Author Topic: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?  (Read 2983 times)

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Offline moonkim713

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Hey guys,

I have a two week old baby girl and she breastfeeds for 30-40 mins and seems to get really sleepy towards the end of the feeding, but sometimes she whines for more.  What are we doing wrong?

Offline Fiver

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Re: two week old seems to be hungry after feeding 40 mins
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2013, 14:56:48 pm »
Is this something that's been going on a while or is it something new? I'm presuming your milk has come in by now.
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Offline Violet's mom

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Re: two week old seems to be hungry after feeding 40 mins
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2013, 16:08:22 pm »
I used to bf vi at that age for an hour sometimes and my hubbie or I would tickle her to keep her awake - she was quite sleepy for the first few weeks.  Is yours a good sleeper?

If she has bf for 40 mins then I would take a guess she is just comfort nursing after a while - which will help stimulate your milk so it's a good thing - until they are 6 weeks old the BW recommends trying to get them on EASY but not very strictly so I would follow your baby's lead...  If you are ok with that.

Is it painful?  How are you feeling?


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Offline *Ali*

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Re: two week old seems to be hungry after feeding 40 mins
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2013, 21:53:21 pm »
Are you waiting for her to come off the breast herself or at least stop actively sucking? Or are you stopping the feed yourself?
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline moonkim713

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Re: two week old seems to be hungry after feeding 40 mins
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2013, 04:03:45 am »
Well my wife was pumping and feeding the first week and the milk flow was abundant until she got really bad mastitis.  The dr said it was ok to continue to feed while on antibiotics.  So now we are just breastfeeding and pumping minimally.

Offline moonkim713

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should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2013, 04:19:28 am »
My wife and I are at a crossroads with breastfeeding and formula.  My wife was breastfeeding and pumping the first week and milk was abundant.  The first few days the baby had problems latching and tore up her nipples. Thena  few days ago she got Mastitis which was so bad she had to get admitted to the hospital with fevers at 106 degrees.  The Dr put her on antibiotics and we stayed there for two nights. Dr said its ok to breastfeed with antibiotics but wife now has very sensitive nipples now and discomfort in the breasts.  We are just breastfeeding and pumping minimally.  My wife is stressed and we are worried that it might happen again.  So we have been discussing about going to formula.  Should we give up now or continue to try to breastfeed?  Our baby is only two weeks old.

Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2013, 04:34:32 am »
(((Hugs))) for you and your wife! That sounds like quite an ordeal...not sure where in the world you are but is she able to see a lactation consultant- to check baby's latch and for possible tongue tie? If she wants to breastfeed that would be a good start...but if you go to formula that is okay too, it is whatever works best for her and baby! Here are some links that might have useful info for you:

Mastitis/Plugged Ducts
Sore nipples - preventing them and treating them.
Heidi




Offline ZacsMumme

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2013, 06:52:33 am »
I just wanted to give you and your wife some hugs and let you know whatever you choose, your baby will be getting what she/he needs. I bf my first for over 18 mths, but my second had so many problems I had to move to neocate formula at 10 weeks. It's such a hard decision.

If there was one thing I have learned from my second child, it's that sometimes no matter how much we want it to be breast isn't best, for mum or for baby. I hope she can continue to feed if she wants to, but if she feels she just can't, then that's ok too :-*
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Offline *happy*

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2013, 06:59:50 am »
Just wanted to add to the hugs.i recently suffered a
dose of mastitis+know how painful sore nipples are.
It really has to be whatever is best for your family.,whatever you
decide.x






Offline shivi

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2013, 08:33:07 am »
definitely get some reallife help and observation of a feed. Regardless of what you might hear, your wife's nipples should not get torn up so badly unless there is a positional/mechanical/technique issue at play. If this is fixable, breastfeeding need not be painful or cause any infections...

S x


Siobhain - Mammy to Oscar and Emma, forever spirited, currently bilingual and curly, formerly baldy, extended breastfeeders!

Offline shivi

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Re: two week old seems to be hungry after feeding 40 mins
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2013, 08:37:20 am »
was there a reason for the pumping in the early days? Low weight gain or low supply issues?


Siobhain - Mammy to Oscar and Emma, forever spirited, currently bilingual and curly, formerly baldy, extended breastfeeders!

Offline *Ali*

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2013, 11:23:19 am »
I've merged your two thread so you can keep all the info in one place. Otherwise you are having the same people repeating advice on two separate threads.

Hugs. I've had mastitis twice and it sucks.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline *Ali*

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2013, 11:29:52 am »
I second the recommendation to get some help from a qualified Lactation consultant IRL.

You can totally get past this and continue to breast feed if that is what you and your wife choose to do. Has your DW considered using nipple shields? They were instant relief for me when I had shredded nipples from DS1's bad latch in the early weeks.
Cadan Dec 2009 and Colby Aug 2011


Offline moonkim713

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2013, 17:31:57 pm »
I've merged your two thread so you can keep all the info in one place. Otherwise you are having the same people repeating advice on two separate threads.

Hugs. I've had mastitis twice and it sucks.
was there a reason for the pumping in the early days? Low weight gain or low supply issues?


The lactation consultant told us to keep pumping to stimulate the milk supply, and I guess we should have stopped when the milk came in.

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Re: should we go to formula, bad experience with mastitis...what do you think?
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2013, 18:34:08 pm »
Definitely get some real life help. Given the long feeds and sore nipples with abundant supply, I wonder whether a tongue tie might be at work here, which is totally fixable with the right help
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