really what is better?
in Baby
I need some opinions, I don't want to cause an argument, I'm genuinely having a hard time making a decision. I have been ebf since my lo was born 11 weeks ago and we have had a lot of issues. He wouldn't latch in the hospital at all, then i got mastitis, then thrush, then an allergic reaction to thrush meds, then another 3 bouts of mastitis. I've persevered through the pain, and the medication but I think I have a problem with one of my ducts and I'm constantly on the verge of another mastitis. I really don't want to give up bf, but is this a case where actually my milk isn't better for lo? He has had so much medication through me and I feel guilty for that, but I would also feel guilty stopping. I just don't know at the moment
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Replies
Good luck with whatever you decide hun x x x
Sounds like you've had a pretty awful time, but you've done a fab thing keeping it up for 11 weeks! Your breastmilk, even with medication, is the best thing for baby, but you do have to factor in your own feelings as well! If you feel it is spoiling these early weeks, and that you are too ill to enjoy your time with your baby, maybe the best thing for you both would be to go on to formula - that's what it's there for!
If it was me, I would give the docs another go, put your mind at rest about the meds thing, try and get the duct problem seen too and then put a time limit on it - say 2 or 4wks and make a decision then.
I think whatever you decide, you can definitely say you have given bf your best shot!
HTH xx
I agree with everyone else's advice. Talk to your doctor about your meds and get the milk duct checked out. Feeding should start to get easier in the next week or so, but if you are worried about a recurrence of mastitis it may carry on being very hard which probably isn't a particularly healthy situation for you or your baby. As Tottie says, being too ill to enjoy your child isn't the best place to be in the early weeks. But even if you do feel you can't go on, 3 months of breast feeding is a great accomplishment, especially when faced with the complications you have had.
Good luck and I hope you get all the help and support you need from your doctor and hv.
I agree I;d ask someone to check your milk ducts if they do seem to be getting blocked so regularly. I'm sure the docs shouldn't be prescribing anything that would be bad for your baby - although I can see why you;re concerned because of repeated doses of antibiotics. I am a believer that breast is best, but it has to be best for mummy too - I don't think the problems you've had mean breastmilk isn't best for your lo, if he's feeding ok and gaining weight - but do you feel it's best for you given that you're going through so much?
You do sound like you want to carry on, and I'm also a believer in 'things can only get better' - that's what kept me feeding the first time - maybe give yourself a deadline of another few weeks to see if things improve, then you might be a bit clearer either way of what you want to do.
Sorry, just re-read Tottie's reply - I completely agree with what she's said (and think she put it better!)
If it's improving, chances are you've got to the worst point and it'll be much better from here. I hated it at first, then once I got to about 8/10 weeks I loved it more than I could ever have imagined after the early days. I still feel guilty at least once a day for stopping when I did, but I know I made the right decision for my family. Good luck hun x x x