New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Hello ladies!

I had my adorable son James via c-section last Thursday after a 48-hour failed induction. I'll post a full birth story and "formal" introduction when I have some more time - right now, I have 2 quick questions...


1 - I am formula feeding - not really my choice - I have a SEVERE case of PUPPPS all over my body (I want to cry when I look at myself in the mirror - it's everywhere but my face and chest) and am on heavy duty steroids and antibiotics- plus James had really low blood sugar when he was born and the peds wanted to make sure he got exactly what he needed. Anyway - the real question - my milk came in on Sunday and they hurt that day so I iced them round the clock. They haven't been hurting yesterday or today, so I didn't ice them. I started leaking from one side a few hours ago. I've been trying to avoid warm water when I shower, but they really start to hurt and leak when James is laying on my chest. Should I avoid that? How long before they start to go down? Is it going to get worse before it gets better? I've been wearing a tight sports bra, I've heard that helps.

2 - James poops a lot. By a lot, I mean every diaper change is a poop. It's semi liquidy with chunks of solids, I'm assuming from the breakdown of the formula (he's on Enfamil Premium). Is this normal?

We have our first doctor's appointment tomorrow and I'm definitely going to ask, but I figured I'd try here first.

Message edited 9/15/2009 9:40:31 PM.

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Awww welcome!!! He's beautiful

I'm sorry to here about your PUPPS, but you will be ok As to the boobs, I BF'd briefly but if you're not going to nurse, then you can relieve some of the engorgement by hand expressing a few drops of milk (just a little bit, you don't want to kickstart the production line), that should relieve some of the swelling. Also chilled cabbage leaves in your bra will really help, I have no idea why that works but it does!!!

As to the poop, frequent BMs are a good sign that he's getting the nutrition he needs. If I remember correctly DS's early diapers were all over the map in terms of texture, color, and odor After a week or two they kind of stabilized at the "mustard seed" phase, I'm sure yours will too!!
Good luck at the appt tomorrow and feel better!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Congrats!!!!

Can speak to your bf'ing issues but numerous poopie diapers is a good sign he is digesting well.

Good Luck!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Congratulations and welcome!!!

I don't have much advice but I do remember reading that the tight bra will help. I am sure some of the mommies here will have great advice to help you out.

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Congrats Mama!!!!!

He's just gorgeous!!!!!!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

congrats vanessa, he is SO cute...hope you are feeling well

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Hey Vanessa!! Welcome!!!

Congrats!!!! he is so precious!!!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Congrats!
Regular pooping is great! I wish my DD would regularly poop!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Oh I so know what you're going through...I had severe PUPPPs as well and was on super high doses of prednisone. My DD was also born with low blood sugar (this is usually due to the fact that the steroids raises the mother's blood sugar so when your DC is born their body is not used to regulating its own blood sugar). I had DD at 37 weeks and it took her 2-3 days for her sugar to be within "normal" range.

I had to stop BFing DD after 4 weeks when she started rapidly losing weight. (Long story) But my doctor recommended taking an antihistamine (Benadryl for example) since it "dries you out". I also wore a tight sports bra and would put ice packs (wrapped in paper towel so it's not too cold) in my bra. Warm water in the shower may actually help you express a little bit of milk and prevent getting lumps. HTH

As far as diapers, in the beginning DD was going every diaper change and then she has since regulated herself to once a day. Too many is usually not the problem it's not enough that can be a problem.

Good luck and I hope your PUPPPs goes away! Make sure you taper your dosage when you wean yourself off. FM me if you have any questions!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

The poops sound about right.

For the boobs--I swear this works-- get cabbage leaves and put them on your boobs and then put a sports bra on!!

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

Thanks girls!

The ped said the poops were absolutely fine Yay for poopies!

As far as the boobs, they are feeling a little better today, still very engorged. Took an ice cold shower earlier and still leaking just from my left side. I have a package of frozen edamame in the sports bra now - I think the pain peaked yesterday and will hopefully start to subside in the next few days.

I will definitely have to try the cabbage leaves - I wonder what the reasoning is behind that?

Re: New mommy sneaking in for a minute!

I was curious too so I wiki'd... (A European friend gave me the cabbage leaves tip while I was PG and I thought it was soooo weird but it really works!):

Medicinal properties
Cabbage is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It also contains significant amounts of glutamine, an amino acid which has anti-inflammatory properties. Cabbage can also be included in dieting programs, as it is a negative calorie food (citation needed).

It is a source of indole-3-carbinol, or I3C, a compound used as an adjuvant therapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a disease of the head and neck caused by human papillomavirus (usually types 6 and 11) that causes growths in the airway that can lead to death.

In European folk medicine, cabbage leaves are used to treat acute inflammation.[8] A paste of raw cabbage may be placed in a cabbage leaf and wrapped around the affected area to reduce discomfort. Some claim it is effective in relieving painfully engorged breasts in breastfeeding women.[9]

Fresh cabbage juice has been shown to promote rapid healing of peptic ulcers [10].