put it down to all the extra handwashing and the lack of my normal lotions and potions. I got some aqueous cream from the chemist and it did help (and is safe to use when BFing). It does sound like maybe you are a bit run down, especially if you feel sick in the evening after a long day. A friend recommended taking B12 whilst BFing to me and I did and I think it did help restore me. Hope you feel better soon.

funnypeculiar · 21/02/2009 23:21

Is that true hercules? I read somewhere (may well be tosh!) that by the time you are thirsty you are 'seriously' dehydrated...whatever that means

hercules1 · 21/02/2009 23:22

I tend to only drink when thirsty - dont most people?

funnypeculiar · 21/02/2009 23:22

Good point re extra handwashing (all those nappy changes ) - have you been slopping lots of handcream on?

Mummyfor3 · 21/02/2009 23:22

Could you possibly be expecting??? Tis just the nausea, made me think , no offense..
The fingertips, I don't know, nothing to do with Bfing, I do not think. Have you ever had problems with eczema/hand dermatitis?
Sorry to be of no more help. Hopefully somebody useful will be along soon .

moondog · 21/02/2009 23:24

HVs talk some complete shit dfon't they?
As if act of putting EBM in a bottle weill relieve all symptoms.

Silly bitch.

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2009 23:24

being thirsty is your body signalling dehydration, you should drink regularly in order not to become thirsty. particularly when bfing.

i used to get waves of nausea when bfing sometimes, esp when tired. i just assumed it was hormonal, lots of hormones slooshing around with a wee baby.

moondog · 21/02/2009 23:25

I've had waves of nausea all day looking at dh powerhosing the bloody drive but that's a whole new thread.

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2009 23:26

why, did he take his shirt off?

LoveaDAISYcal · 21/02/2009 23:27

not sure about the fingertips...maybe the iron deficiency, or thyroid? have you had your thyrois function checked?

but re the nausea when BFing, is there any chance that you could be pregnant? I got pregnant when still BFing DD and that was one of the first symptoms. kellymom says that pregnancy is the main cause of nausea when feeding.

moondog · 21/02/2009 23:29

LOL
No, he is pretty fit actually is Mr Moondog (and has great legs) but he has spent an entire week doing the bleeding thing.

We've only not seen him for 6 weeks.

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2009 23:30
LoveaDAISYcal · 21/02/2009 23:31

lol aitch

my nausea was at every feed though, not just in the evenings. I missed that in the OP first time.

PillicockSatOnPillicockHill · 21/02/2009 23:32

i always experience nausea when feeding and have NEVER been pregnant whilst feeding

and have fed six babies...

moondog · 21/02/2009 23:32

Anyway, HV still talking shite.

LoveaDAISYcal · 21/02/2009 23:36

6 babies pillock

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2009 23:42

6 babies, pillock.

Original poster
muminko · 21/02/2009 23:47

thanks for your messages (this is my 2nd post ever and I am surprised at how quick you all are).Well I dont think I am pregnant but now sufficiently paranoid to pee on a stick tomorrow (just in case). Thinking those pesky hormones sound like a good candidate. As for fingertips: I also thought it could be caused by frequent hand wash and so was using Lansinoh cream on them (my nipples where not cracked that much to use the whole tube)but no result except greasy duvet. Thyroid thing had not occured to me before though. Thanks again. Ps: hat off to mum of six

OP posts:
PillicockSatOnPillicockHill · 21/02/2009 23:58

Pillicock!!!

LoveaDAISYcal · 21/02/2009 23:58

welcome to MN muminko

there's usually someone online to answer queries.

I would make an appointment at the GP and bypass your HV!

PillicockSatOnPillicockHill · 21/02/2009 23:59

Aitch is that envy (lol!) you do know me by my Ria name!

anyway i dont actually enjoy feeding so feeding 6 babies is no fun! Good for them though so i DO advocate it!