I think I was a better advocate for breastfeeding BEFORE I started doing it. Any time I talk about my experience with nursing, words like "thrush," "cracked nipples," "bleeding," "biting" and "PAIN" have to be used, unfortunately.
Hattie has developed this lovely habit of biting me. She doesn't have teeth, so I guess you'd say she is clenching down. But either way, it hurts. She seems to do it when she is feeling fussy, overtired or distracted. So we were having some luck nursing while lying down, but then it started again last week. And is being complicated by a thrush infection.
So last night I'm nursing Hattie and see a shadow in the corner of her mouth. Only nightlight is on, and its pretty dark, so I tell myself I'm imagining things. And keep telling myself that for 4 or 5 minutes. Finally I turn the lamp on and there is blood streaked all over her face. Not hallucinating! So that's good, anyway.
I find a little bit of blood in her mouth, but cant find a source. I shake Chris awake with phrases like "There is blood all over the baby and I cant find where its coming from"(Have I mentioned that my husband is a real trooper for putting up with me?) We can't find any problems in her mouth or sinuses(thank you NoseFreda) so we are assuming its from my traumatized nipple. Nice, huh?
By the way, if you are considering breastfeeding and have stumbled onto this post, it really is worth all the bad stuff. Seeing your little one smile up at you or fall asleep snuggled in tight is worth ANYTHING.
No comments:
Post a Comment