Not What I Expected...

Warning...this post my be a little TMI for some people but I am an open person so I don't care.

I was really lucky and had an AMAZING delivery. I was prepared and knew what to expect. When it came to breast feeding I felt it was such a natural thing I didn't need to really learn about it. I was sure wrong! I have had probably one of the most difficult breast feeding experiences but I will not give up.

In the hospital, Bella was latching on. I thought it was a good latch and so did the hospital staff. It did hurt a little bit but the hospital staff said she had a strong suck and it probably will hurt for a couple of days. They recommended I get some All Purpose ointment to help. So I got my prescription for it and began using it. A couple of days later I still was experience pain and I noticed my nipples started to crack. But I kept nursing and correcting her latch.

At Bella's 2 week appointment the doctor said she had a little bit of thrush so we got her some medication. I immediately when over to my midwives to get checked out. They said I didn't have it and would be fine. The didn't give me any kind of medication. They should have because if you treat baby, you must treat mom too.

At 3-1/2 weeks they were hurting so bad when I was nursing I was holding back tears and dreading it every time. Not the experience I was hoping for. I was looking forward to the bonding time more than anything and it wasn't like that for me.

At 4-1/2 weeks I had my postpartum check up. I asked again about my breasts and nipples. The midwife said they will heal and to use these Gel Soothies to help. Well they didn't help the heal them as quickly as I had hoped.

We went to California for Christmas and came back just after the New Year. My nipples just as cracked as they were 7 weeks prior. I was so fed up but I was not going to give up. I was pumping every 6 hours to give them longer relief. I took MothersLove More Milk Plus pills to help with my supply.

After we got home I decided to go see a lactation specialist. The lactation specialist said I definitely had yeast and needed to be treated. So I had had thrush/ yeast for the past 7 weeks and my midwives said I didn't. I was furious! The lactation specialist also informed me that my left nipple had not more skin left on it and it was going to take time for the skin to grow back. My right nipple was just a crack and that would heal. The only problem with that was the it is on the side and I have flat nipples. So every time they are stimulated the crack would just rip open. Not fun at all.

But I was not going to give up! I spent almost $300 on a pump I did not want to pay for formula. And I am determined to breast feed as long as I can. So I began to only pump on my left side every 6 hours and pump my right side once every 24 hours. I am lucky and don't get engorged so this was easy for me to do. Also my left side produces 5-6 ounces every 6 hours so Bella gets enough milk.

I used gentian violet to help get rid of the thrush. Bella had thrush again by this time too. Gentian violet helped Bella but not me. So I called my midwives and demanded antibiotics to get rid of it. Amazingly within a week, they finally started to heal! I went through 2 weeks of antibiotics and I still have it. So I just got another 2 weeks this last Tuesday and I have a refill if it still isn't gone. I need to be symptom free for 7 days before I stop taking it. The longer you have yeast the longer it will take to get rid of it. Like me, who had it for 7 weeks and the doctor never said I did.

My right side isn't completely healed but it is so so close. Once it is healed that will be one of the best days of my life. I just want to be able to start nursing again and forming that bond. I am just glad I got a good 3 weeks in before I started pumping and bottle feeding so it will be easier for Bella to relearn.

I went to a Le Leche League meeting a couple of weeks ago and it was so great. It is awesome to be with other women who know what you are going through and can help you. I would recommend all women who plan on nursing to attend while they are pregnant or who have had difficulties. I also read their book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and I recommend all women read this book. I think if I had read this book while I was pregnant I would not have had as many problems.

One last thing if you will have antibiotics during labor, (if you are group b strep positive you will) take plenty of probiotics before you deliver. This will help to balance out the good and bad bacteria and will decrease your chance of getting yeast. I wish I knew this before. If you think you have yeast you probably do so just get the antibiotics.