Help is on the way!

Thank you so much to everyone who contacted me to offer advice after my cry for help about the latching pain I’ve been suffering this week. Today I took Little Woman for her two week check up and was very reassured to learn that she is thriving. She has regained her birth weight and a little bit extra for good measure.

I explained to the nurse about the problems I’ve been having when it comes to feeding, and she examined the crack for me. She said she wasn’t able to help me with the latch though (which I’m actually grateful to her for – I’m so glad she didn’t just pretend to know what she was talking about and risk offering me advice that did more harm than good. I wish more medical professionals would do the same when it comes to breastfeeding problems that are beyond their expertise).

So I decided it’s time to call in professional help. I called a highly recommended lactation consultant in my area, and she’s coming to see me on Monday or Tuesday. I feel such a sense of relief. I can make it through the next few days knowing that help is on the way.

In the meantime, something unexpected and very welcome has happened. We have had two feeds in a row on the left side that were pain free. The usual letdown discomfort but only for a second or two. And then a lovely comfortable feed. So that’s progress.

And while I wait for my lactation consultant visit next week, the nurse has recommended that I take some paracetamol about a half hour before a feed on my right side to relieve some of the pain. And the lactation consultant has recommended that I stay away from the Multi-Mam compresses and air dry the crack instead so that it can scab. I must admit, the thought of letting it scab and then feeding from that side doesn’t appeal to me, but I’m willing to try if it means healing faster.