Is it all worth it?

[whensmydayoff]

Im soooooo fed up already - my DD is 2 weeks old .

I hate hate hate breastfeeding. It's bringing back all the bad memory's of breast feeding my son who had constant oral thrush - me nipple thrush, he had reflux and colic and frankly it was akin to feeding an angry wasp. Somehow I managed to feed him for 5 long horrid months of tears and misary.

I had convinced myself this time would be different and Id love it .

Nope, she too was 3 weeks early like my son and jandice, given iv antibiotics during labour, not feeding for days so milk never came through and was topped up with formula - failure no 1 (in my head anyway). Got home and feeding exclusivly commenced again but now I we have oral/nipple thrush because of anti Biotics. She is on off on off on off, never getting a proper feed and last night she wanted fed every hour to hour and a half but couldn't feed properly so I was up all night for what seemed like no reason.

My nipples are agony. Got daktaran but as it was with my son - does nothing really. Once I got thrush with DS that was it for 5 months, it just doesn't want to abait.

Im fighting back tears all day and night .

I have been toying with the idea of giving a bottle of forula for last feed once she is 6 weeks but does that wipe out every bit of goodness from the breast milk thus making it a waste of time? Thats the fear I have in my mind anyway.

What advantages are still there if you are wiping out antibodies with formula?

I'm dashing so can't do a long reply, but just wanted to show some support.

No - formula does not wipe out the health effect of breastfeeding. Not sure where this idea has come from, but it does not stand up at all.

Breastmilk has antibodies whether you give formula alongside or not.

Exclusive bf with no formula has the best health outcomes and nutritionally speaking, of course it is the normal way for human babies to feed and grow.

Partial breastfeeding is better, nutritionally and health-wise than full formula feeding.

Hope this helps.
Best of all would be to get a fix for the difficulties you're having so you and your baby could enjoy bf....hope this happens.

Oh poor you, that must be horrible.

Can you speak to a BF counsellor?

Don't know if that would help at all re the thrush but perhaps your doctor could change the antibiotic brand, perhaps that isn't helping??

Maybe a BF counsellor could give you some advice, perhaps they would suggest painkillers for you, would that help? Or a nipple ice pack thing?

I always found counting down from 12 made the feed bearable, after a month it was MUCh better. Do you think you can hang in there?

Hope it'll get better for you very soon.

I'm an amateur (at it 2 months and the first 5 weeks were a nightmare of blocked ducts, antibiotics etc). I second the advice above, but also suggest if thrush has always been a problem, you could get some probiotic tablets from your pharmacist (they help with general immunity too).

As for whether its worth it, I'm just recovering from the stinking cold both my husband and I had. the baby escaped it, presumably due to the breast milk, which meant he was able to undergo some minor surgery (they wouldn't operate if he'd been unwell). So it's been a bit of a life saver for us this week!

good point matsikula. I suppose it can be when you think beyond the shitty bit at the beginning eh.

The antibiotics were given by IV during labour for group B strep and they caused the thrush in both my babies. Im not usually prone.

I am taking probiotics too.
I actually threw up last night when I ate a banana because sugar aggravates it. Both times have been so bad and it's not easy to get rid of. It goes right through my body, into the gut and upsets my whole system. God knows how DD feels .

She is feeding very small amounts every 2 hours. very draining. I do need to hear it will get better as I feel like my DS is suffering with me just nursing dd constantly and I can barley lift my head with exhaustion. Im sure everyone been there but just forgot how hard

whensmydayoff, just take it one feed at a time and remember that every feed is better than one less. You could try phoning nct/lll helplines etc - they might be able to advice more specifically.

Poor you, I remember how hard it was in the early weeks with DD On a practical note regarding the thrush, have you read this leaflet? Maybe it would be worth trying to get fluconazole from your GP if you don't feel the daktarin is working. Hang in there and do ring one of the helplines if you need someone to talk to

awwww, I just want to say that I gave up and regreted so much I still cry. I didn't even know nipple shields existed and was really annoyed when I saw them on the shop and MW never told me about them when I was deciding wether to give up or not.

Have you tried them?

I just need to second CharChar's post. You must get proper treatment for thrush, Daktarin cream alone will not get rid of it if it is in your ducts.
Go see your Gp, take the leaflet with you, not all Gps know alot about BFing - in fact most know nothing at all other than "breast is best" which is so trite it makes me feel sick, gah!
I am allowed to slag off GPs as I am one and all I know about BFing is due to my own problems and subsequent "homework".
Do you have an experienced BFing supporter on your side? Again not every HV will be up to date... my own was pegnant just before I was and told all and sundry how she had no intention of BFing as it was "not natural", wtf??!

Anyway, you've touched a sore spot, can you tell? .

I ended up BFing DS3 to 13 months and stopped when we both wanted to, my 1st successfully BF baby and I am dead chuffed.
Keep going, you will regret struggling through less than if you stop for the "wrong" reasons IYKWIM.

I had horrible ouchy thrush, took fluconazole for it and (touch wood) it's gone. Please see your GP and take the leaflet along. The first GP I saw told me that "sometimes breastfeeding hurts" and sent me on my way.

I feel your pain. I'm 15 weeks into exclusively bf twins and we have had thrush 3 times, following antibiotics for mastitis. Awful. BUT get it treated properly and it will feel fine (a painless feed feels like a miracle, even now!) I alternated canasten and daktarin on my bbs.

I am so glad I kept going. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted soon

hello

I bf and ff and beat myself up about it for a while but since I stopped worrying about it I enjoy breast feeding more. I see it as a pleasure more then a chore as I know I don't HAVE to do it.

I know its a bit taboo to say this but bottle feeding is OK!!

Don't be miserable, its not worth it

xxxx