Friday, July 20, 2007

Ow, Part 2. Not For the Faint of Heart (or any male member of my family)

I posted something earlier that suggested nursing doesn't have to hurt. I still believe that is true. Just not for me. I'll put it this way: Ellen spit up blood the other day, and it wasn't hers. I can hardly notice the 6-inch gash across my belly. In fact, I almost didn't fill the pain med scrips. Good thing I did, because my nipples are hamburger!
For some reason it is taking me and my body a long time to get used to this breastfeeding thing. I've already been through at least 2 lactation consultants, all the nurses at the hospital and most of my Percocet. The good news, though, is that Ellie is getting plenty of milk (at today's doctor visit she was already right back to her birth weight!) And, actually, I do think we're turning a corner. I nursed twice today without any Percs. Yay me!

2 comments:

Tell her what she's won said...

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. No fair.

Can you pump instead? Would that cut down on the irritation or reduce the number of times anything touches them? (Asks the "brestfeeding clueless" adoptive mom of two?)

We're still cheering for you from up here.

chrissypea said...

Katie-
I almost quit nursing every 10 minutes during the first week. I cried every day. My nipples were raw and bloody and I was just looking for an out - for someone to say "Just stop! Get out the formula!" Somehow I perservered and now at 4.5 weeks I am an old pro - it doesn't hurt one bit and Indie and I have figured it out together. Bottom line - it SUCKS (literally), hurts, and is just a drag at first but it really does get better if you can stick it out. And if not - hey I have plenty of formula I can give you! Either way she'll get what she needs to most from you - all that love you have to share!
Love from the toughest nippled girl in Dennis-
chrissy

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