Maple is actually turning 7 months tomorrow, and I can't believe that I still have milk! But let me tell you, this breastfeeding stuff is not easy. The newborn phase was not easy. It definitely is NOT easy to take care of a baby without someone to help you.
So... it's also about mindset. "I can do it. I will breastfeed." The mindset and determination is very important, because this will help you endure all the possible problems that you will have.
I was lucky enough that starting on Day 1, I already had milk. At first, I don't know that I had. But Cardinal Santos Medical Center had a lactation consultant (24/7) while inside the hospital, so she helped me position, squeezed my areola, and colostrum came out! It really was thick, creamy, and yellowish. Yehey! I was breastfeeding before I knew it.
But my happiness was short-lived as I encountered many problems that I understand why some don't want to pursue breastfeeding. For some, they say the transition period was just 1 month, but unfortunately for me, it took me almost 2 months to adjust.
Sore Nipples
My nipples started getting sore at 1st week post-partum. It started to hurt so bad that I seriously think the pain associated with labor is minimal as compared to the breastfeeding pain (which occurs every 2-3 hours round the clock for several weeks). Sometimes it would hurt so bad that when Maple would latch, I would kick my legs in pain. And I would cry silently, and feel sorry for myself (and can lead to postpartum blues). So what did I do?
Milk Blebs
I thought I was already good with the sore nipples. But then, I noticed that there's a white blister-like on my nipple that hurts every time Maple feeds. Apparently, it's a milk bleb! It's like a clogged milk duct, but on the areola. What did I do?
Clogged Ducts
Finally, the milk bleb was gone, and the sore nipples were in the past. I was enjoying breastfeeding again. I used to count how long before the pain disappeared after latching (longest was 30 seconds), until suddenly it doesn't hurt when Maple latches anymore. But... I noticed a little discomfort after breastfeeding (usually at 10 or 11 pm, when I'm supposed to be asleep) that started out for a few minutes then lasted to excruciating sharp pain within my breast that lasted for 2 hours! It was driving me crazy again. And there were times that I would cry myself to sleep because of the pain. So what did I do?
Finally, after the excruciating adjustment period, breastfeeding is now a breeze. I can breastfeed easily in the car, in the reclining sofa, in the bed (my fave). I am looking forward to the moment when Maple will just sit in my lap, reach out, and just take my breast.
Fortunately, I didn't have mastitis. Though I did feel some lumps on my breast when Maple slept straight (rarely happens) or I didn't pump. These lumps maybe a discomfort, but there weren't painful, and they were easily relieved with feeding or pumping.
I would like to thank all my friends who has been very very supportive, particularly to my husband, Tin (who have a daughter 9 months older than Maple), Che (breastfeeding pedia friend/lactation consultant), Reyn (who have 2 daughters older also than Maple), Miko (OB friend).
So... it's also about mindset. "I can do it. I will breastfeed." The mindset and determination is very important, because this will help you endure all the possible problems that you will have.
I was lucky enough that starting on Day 1, I already had milk. At first, I don't know that I had. But Cardinal Santos Medical Center had a lactation consultant (24/7) while inside the hospital, so she helped me position, squeezed my areola, and colostrum came out! It really was thick, creamy, and yellowish. Yehey! I was breastfeeding before I knew it.
But my happiness was short-lived as I encountered many problems that I understand why some don't want to pursue breastfeeding. For some, they say the transition period was just 1 month, but unfortunately for me, it took me almost 2 months to adjust.
Sore Nipples
My nipples started getting sore at 1st week post-partum. It started to hurt so bad that I seriously think the pain associated with labor is minimal as compared to the breastfeeding pain (which occurs every 2-3 hours round the clock for several weeks). Sometimes it would hurt so bad that when Maple would latch, I would kick my legs in pain. And I would cry silently, and feel sorry for myself (and can lead to postpartum blues). So what did I do?
- Warm compress on my breasts 30 minutes before breastfeeding - to increase flow
- Put breast milk on the nipples, and air dry - breastmilk has antibacterial properties to heal the nipples
- Cold compress on my nipple - only to numb the pain. But if breastfeeding, you can still feel the pain
- Nipple cream - after 2 weeks of inducing pain every 2-3 hours, my OB friend asked me, "Bakit ka nag titiis? May lanolin cream naman." I bought purelan lanolin cream. My miracle cream! Haha! Bakit nga ba ako nag titiis?! Within 2 days, I was getting by and enjoying breastfeeding again. I also tried the organic nipple cream, composed of virgin coconut oil and other organic stuff. It's very soothing, but I feel that the lanolin cream is more effective. So I used the VCO more extensively on my breast (because it's also cheaper), but used the lanolin on the sore parts of my nipple.
- Pumping - pumping and giving my expressed breast milk once or twice a day gave my nipple some break to heal
Milk Blebs
I thought I was already good with the sore nipples. But then, I noticed that there's a white blister-like on my nipple that hurts every time Maple feeds. Apparently, it's a milk bleb! It's like a clogged milk duct, but on the areola. What did I do?
- Warm Compress
- Nipple cream
- Nipple shields - I tried it last because they say some babies have a hard time sucking if with shields, but Maple was able to do it. Anyway, it greatly diminished the latching pain.
Clogged Ducts
Finally, the milk bleb was gone, and the sore nipples were in the past. I was enjoying breastfeeding again. I used to count how long before the pain disappeared after latching (longest was 30 seconds), until suddenly it doesn't hurt when Maple latches anymore. But... I noticed a little discomfort after breastfeeding (usually at 10 or 11 pm, when I'm supposed to be asleep) that started out for a few minutes then lasted to excruciating sharp pain within my breast that lasted for 2 hours! It was driving me crazy again. And there were times that I would cry myself to sleep because of the pain. So what did I do?
- Lactation massage - done by a specialized lactation consultant, who told me I had clogged ducts. The massage was a bit painful (especially on the clogged areas), but it did give relief afterwards. It was done at home, a bit expensive than my usual massage (less than 500 pesos compared to 1200 plus) and expect a lot of milk spurting out.
- Lecithin - 2 caps 2x a day if there's clogged ducts, then reduced to 1x a day for maintenance
- Massager - I was thinking of buying this vibrator massage thing in babymama, but the pain went away with the Lecithin, so I didn't.
Finally, after the excruciating adjustment period, breastfeeding is now a breeze. I can breastfeed easily in the car, in the reclining sofa, in the bed (my fave). I am looking forward to the moment when Maple will just sit in my lap, reach out, and just take my breast.
Fortunately, I didn't have mastitis. Though I did feel some lumps on my breast when Maple slept straight (rarely happens) or I didn't pump. These lumps maybe a discomfort, but there weren't painful, and they were easily relieved with feeding or pumping.
I would like to thank all my friends who has been very very supportive, particularly to my husband, Tin (who have a daughter 9 months older than Maple), Che (breastfeeding pedia friend/lactation consultant), Reyn (who have 2 daughters older also than Maple), Miko (OB friend).
