mastitis | Lynda discusses multiple birth

BREASTFEEDING RANT….

Posted on June 20, 2018. Filed under: Breastfeeding multiplies, Multiple Birth, Quadruplets, quintuplets, raising multiples, simultaneous breast feeding, Triplets, Twins, Uncategorized | Tags: blocked ducts, breastfeeding, due diligence, mastitis, nipple shields, slacker boob |

I am surprised, shocked and annoyed at how many Moms write into a BF blog I am on declaring “I want to be as prepared as possible for BF 2.” This sentiment is great, but when your babies are due The Next Day or Within The Next Week, I find this sentiment too little too late. Not only are they turning to Moms who are strangers, even though they are or have been walking the walk, this is an imposition. As one of those stranger Moms, I am resentful that someone expecting twins hours to days from now wants me to stop what I am doing and share hints and tips so that their BF journey can be the best it can be. What about doing your homework, research or taking a BF course in your own community? How about reading a great book (like Mothering Multiples) or joining the local La Leche League group and attending their meetings? How about connecting with your local Twin & Triplet Support Group and asking some questions?

On thing is for sure, in the time left before you deliver, you will not be taught about all the ins and outs of BF two (or three). There is mastitis, blocked ducts, slacker boob, tongue and/or lip ties, cluster feeding, nipple shields, pumping (don’t get me started on the details of pumping….), support pillows, signs when they are hungry, signs when they are full, and the list goes on.

I have no objection whatsoever to specific questions but when you are asking me to tell you everything from right out the gate, I move on, but not before I wonder about the fact that you are not prepared in spite of being ready to deliver. Is this how you wrote any of your school, collage or university exams? As the new parents, it is your responsibility to “be prepared as possible for breastfeeding 2” and not my responsibility to tell you the facts in a few strokes on Facebook. I will gladly fill in blanks, but where is your responsibility in all this? And you are going to be in charge of babies. Scary!

What do you think? Or I have scared you off with my rant?? Best wishes.

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Mastitis and Blocked Ducts

Posted on June 23, 2017. Filed under: Breastfeeding multiplies, simultaneous breast feeding | Tags: blocked ducts, breastfeeding and mastitis, breastfeeding triplets, breastfeeding twins, fever and breastfeeding, leaves in bra, mastitis, sliced raw potatoes in bra |

The following is general information only. If you have any questions about any aspect of your health, please consult your physician.

Mastitis and/or Blocked Ducts are obstacles many, but not all, nursing women face once, or maybe several times, while nursing. Both are caused by babies or pumping not completely draining the breast(s). Here are some ideas on how to handle them.

Mastitis

Is a bacterial infection of the breast that can occur in breastfeeding mothers. It is different from a blocked duct, which has similar symptoms. A blocked duct feels painful, is swollen, red and a mass can usually be felt within the breast. Mastitis has these same symptoms with the addition of fever and greater pain. It is easy to get the two mixed up. The added sign of a fever is the key that it is mastitis. It is important to see a physician if you have fever, breast pain (in one or both breasts) and redness for more than 24 hours, as antibiotics will need to be prescribed. Once antibiotics are prescribed improvement will be noticed within 2-5 days. Continue your course of antibiotics until they are finished or there is a chance the mastitis will return.

You can and should continue to breastfeed. There is no need to pump and dump. Mastitis does not harm the babies and continuing to breastfeed will speed up the healing process. If you cannot put babies to breast because it is too painful, try pumping as best you can and bottle feed the milk to the babies. This will also help keep your supply up.

Blocked Ducts

These (there may be one or more) can also be very painful, skin becomes “hot” and a lump(s) can be felt when massaging the breast. For treatment of these, hard, deep massage at the point of the clog while baby is breastfeeding can be used. It is painful but the only way to pass the clog is through massage to move it along, and then baby nursing will clear the duct. The released clog will not hurt the baby. There is no need to pump and dump with blocked ducts either.

Some ways to relieve swelling for both Mastitis and Blocked Ducts:

-Heat applied to the affected areas helps healing; -Massage in a hot shower; -Rest helps with infection; -Fever helps fight off infection; -Medication (aspirin, ibuprofen) for pain can be helpful; and -Two external ways to help with swelling and hotness, 1) thinly sliced raw potatoes in the bra, and 2) cold cabbage leaves directly from the fridge in the bra helps sooth. Believe it, they work!!

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