Super Boob

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

Okay, so I thought I would update you all on my breastfeeding issues.  Since the previous post, I consulted a Lactation Consultant from Bergan Mercy.  The steep part was the 60$ fee, but I suppose the peace of mind that I was doing everything RIGHT was pretty priceless.    You got it folks, I was doing everything I could do.  My sons latch was fine. So what gives?  As of last week, my nipples still looked horrible, I was almost out of my quad nipple cream, so I knew that SOMETHING had to change.  Everybody said Liam was latching fine, he was..however he has a small mouth and since I had an augmentation, my nipples were too large for his little mouth, causing them to split and bleed.

I was so tired of my nipples hurting SO bad, that I couldn’t even comfortably hold my baby.  I began trying to pump instead of nursing.  Pumping HURT, horribly, so I began to research the pain.  Turns out, the breast pump attachment was TWO sizes too small.  It took me several trips to several stores and I finally found one bigger than the size the Madela pump comes with (27mm).   When I pumped with that, it was better..but it still seemed a bit too small.  I ended up ordering a larger attachement (30mm) from www.diapers.com (I LOVE the next day shipping…and the selection)!

During this trial by error, my left breast was horribly low on milk supply.  As of today I no longer pump or express from that side.  My nipple (on that side) was in the worse shape and is finally begining to heal.  I am hoping to start pumping again (on that side) in a few days, to hopefully begin to build it back up! 

My right breast, however is the SUPER BOOB!  It was always the one he preferred while nursing anyway!  (It looked horrible, and hurt so bad, since my baby preferred that side over the other).  The whole top of the nipple was raw.  Needless to say, I’ve had to start supplimenting formula, since I am working off of one good boob!  He only gets 4-6 ounces of formula throughout the course of a 24 hour period.  I am happy that I’m not in pain anymore! I’m happy that my baby is still thriving!  I’m happy that I have a good breastpump, with the RIGHT size parts!  I am happy that it only takes 5 minutes to pump!  I’m just feeling a lot better, now that I can FINALLY heal! 

On the homefront, things are okay.  My boyfriend and I have been better.  I feel as though he is incredibly selfish.  I have no patience for it or him.  I mostly think it is normal, post-baby, sleep-deprived relationship bumps, but who knows.  All I can control is me, so that is what I do! 

All smiles here!

Posted in baby blues, breastfeeding, cracked nipple, formula supplimentation, lactation consultant, nursing | Comments Off

Nipple Blues

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

I thought I’d post a little update about this last past month.  I’ve been just okay. 

I breastfed my daughter with absolutely no problems whatsoever.  She is almost eleven! That child could latch on upside down—literally!  I cannot say the same for this baby.  He is very aggressive, has a shallow mouth and LOVES to nurse.  Needless to say, my nipples have seen better days.  They seriously look like I’ve been nursing a sabre toothed tiger.  My Liam never quite latched on right from the get go.  I blame myself a little (which probably isn’t helping the situation any).  I had a breast augmentation in 2006.  I was told I would have no problems nursing, should I choose to do so.  I have been able to nurse just fine, but think the root of the problem is my nipples were pulled a bit tighter from the surgery and I lost a bit of feeling in the bottom half of both of my breast.  Liam would suck extra hard to get what he needed, and I really couldn’t feel that something was wrong, untill a few days into breast feeding when my nipples began to crack and bleed. 

Since then, I’ve seen two different lactation consultants and will go see a Dr. on Monday for the problem.  I really love nursing and don’t want to bottle-feed him.

Liam has been getting a little more consistent with latching on better, but his latest thing is clamping down violently with his gums whenever I go to detach him.  I am frustrated, in pain and just plain sad about the whole thing.  I am posting pictures, out of hopes that this and breastfeeding posts to follow will help somebody or just be a support system!

That being said, I’ve been so frustrated and sad about this lately.  Breastfeeding for me is all-encompassing at the moment.  I can’t just feed my baby.  I have to get the boob out, take the gel pad off, wipe the ointment off that my Dr. prescribed, wet Liam’s mouth, get him latched on correctly (a feat in and of itself), then rinse, air-dry and finally put boob away, which means re-application of the quad nipple cream.  le sigh.    It seems all-encompassing.  I feel like a bad mom to my daughter, because I’m so wrapped up in trying to heal them out and haven’t been able to do much with her this past month.  I want her to enjoy me and enjoy Liam!  I want the same for my boyfriend as well, but when all is said and done, my energy is zapped and I’m not my normal ‘go get her’ self.

My boyfriend is frustrated because I am mean to him.  I am mean to him because I don’t feel suppoorted and it is just a constant cycle of bad ju ju!  I had some post pardum baby blues with my last child over a decade ago and know I am in a better place mentally now.  I know myself better, and have a lot more support, but somehow, at this very moment, I still feel like poo!  The only thing that keeps  me going at the moment is these two sweet faces!

Posted in Relationship, baby blues, breastfeeding, cracked nipple, lactation consultant, nursing | Comments Off

Full Term Baby Boy!

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

My baby was born two weeks ago, I’ve been stuck in a space-time continuum ever since!

Liam Sebastian

Born, October 31st, 2011 at 3:37pm  (admitted into Labor and Delivery at 6am)

Liam was 38 week on the dot!  I wasn’t able to have an epidural, since my platelet counts were to low, we were expecting that anyway! On top of that, he was posterior.  Needless to say, I wasn’t one of those au-natural women whose delivery was a calm and cool.  I was a screaming mess when I hit 8 centimeters and the Doctor had me get on my hands and knees to  try to turn the baby.

I was one of those women… ha ha

My saving grace was the fact that it was Halloween.  Once he was born, I told everybody in the room that I was staying ‘in character’ and Happy Halloween!  ha ha

I’m so glad that my Doctors and besrest kept me pregnant.  I’m also glad that I delivered with no drugs; I felt more present and less tired when it was over! 

Posted in Bedrest, Halloween, Low Platelet Count, Pregnancy | 1 Comment

Day 58

Posted on October 21, 2011 by
Posted in Bedrest, Low Platelet Count, Pregnancy, preeclampsia | Comments Off

Day 57

Posted on October 21, 2011 by
Posted in Bedrest | 1 Comment

Day 56

Posted on October 18, 2011 by

Today was Day 56 of bedrest.  I’m ready to have this baby already…yet I have a month left to go.  uggg

My back feels like an elephant is stepping on in!  My belly feels like a big bag of rocks and everybody keeps running into it.  Though I know this is completely normal pregnant complaints…I am SO over it.  Just sayin’!

Posted in Bedrest, Pregnancy | 1 Comment

Day 55

Posted on October 18, 2011 by

Yesterday was Day 55 of bedrest.  I feel like I did absolutely nothing.  Hate that!

The last class (before my thesis) began, so I logged on.   I’m going to try to work ahead as much as I can, so when Liam’s born I don’t have any late assignments!  Still need to order my books from Amazon today- uggg.  These are officially the last books I must purchase for this degree! 

CANNOT believe it!

Posted in Bedrest, Homework, Pregnancy | 2 Comments

Day 54

Posted on October 16, 2011 by

Today was Day 54 of bedrest.  Though I am on bedrest ‘until further notice’, I’m not so worried about going into labor anymore! 

Today I am 36 weeks…or 9 Months!  Yay!

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Day 53

Posted on October 15, 2011 by

Today was Day 53 of bedrest.

Cierra had an art class this morning that was a 30 minutes drive south of here.  No sleeping in for us!  The host artist, Maxine (I really need to look her last name up) has the cutest house on the lake!  Her art studio is in the basement.  They are doing a project, where they create and bind a book that is the shape of a purse.  SUPER CUTE!  While Cierra was there for two hours, I had breakfast with my mom and nephew.

I feel like all I ever do anymore is nap (even at night)!  As soon as we got home, Rod and I installed the car seat in my car, we all ate and then I took a three hour nap.  When I woke up, there was a note from Cierra saying that she and Rod went to the park.  Thank Goodness!  I’m having mom guilt for being so out of it when it comes to doing things with her lately.  We are normally pretty active and I can’t wait till post-babydum when things get back to being a bit normal again!

You should all know..I am EXTREMELY overjoyed to say that I JUST took my very last dose of Procardia!  I started taking them at 28 weeks after I went into pre-term labor, to keep contractions at bay.  It worked!  In exactly 5 hours, I will be 36 weeks!  Oh I am so excited!

Posted in Bedrest, Pregnancy, Procardia | 3 Comments

Day 52

Posted on October 15, 2011 by

Yesterday was Day 52 of bedrest.  It was Friday which meant that Cierra and Rod were in super good moods all night!  I ventured out to cancel the refill for the prescription of Procardia at Walgreen’s.  I had it set for automatic refill!  After that, I dropped a bag of clothes off at The Salvation Army and while I was there found a brand new fluffy baby blue robe for 2 bucks!  (I was looking for one to take with me to the hospital)  I had no luck in the kimono department though… boo hiss!

Posted in Bedrest, Pregnancy, Procardia | Comments Off