Tuesday, June 22, 2010

I'm Hurting...

Excuse me while I moan… I’m hurting all over. The biggest source of my discomfort right now is my neck and shoulders. It makes sense, but it’s not something I thought about while I was pregnant with Evan. I didn’t realize what a toll breastfeeding would take on my body. Since he was born Evan has kept a very healthy eating schedule. He eats every 2-4 hours, and the whole eating process can take up to one hour, so when you think about it, that is a lot of time I’ve spent over the last 4 weeks looking down. Not that I’m gawking at him the whole time, but obviously I can’t help but look at my little guy as he happily eats. There’s also an issue of posture. I try to keep a good posture while breastfeeding, but it’s hard to get him propped at just the right height and angle so I compensate for that by contorting my own body. As a result I’ve had a few major knots in my lower neck and shoulders. Luckily for me John is a RMT (Registered Massage Therapist). For those mom’s who aren’t as fortunate I highly recommend spending the dough and getting regular massage therapy during your pregnancy, but even more once baby is born! It is well worth the money, trust me.

Also on the subject of breastfeeding, my nipples are sore. They’re more so now since Evan’s been eating closer to every 2 hours, for the past two nights. I’m not sure if it’s normal for my nipples to hurt 4 weeks in. I should probably see a lactation consultant, I don’t know why I haven’t done that yet, apparently I like to hurt. Oh and can we talk about the pain when your latched baby decides to squeeze out a number two all while continuing to suck. OUCH! Evan poops almost every time he feeds and he squirms like a worm while he’s trying to get it out of him. While he’s squirming he’s ripping my nipple in every direction. Eventually I have to rip him off. What I’m left with is something John has called the “torpedo nipple”. If you’ve seen a nipple that has been pulled and pinched you’ll probably agree it’s the perfect name.

Here’s my last moan, all of a sudden my abdomen hurts as much as it did the week after my surgery. I don’t know what I did, but it’s incredibly tender. I’m even finding it hard getting out of bed again and standing from a seated position. What’s up with that?! They weren’t kidding when they said it would take 6 weeks to heal. Like most women, and certainly like most mothers, I don’t think I’ve been resting as much as I should be considering I underwent major surgery. I’ll try to put my feet up a little more over the next couple of weeks and see if that helps. (I know right now I won’t do this…)

Okay, that’s enough moaning and groaning for today. Evan is starting to stir, he must be hungry. Hit the trenches, here comes a torpedo!

Random pics for your viewing pleasure...



Evan with his "I [heart] Dad" muscle shirt on...




Tummy time...


11 comments:

  1. Hey Josie,

    Try putting Lansinoh (which you can buy at shoppers or Walmart) on your nipples before and after each feeding. It won't hurt him and it helps with the 'sore' nipples. I had a NASTY crack in my nipple 4-5 weeks after having my 1st, it was so bad you could see the milk duct!

    Lansinoh solved the problem in 2 days.

    Good luck!

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  2. Josie,
    I just want to tell you that I have been reading your posts and it brings back so many memories. My boys are now 18 and 15 years old but it never gets old to hear your stories and see beautiful pictures. Your blogs are great, keep them coming

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  3. Hope you feel better soon Josie!!! As hard as it is, you really should put your feet up and RELAX whenever you can! Before you know it you will not have ANY time to relax!!!
    Evan is just ADORABLE!!! Growing so quickly

    Loving all of your posts.... keep them coming!

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  4. It sounds like you are going through all the normal situations of having a newborn. There are many great creams for sore nipples. Many that are safe for baby, so you don't have to wash it off everytime he eats!
    And all I can say is rest, rest, rest! It only gets busier as he gets older. Who cares if the dishes aren't done or if the laundry is basket is filling up. If Mommy is not rested, baby is not happy! Happy Mommy=Happy baby! You sound like you are taking it all in stride. And how lucky are you that John is an RMT. Score!
    He is absolutely precious. You are very blessed. Take care and keep writing ;)

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  5. Awe Josie he looks great.

    I always loved taking pics of my lil' man while he was sleeping.

    You better take it easy there lady Even needs you to be in tip top torpedo shape.

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  6. JOSIE!
    I am stalking you:)
    I must admit I found your blog the day before I had my first ultrasound and I read the entire thing beginning to end at work that afternoon (hello preductivity!).

    Anyway - I may have some advice that can help you...

    All of my friends say that THE BEST thing they learned about breastfeeding was lying down while doing it. It made EVERYONE involved more comfy!

    This entry is from one of my friend's blogs:

    #8: breastfeeding book / advice - a little strange that this is a favourite, so more like a recommendation. Before I had Chloe I had only heard bad stories about breastfeeding. Our pre-natal instructor told us that people have problems. Basically ever mother I met in the 3-4 months prior to giving birth told me that they had a problem / that it hurt / that their baby didn't latch properly / that they had to attend La Leche meetings all the time and that their babies only ate properly during those meetings.....so I went and bought Breastfeeding Made Simple. The book was a little preachy (e.g. if you don't breastfeed then clearly you are not looking out for your baby's best interest) but if you take it with a grain of salt, it is actually quite useful. The most useful thing in the whole book is their advice to learn to breastfeed lying down. I have been telling everyone this.


    I hope this helps!
    It might be a good read.
    :)
    JILL ox

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  7. OMG
    I forgot to mention that your baby is sweetness and I LOVE him.
    AMAZING HAIR!
    :)

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  8. hey josie,
    i just have to say, i love reading your blogs, i try to take time at work to read them all the time.
    i have a almost 2 year old son who unfortunately is still nursing, but only at nights now (thank goodness!) iv been trying to get him off since christmas, but everytime we stop he has HORRABLE nightmares 2 days without, so i am just sticking with it. *sigh*
    i like the torpido analagy, its right bang on!! as for your nipples, its normal for them to be sore for the first 6 weeks while they are adjusting, as well as cracking, whether you see a lactation consultant or not, but they will be able to help you put evan in a nice comfortable position to help ur insition heal nicely and properly position him so that it hurts less.
    as for the pooping, i never experianced that with my son, ever, haha but it sounds fun. but my sugestion for that would be to unlatch him let him work threw it, then change his diper and finish your feeding.

    try and take it easy, and relax alot to help ur insition heal, it will be good for you, and during evans afternoon nap, throw him in the stroller and take a short 15 minute walk around the block to avoid the baby blues, and cabin fever :) i found that it helped alot when i was a new mom.

    Evan is a beautiful boy who looks like hes growing fast, and healthy.
    hope all that info helped you out a little.
    so happy walkes and try to enjoy the rest and some relaxing.
    Sierra

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  9. My sweet Josie!! I hear you sister! Let me see if I can help...screw the nipple creams; seriously, what work best for me is expressing some milk (just gently squeeze some out)and lightly smear over and around your nipples then let them air out (I call this air time!) I do this everytime after feeding if I can (excluding public outings of course)and it works wonders. My nipples only seem to get sore after night feedings when I fall asleep with Ashton suckling away and he slips off proper latch and I'm unaware until I wake up with sore nipples! But after giving them some air time, they automatically feel better...give it a try. Also, I found that my nipples "toughened up" after 6 weeks, now they never hurt.

    I also found that my 4-5 week post section abdomen got sore again, I attributed it to feeling better and doing more running around and less rest, then realizing that maybe that was a bit too soon! Take the whole six weeks, it's much needed!

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  10. Hi Josie,

    Regarding sore nipples, I found out that nipple shields are available and work really well. It is a nipple-shaped sheath worn over the areola and nipple. It is made of soft, thin, flexible silicone and have holes at the end of the nipple section to allow the breast milk to pass through.It gives your nipple a break and time to heal.

    Johanne

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  11. Like you I was hurting everywhere because of my posture while breast feeding. When Becca was 3.5 months old, I started to nurse her laying down exclusively. It was the best decision. My aches and pains were got almost the day after. Of course when we we're out I'd breastfeed her the "normal" way, but at home it was always laying down. I found that 1)I was getting some rest and 2)she was more comfortable.
    Good luck!

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