Just signing in to say thanks for this thread. It's helpful to hear this is going to get better. Good luck @theycalledherkate! Our kiddos are only a day apart so I feel like we're dealing with a lot of the same stuff.
Y'all are all so awesome and I appreciate the support! I'm trying to pump every two hours now.
Question frkls or anyone else- can I use a heating pad on the area as a warm compress versus a shower or using a hot cloth? TIA!
Yes. Try rubbing underneath the compress to push it out. I could literally feel mine relax.
Sounds weird but a few times I put baby on the floor and their back and nursed while hovering over them. It helped to get them to work out the clogged duct.
Send your H to GNC to get LECITHIN. Frkls told me about it and once I started taking one capsule a day I never got a clogged duct again! It makes your milk less "sticky".
Just chiming in...I BF for 6 months before switching to EP. I have really small nipples (like I had to special order small flanges and I was still getting areola sucked up) and it made it REALLY difficult for DD to get a good latch. I started with a nipple shield on day 2 and used one pretty much until I switched to EP. I tried not using the shield several times, but she just couldn't latch correctly. I figure as long as she's getting BM and it was working for us, it was fine.
Also, it hurt like hell for the first couple of weeks, nipple shield or no. I used these things from Lansinoh when I wasn't actually nursing and they were like heaven: www.lansinoh.com/products/soothies-by-lansinoh-gel-pads I only used them for about a week.
I used a shield for 3 months or so for every feeding with ds. He was eventually big enough that he could latch without it and we had no problem weaning off.
And when I had clogs, I did the hot shower/massage technique, but also stood hunched over so my boobs were dangling.Cute visual, I know, but it helped. One time it progressed to a fever and a big red splotch on my boob, it was mastitis and I needed a prescription. Keep an eye out.
And you've got this! I know it's tough, but you CAN do it!
It's a cruel fact that when you are at your most tired and learning to be a mom, breastfeeding is also it's most difficult. Hang in there because it gets SO much better. You are doing great so far!
I had preemies and used a shield for 4 months. My nipples were still raw with it, but it helped a little. I can still remember having H pinch my leg as the boys attempted to latch so that I could feel pain elsewhere and be a bit distracted. It was toe curling pain, i crie so many tears and dreaded the next nursing session
Lanolin did nothing for me. I used Earth Mama Baby angel nipple cream. The one that smells like chocolate. I also would rub milk on my nipples after the boys were done eating. and I went shirtless a lot. The air helps supposedly.
Y'all are all so awesome and I appreciate the support! I'm trying to pump every two hours now.
Question frkls or anyone else- can I use a heating pad on the area as a warm compress versus a shower or using a hot cloth? TIA!
What I did ( I had them all the time, to the point of using a needle to try to open up a milk blister on my nipple with MIL watching me stand there and cry doing it. So fun) was hot compress and then shower.
I used a big rice bag thing that you put in the microwave. I found it easier to massage while in the shower so that I could also try to massage milk out without making a mess.
thank you for all of the words of encouragement ladies! I have pumped every 2 hours since last night and did the massage in the hot shower this morning. I am pumping as I type this LOL. No progress yet...the clog feels large.
@theycalledherkate Do you see a white head on your nipple at all?
I used a shield for 8 weeks. The boys had small mouths ("late term preemies" is what the LCs said, they were just over 37wks when born) and we needed it for latch. At first I would just gauge the mood on whether I used the shield from the start or had them try w/o but eventually I tried every feeding w/o, and sometimes they'd go half to a full feeding without it! That helped them learn how to eat w/o it.
In your case (I didn't read the replies) I think letting yourself heal is probably a good move before trying w/o it regularly. You guys will get it. It's really hard and of course this crap happens when you're getting awful sleep and stressing about a "fragile" person and all that.
I work on a mom/baby unit, so I thought I'd chime in. Sounds like you're doing an awesome job. Just a few things to keep in the back of your mind.
-If you notice any heat, redness or a fever with that clot, get to the doctor. -If you need to use the shield. Make sure you are pumping after each feeding with it. Sounds like you're doing this already so that's good. -Try tea bags, gel pads and cabbage leaves for the pain.
Breastfeeding is a challange for a lot of people those first few weeks. Hang in there!
I work on a mom/baby unit, so I thought I'd chime in. Sounds like you're doing an awesome job. Just a few things to keep in the back of your mind.
-If you notice any heat, redness or a fever with that clot, get to the doctor. -If you need to use the shield. Make sure you are pumping after each feeding with it. Sounds like you're doing this already so that's good. -Try tea bags, gel pads and cabbage leaves for the pain.
Breastfeeding is a challange for a lot of people those first few weeks. Hang in there!
Thank you so much I am monitoring the clog. Going to take my temp now! It was 98.1/
Good - just keep pumping and massaging while you pump. I would massage in the direction of the flow, if that made sense. I would also massage and hand-express in the shower, too. That really helped.
Oh, and I know it sucks now, but HOW COOL is it that you are making enough milk to cause problems, when a couple of weeks ago you were concerned that you didn't have enough breast tissue to successfully nurse? Yay! You have a supply, V. Congrats!
Yeah, massage when you're nursing (downwards towards the nip) and just keep nursing on that side. I got clogged ducts a lot and it led to mastitis once. UGH.
When I would break through a clog, sometimes thick goopy yellowed milk would come out (if it came out while I was pumping or hand-expressing).