Bumps with breastfeeding or something more serious?

OUR first parent’s group meeting was great even if I did doze off halfway through. I was told the four week mark is when all the sleep deprivation catches up with you and the excitement of a new baby wears off, which makes it sound like month-long waterproof mascara on its last lashes.

Despite the exhaustion, having met other new first time mums and their beautiful babies felt good and I can see myself becoming friends with them, too. But what I discovered after the session was not expected.

Following a comment I made about a sore, red breast with a hot patch on it that could be sewn onto a Scottish man’s chequered kilt to keep him warm throughout the winter, our maternal and child health nurse recognised a blocked milk duct that could be infected. Linda recommended gentle massage and draining the breast as much as possible, as well as not missing a feed at night, which I had been doing in an attempt to get some sleep and for Lilia’s dad to feel involved with his daughter’s feeding.

A few things that helped my sore, irritated and red breast:

v     Gentle massage while feeding using straight fingers, gently pushing over the breast and towards the nipple

v     Warmth, including standing under a hot shower ad letting the water relieve the pain and soften the breast

v     Cool ice-pack wrapped in a face-wash cloth for no more than 10 minutes after feeding to relieve the hotness and discomfort

v     Support from my loved one who got involved in the last night-time feed, the one I find the most difficult. He sat behind me on the couch as I fed baby Lilia — it was a real family breastfeeding effort.

v     Expressing any milk that remained, gently. Although nothing is as strong as a baby’s suck not even an expensive electric pump.

The next morning, during a visit to see our maternal and child health nurse for Lilia’s four week check-up, we discovered an infection had developed, which had made my breast redder. Linda recommended the cream Daktarin, which I started using yesterday after feeds, including putting a small amount in Lilia’s mouth four times per day, rubbing in very well to avoid it blocking her throat.

The good news was that Lilia was doing well and had gained considerable weight (more than 300 grams in two weeks), now weighing 3.3 kilograms. Must be doing something right. Hooray! Can I sleep now?

Later that afternoon, a visit with my local GP confirmed I had mastitis, an inflammation of the breast, which required a dose of antibiotics if it was going to get the boot. The Better Health Channel has good free resources on dealing with mastitis, as well as other useful information. If only they provided a baby-sitting service to let parents catch-up on sleep.   

Last night was the most challenging time for me since becoming a parent. What can only be described as millions of small but super sharp razor-blades being used against my nipples, breasts and even along my arms, the pain was excruciating both during and in between feeds. When baby Lilia latched on was even more painful. I’m hoping the antibiotics will start to do their magic soon, as too will the cream. Not sure I can last a week but I will keep trying.

Despite feeling guilty, thoughts of using formula have started to feel like they could become reality. I don’t know a lot about formula, only how it’s not as good for a baby as breastmilk. Am I letting my baby down for thinking this way? 

Breast is best but is it more important for a baby to have a happy mother (happy mother = happy baby)?

I recently purchased Kaz Cooke’s book Kidwrangling, second edition, which has an entire chapter dedicated to bottles and bottle-feeding. Perhaps I’ll read that as a starting point. 

If you’ve got some advice or want to share your experience with breastfeeding or using formula or both, why not share your story here?