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Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the first

Discussion in 'Breast Feeding' started by Chikki25, Jul 19, 2010.

  1. Chikki25

    Chikki25 New IL'ite

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    Hi ladies,

    I would like to share my breastfeeding tragedy and have a concern regarding the next delivery.

    I was successfully bfing (my first child)daughter for around 1.5 months, then, I suddenly got a lump in my right breast, but it was painless and it would reduce after each feed, so I didn't pay much attention but it became v bad and I started developing fever and went to the doc,she didn't give me any medicine, but asked me to use hot water fermentation to reduce the lump, but nothing helped and I developed a v bad abscess after which she gave me antibiotics and even this failed, I had to undergo a incision and drainage surgery with 3 incisions all round the breast and stopped feeding as well by taking a tablet, then my daughter was on Nan1, I felt v guilty and my wound was healing, but again after around a month, another lump developed in the same place the rootcause for which was not known and I went through another I & D surgery and was given tablet to stop feeding(by this time my milk was completely drained out) which was given again and I finally recovered after about 2.5 months after a live or die situation.

    Now my daughter is 1.5 yrs old,but if I concevive again, I am not sure, if I would be secreting milk and if I secrete also, not sure if all these problems would recur inspite of taking all precautionary measures.When I asked the same question to my doctor,she was not sure about this,since many milk ducts would have got cut during I & D surgery.Has anyone experienced this problem, this is a v big question which keeps daunting me most of the time in addition to the guilt feeling of having not fed my daughter for more than a month.

    Regards
    Chikki25
     
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  2. tikka

    tikka Gold IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    I am sorry to read about your not so positive experience bfing your first child. Mastitis and breast abscesses are quite common with breastfeeding women and there are women in the forum who have managed to bf despite that. I am not saying here that you did not do a good job, just that you seem to have not received optimum lactational advice for your situation. Hugs.
    Recurrent mastitis and plugged ducts can be brought down with other drugs (do search for soy lecithin and its use in managing recurrent plugged ducts), correcting the latch, and emptying the breast completely after every feed. Not sure if you got help with any of it before the plugged ducts recurred. Also, you could easily have continued to feed with just one breast. Again, only trying to second guess with the limited information here. Just wondering if this situation could not have had a different outcome.
    It is hard not to feel guilty, but trust me there is more to being a mom than bfing and even moms who bf will find something or the other to guilt trip about.
    It is a great thing, that said, that you are trying to equip yourself with information that will help you breastfeed your second child. I would suggest looking up sites like kellymom.com, la leche league, breastfeeding promotion network of india and through them find a physician/para medical professional who are trained in lactation and can help you prepare for bfing the second time around.
    Yes, women are known to meet babies's hunger with lactation only from one breast, the human body is an amazing thing actually.
    Better still hang around with us moms, some of us are still lactating and others have weaned after nursing their babies past the 1st birthday. You will learn a lot here, as did I. Welcome to IL and particularly the Parenting forum, do take a look at all the sub forums and join us here.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2010
  3. Vishalini3

    Vishalini3 Silver IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Chikki,
    First - Welcome to this forum :))
    Second - sorry to hear about your BFg and repeated surgery situations. I didnt BF my first child after her 3months of age, coz of some other illness. And I was guilt tripping, till I had my 2nd one, he is 10months old, am still BFg him. Also i understood after being in this forum that, you are no less a mom when you formula feed your baby, just coz the situation didnt let you BF your child longer. LIke yours, i too think my BFg experience could have been better if at all i had received good lactation specialist's advice and contacts 3.5yrs back. All necessary info - tikka has given already.
    These days there are good lactation consultants, who advice and help on such IGNORED issues. Go see one of them to get more clear picture and guidance with your second child and lactating. Its super nice that you are soo much thinking and planning ahead :)) You are a great mamma to the first one :) Do read through all subforums, esp toddlers' and share your experiences :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2010
  4. enlightened

    enlightened Bronze IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Chikki,
    My heart goes out to you...

    I was exactly in your shoes when my baby was 21 days old, i underwent an I &D on my left breast.The wound was deep and open and I had to immediately stop BFing.My baby has been on Lactogen ever since.Now he is 7.5 months old.
    Well,in my case,it wa sthe other way round.This happened to my second child.With my first i successfully BFed for 6 months exclusively.
    I do not think that the incident should cause any problem when you BF your second child.Of course, because of the nightmare you have been through,you might be apprehensive.Despite me consulting a lactation specialist, and having first hand BF experience, I failed.I hope you do well next time.
    Are you expecting again?

    Deepa.
     
  5. ilite

    ilite Senior IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Hi Chikki,

    I'm very sorry about what happened with your bfing experience with DD but I have some good news for you. Please don't feel guilty as you have tried your best.

    I went through the same thing , infact with both the breasts.I nursed my first DS for hardly 10 days. I suffered from breast abcesses till the skin tore off and the abcess started trickling down before they did a drainage procedure like yours. I later came to know how it was mishandled by the doctors . Like Tikka said, it was mainly because I didn't even know how to latch the baby and the breast pump I had was not good as well, hence not draining the breast completely (all due to no lactation advice and sesitivity to pain). After the drainage the docs had said most likely I won't be able to bf the next time as my ducts would have got cut.

    Anyways when I was pregnant with my second DS after 2+ years, I decided to give it a try and started looking for a lactation expert. I found a good one. I went to her around 25 weeks of my pregnancy. She squeezed out my nipples and found that I was producing colostrum and hence we decided to be positive and give it a try.

    When my second DS was born, I started nursing him. It was a very difficult period as I had sticky substance coming out for the first two months and then it was a smooth ride for the next six months when I had to wean him as I got pregnant again. And BFed the third one as well.

    I would suggest when you get pregnant, try to find a good lactation consultant, around 22-25 weeks of pregnancy you'll be able to know if you can BF, equip urself with a good breast pump (if you don't already have one) and like Tikka metioned have soya lecthin (almonds contain it as well, i'm not sure if you get it in capsule form) which will help you clear the ducts if they are blocked.

    All the best and like the others said keep in touch here.

    Best regards,
     
  6. Chikki25

    Chikki25 New IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Hi All,

    Thanks a lot for ur replies and suggestions, I feel really better after reading them and knowing that many others have sailed in the same boat as mine and have overcome the difficulties.

    No, I'm not expecting now, but have to plan atleast in the next 1-2 yrs. Ilite, I really appreciate the determination and hard work you have put to bf ur second and third children after the tragedy in the first.Kudos to you :) you have mentioned that some sticky substance was coming out for the first two months when you tried to bf your second DS, in-spite of this where you feeding him, was it like, after the sticky substance, the actual milk flow was there or something? Can you please elaborate it.And, can u also give me the contact details of the lactation consultant whom you were consulting?

    I'll definitely follow your suggestions, once again I would like to thank all the ladies for responding :)

    Cheers
    Chikki
     
  7. ShilpaMa

    ShilpaMa IL Hall of Fame

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Hey in my case it seemed to happen when a mom is over producing milk & baby is unable to suck out a lot due to extreme pressure build up.. I'd gone into expressing mode rather than waiting for the child to drink on own.. also a child leaves it, since they get tired.

    My Indian lady mgr sitting in US made a big issue as to why I was wasn't in office for 8 hrs even after 6 mnths of deliv and I tought ok lemme give it a try... imm got a huge sepsis as I expressed after 12hrs.. approached doc only when it reached a horrible stage and with an open wound I used to continue expressing, after sterlizing the area and throwing off the initial milk, I reached a new definition of pain, but I guess if I'd not done that I wud have had more painful sepsis.
     
  8. enlightened

    enlightened Bronze IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Ilite,kudos on your bravery...i bet it did need lots of determination, especially after you have been through the kind of pain that you mentioned.

    Deepa.
     
  9. ilite

    ilite Senior IL'ite

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    Re: Query about feeding second child agter breast feeding tragedy while feeding the f

    Hi Chikki,

    When I read your post, I remembered exactly what I was thinking after having the first DS. I'm sure you are very determined as well, that's why looking for help even before you conceived.

    The sticky substance was probably the clearing of the ducts. Of course, there was milk coming along with it from different ducts. I pumped a lot to clear this as when my DS was Bfing , he would find it annoying and also to increase the supply. I'm sure a lot of ladies here will help you when you get there.

    Actually, I stay out of India, so I guess my lactation consultant will be of no use to you. The other ladies staying in India will be able to help you on this . Also, I'll try to find one from the internet.

    Deepa, Thank you.

    Shilpama, you have described it well it was a "new definition of pain". It must have been really awful to continue BFing with the wound. Kudos to you.

    All the best for, Chikki.

    regards

     

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