I just wanna give up!

House of Blue · #1 (**permalink**) 09-13-2006, 10:49 AM

And my baby is only 3 weeks old. Maybe you girls can give me some help.

I managed to get through the 1st week of BF.. Had some minor issues w/ my nipples but it was short lived.. Only about a day.. Maybe 2 of pain/discomfort when Reece 1st latched on. My supply takes forever to come in so I was nursing for the most part around the clock for the 1st 10 days and supplemented maybe 4 oz through the whole day and the bottle was usually given as soon as I removed him from breast and I normally put him right back on breast after he took the bottle.

By the end of week 2 he was off supplements totally although he still nursed very frequently but wasn't gaing much weight. At that point I was working w/ a LC to make Reece a more "officiant" nurser.

Then when Reece was 2 weeks on the nose he ended up w/ a fever and we spent a week in the hospital. The 1st day of the fever he wouldn't latch so I pumped (didn't produce much for the pump at all which I know can be common) the 2nd day was about the same and then he slowly improved (eating about every 3-4 hours for 15 minutes) over the next couple days. Our last night in the hospital, baby was back to himself and unimpressed at the state of my supply. He was on me day and night and has been for the last week. He's nursing more then he isn't and my nipples are killing me!

He's pooping and peeing... But his poops are frequent yet very small (about a tbs. in size). When I took Reece in for his follow up apt after discharge he was weighed and he was only 1 oz above his birth weight... That's several oz smaller then the day we were let out of the hospital after he was sick.

Last night I gave up after nursing non stop all night long and having to ignore my other children b/c of it. I gave him 2 oz of formula and he was the most content he's been since he was born. Again today.. He was nursing non stop, I was pinned to my couch all morning and my twins were all over the place... Jonah ended up getting hurt today (cut his finger there was blood EVERYWHERE)b/c I wasn't able to supervise him like I should.

Normally I'd walk around the house and follow the boys while I BF but I'm trying to make sure that baby's latch is perfect so I - A) don't get cracked nipples and B) so Reece nurses efficiently to help my supply. And I also have to do little breast compressions w/ my free hand (2 fingers right behind the areola-sp?) to give him some incentive to suck when he gets lazy.

I was supposed to be fitted for a sling last night but the apt was canceled and was re-booked for Sat. Although... I don't know how much a sling will help anyway b/c I have to hold Reece and my boob to make sure he's sucking properly.

I'm exhausted and getting cranky! I average about 2-3 hours of sleep a night b/c this little guy wants to nurse non stop. And when I try to nurse while laying down, my big old boob either smothers the little guy or his latch changes and it hurts. So the sleep deprivation is leading to formula.. the formula is leading to guilt b/c I don't want him taking formula.

I've heard that every woman can produce enough to support her baby so I know it's something I'm doing wrong but I just can't figure out what.

ANY ideas would be great!!

mama2mateoandbella · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 05:26 PM

Sounds to me like you're doing everything right but I'm no expert. I only have one two year old and I am already wondering how I'm going to be able to nurse the baby and watch my little guy. I would make sure that you are eating and drinking enough water. I know it can be hard to sit down and remember when you are busy but not drinking enough water can be affecting your supply. I'm sorry he got so sick and had to be hospitalized

but if he wasn't nursing it could take some time for it to build back up. Do you have a neighbor or a family member that can watch your little boys for a couple hours a day? That might help you get some rest in and just focus on the baby. Just stick with it and remember that these early days don't last forever and before you know it, nursing will be a breeze. Good luck!

House of Blue · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 07:22 PM

I think my biggest issue may be that I'm not resting enough...And I just can't get in regular meals all the time too. And ugh! Finding someone to help out is a little tricky I think I used up all my child care credits over the last couple weeks

My mom & my sister looked after my boys the week I was in the hospital for my section... Then my MIL came in every day for week 2 (b/c I was healing from surgery and couldn't lift the boys) and my MIL came in every day for week 3 when Reece and I were stuck in the hospital. And b/c I have two 2 yr olds and an Autistic 6 y/o... It's hard to find someoe I can trust all 3 too GWIM?

My oh my... Do I ever have myself painted into a corner

But! I did break out the Avent hand pump yesterday and today... I pumped a couple times and gave Reece a bottle of EBM which helped w/ my tender nipps

and when I did nurse him I changed his position to a football hold every other feed which also helped. HE's sleeping now... W/out a boob in his mouth *GASP!*

I just hope I have the endurance to make it through this rough patch!

Carol_2007 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2006, 02:46 AM

I think consulting your doctor will be a good option

House of Blue · #5 (**permalink**) 09-15-2006, 06:20 AM

Why don’t you consult your doctor. That may help.
I think consulting your doctor will be a good option
Sorry ! I have nnot had a similar experience
Wish I could help you solve this issue.
The posts are really informative
Wow ! This discussion is really informative
That's interesting, I didn’t know that before.
I think consulting your doctor will be a good option
Best thing would be to consult the doc
Why don’t you consult your doctor. That may help.
I think consulting your doctor will be a good option
Thanks. This is informative.

Carol... Um....Is it just me or did you spam this board big time or are ya just trying to up a post count

Whatever works for ya I guess.. The thing is in my situation, my Dr. may not be the best place for BF support... When I was BFing my twins and got a small breast infection she told me to stop nursing on that side until it went away

So she's the last place I wanna go and ask about this. I find I start out here.. Try a couple different ideas from BTDT moms and if I still can't figure things out... I call my LC or the public health nurse from the Healthy babies program. I'm just not comfortable w/ bugging my L/C or Health Nurse everyt ime I have a rough day or 2 or if I feel I need to b*tch and moan about a crappy sleepless night

Blessedmomof10 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2006, 06:25 AM

Lynne

Chell x

mbdiamond · #7 (**permalink**) 09-16-2006, 01:40 PM

Carol... Um....Is it just me or did you spam this board big time or are ya just trying to up a post count

LOL......I'm glad you said it!

Having said that, it's sounds like you may already be doing better.....hopefully reece's constant feeding has done it's job and your supply has now increased enough to let him give you a break - we all know how hard the early weeks are! I also have an autistic son - I just can't imagine throwing a set of twins into the mix.......you ARE the woman!

Take care of you.....eat & drink well even if the sleep is a thing of the past!

Good Luck,
Shannon

House of Blue · #8 (**permalink**) 09-16-2006, 04:00 PM

I think I may have solved all my issues w/ get this... A visit to the Dr. LMAO!!!! How stinking ironic??!!

We have THRUSH! Here I was being hard on myself for not getting a decent latch or position while feeding and all the while my pain was from thrush!! (I don't think I even brought up the pain I was having in my other post) Anyway I was complaining to a friend about the lava covered razor blads that I swore were trying to exit my nipples and how I nervous I would get every time Reece even looked at me, and she said... "Hmm, sounds like thrush" and tonight... A Dr. at a walk in confirmed it (said it was probably from all the antibiotics Reece was on in the hospital) and I came home w/ a collection of meds for us tonight. I think the little guy was probably in as much pain as I was and was nursing non stop b/c of it... Not b/c of supply! I assume my supply issues were resolved in the 1st couple days after we got home from the hospital.

UGH! what a relief! There is an end in sight!!!

House of Blue · #9 (**permalink**) 09-17-2006, 12:32 PM

*sigh*... Life is good.. I still have some pain but it's FAR less! The meds are working SO FAST!

And... They are even working fast for Reece too (and we only started medicating at about 6 pm last night) b/c he's been a different baby! He nurses about every 3 hours and only for about 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes at a time. He only woke up twice last night... Midnight (which is usual for him... )and 5:30 am... But he was usually up most of the night from midnight on nursing so this is SUCH an improvement! And midnight and 5:30 were perfect times for his meds too

UGH!!! So relieved!

mbdiamond · #10 (**permalink**) 09-17-2006, 06:21 PM

Glad to hear it's turned around for you so quickly - amazing what finding the real problem can do for you.

Thrush can be such a PITA.....I'm sure the doc told you but make sure you continue to treat both of you for several days after the symptoms have completely dissappeared to be sure. There's always the danger of cross contamination with thrush and it can be the most subborn thing to beat for good. Some other good things to do are make sure you only wear a nursing bra for a single day before hitting the laundry (treat recieving blankets the same) and wash everything in HOT!

Take care & KUP,
Shannon

House of Blue · #11 (**permalink**) 09-18-2006, 09:03 AM

I've been treating this thrush like a small war

I picked up disposable nursing pads and change them after every feed and Nystatin application... I wash my sheets, PJ's and bra every morning.. Change receiving blankets mid day and before bed and I've also changed how I give Reece his drops. It said on the bottle to take 1 ml every 6 hours and the pharmacist said to put it on as many times as I can think to (I didn't like the as much as I can approach) So, I was reading on line that yeast can grow back every hour 1/2 and to give the drops more frequently... Every 3 hours at 1/2 the dose. A bit more work but it ends up that he gets the drops after almost every feed and the right amount is given in 24 hrs. I have one more day of Fluconazole capsules. Usually women only take 1 dose for any kind of yeast infection but b/c Reece and I have to be cured at the same time for it to go away... Doc wanted at least 3 treatments.

Once the meds are completely done in a week 1/2... I think I'll keep up w/ sterilizing soothers and I'll start cleaning his diaper area and my nipples w/ a water/vinegar solution for about a week. But I could burn out by then and just skip that part... Who knows but it's easy to talk big when I'm 3 days into it LOL!

amallicoat · #12 (**permalink**) 09-18-2006, 01:13 PM

Wow, thrush sucks!!! I have had it multiple times with each kid and I hate it! I am glad that you are finding relief with the meds. I run vinegar through my rinse water with every load of clothes. I use the softener dispenser or you can use a Downy ball. Also don't use kitchen towels or hand towels in the bathroom as the yeast can linger and recontaminate. We use paper towels for most things. I hope it all clears up for you and I would encourage you to both to continue treatment for at least 3-4 days past any signs of infection.