Sorry I've been MIA everyone. I've been reading along but never find the time to post because Ella keeps me very busy
We're all doing well. I had a rough time after delivery though. I became sick with a bad infection called Mastitis about a week after Ella was born. I don't think I've ever been that sick or in that much pain. It was tough being sick and trying to heal from surgery and take care of Ella all at the same time. Luckily I'm basically back to normal now. I had a little bit of the baby blues too while I was sick but my hormones seem to be leveling out now. I still have moments where I feel overwhelmed because taking care of a newborn can be tough! I'm still breastfeeding and that has been the most challenging part of this whole thing.
Ella is doing great and she will be 5 weeks tomorrow. I can't believe how fast the time is going. I want it to slow down!
Hope everyone is doing well.
I apologize that I'm several days behind here.
Em: I'm glad to hear that you're doing well now, but so sorry to hear about the mastitis.
I had a really rough two weeks after delivery also. I had placenta accreta, where the placenta grows into the uterus and has to be ripped out, causing lots of bleeding. (It can also require a hysterectomy right there on the delivery table, if the bleeding doesn't stop.) I narrowly avoided a blood transfusion, but did end up in the ER when I was 4 days postpartum. Anyway, I understand the difficulty of trying to take care of a newborn when you are not physically well. It seems impossible! And it led to the blues for me also.
But I'm happy to report that at 6.5 weeks, I'm well-healed physically and I feel much more comfortable with taking care of my DS. Also, breastfeeding has become MUCH easier! My supply has increased and the pain is gone, except a little nipple soreness. In fact, I prefer breastfeeding to bottle feeding now, because it's much more convenient; bottles are a pain to clean.
So, I'm in a very good place emotionally. In other words, it gets better, mommies!
Breastfeeding advice to those who are next:
1) If you start getting really sore nipples/breasts, see your OB or a lactation consultant as soon as possible and try to get a prescription for All Purpose Nipple Ointment ("APNO"). They have to mix it at a compounding pharmacy, not your usual CVS.
2) Also, if you have a hard spot in your breast that doesn't soften after breastfeeding, it's likely a clogged duct. To avoid mastitis, apply heat to the area for 5-15 minutes and then aggressively massage it. This worked for me. If you don't get the duct unclogged, it will develop into mastisis.
