Saturday, November 25

Ouchie

Things are going pretty well here at the Plett residence. I was able to get out last night and make a little stop in at "Girl's Night" at Tracy's place. It was fun to show off James to the girls, and of course they all thought he was great. Who wouldn't think so?! I am in a little discomfort these days. Seems that my body is now reminded that it went through labour, and the "lower half" is feeling a little worse for wear. But nothing I wouldn't do again! My milk also came in last night... ouch. It's quite painful. Not really enjoying this part very much. Any advice?



Uncle Matt holds his FIRST nephew for the first time.

Trevor & Rebekah visit James at the hospital. Soon it will be you guys!

Brent & Terrilee also visit little James.

20 comments :

Janelle said...

oh i remember when my milk came in. yep, it was ouch. take these next days just to sit back & relax. your body will thank you.
sure wish i could be in one of those pictures visiting your little guy!!

Domestic Bloggess said...

Isn't it amazing what God made our bodies to do? I remember wishing he made it less painful to do those things though. I found warm (not hot) showers helped with the milk "coming in" pain, they say it helps the "let down" if you will ... all I know is it felt better.

Congratulations by the way ... James Kennedy is a beautiful name for a beautiful boy! Your journey was inspirational for a stranger who was in the same boat for a lot of it (my boy came 3.5 months ago)

Nicole

Christy said...

I didn't have any pain when my milk came in so I have no advice there. I didn't have alot of milk and never once leaked. Some may say that it is a good thing but I was always scared that he wasn't getting enough. I even lost sleep over it! I am sure the pain will go away once your milk is established and James can catch up!

I can't wait to go through all the newborn excitement again!

-Me- said...

I remember when my milk came in..I took a lot of showers to try and relieve some of the pressure....I had a lot of milk, and remmeber being quite engorged at times! It hurts but its all so worth it in the end, isn't it!!! Glad to hear that you are doing well, though!

Tannis said...

I found the pump was a good friend while I was football-sized engorged. Of course you don't want to pump too much and make more milk but taking the edge off can make it easier to get a latch and less painful to...move.

Jamie said...

Hi Heather - it seems I'm feeling a lot like you today, too! Thankfully my "nether regions" aren't as bad this time around (way smaller tear than with Micah, thank goodness!), but the milk is coming in and yep, it's ouchie! And last time I didn't have a toddler jumping all over me so that's definitely not helping!! I've been pumping a little bit today to take the edge off, but I think I may try the shower thing as well. It's hard at this point since our bodies are producing more milk than baby needs and they don't ever seem to empty! It'll get better, soon, though, so hang in there :)

Jamie

Ellen said...

warm showers are great.. when you are in the shower, massage yourself as well - i found that helped. also if you ever feel a lump (probably plugged duct) also try to massage it out cuz it can lead to infection (which a friend of mine had) - not fun!! Joys of being a first time mom and not know what to check for :) your babe is so cute.. just enjoy every minute cuz they grow up way to fast (my boy is turning one in just under a month - WOW!!) wishing you all the best in the midst of hormones and milk coming in!

Anonymous said...

With both kids I had a LOT of milk. I had to wear breastpads 24-7 for the first 6 months with Madeline, which was no fun. My boobs figured things out a lot quicker, as far as supply, with Luke, but my milk REALLY came in with him. I looked like Pamela Anderson and for a few days my boobs actually almost stuck out over my nipples. (Sorry for the visual, but it was quite something!)

The health nurse that came to the house to check on Luke was quite "impressed" too, and so she suggested that Marc push on (kind of squeeze -- let's be frank, he was basically "milking" me) my breast with his whole hand on all of the hard spots when Luke was nursing to get the milk out of those areas. I would nurse Luke for half an hour and my boobs would barely go down. So, that "milking" helped get the milk out of the really sore spots. He'd move all the way around the breast so that there weren't parts that always had milk left. They also suggest nursing the baby in different positions b/c they suck more out of certain areas with each position (football hold, etc.)

And if it's your nipples that are sore, I've heard that tea bags on the nipples work. I always washed myself off after every time to prevent getting infection. Mastitis is no fun. (Had that with Madeline.) ANd the lanolin ointments work, I guess, I never used them.

I'd say the big thing with sore nipples is to air your breasts out as much as possible. (Did I tell you this before? Well, I'm telling you again, just in case...) My secret was to sleep without a nursing bra and lay on a bath towel folded over a few times (maybe a change pad underneath, to prevent any big leaks), and then if I woke up in the night and felt like I was going to leak, I'd just lift up my shirt and leak on the towel, and then wash the towel the next day. Breast pads and nursing bras get really old, really fast and it's important to air everything out.

(See, I should write a book!)

Hope things will deflate in a few days!

Nin said...

I find that the lactation consultants and nurses are so hell bent on making sure you breast feed that they paint an unrealistic picture of what breast feeding really looks like (in the beginning anyway). They don't prepare you for what engorgement feels like, and what it feels like when your little one latches on to a rock hard nipple. Actually, my nurse told me that I wouldn't get engorged as long as I was breast feeding correctly. But this just isn't true. Some women just get engorged, that's what they're bodies do, whether they like it or not. Like how Christy said she didn't find it painful at all.
My little guy is on the bottle now, so I don't have any encouragment for you. Other then God will give you all the grace you need to get through whatever is to come. Hopefully the pressure will go down a little bit. I soaked in the tub alot at first and put a hot face cloth on my chest. I also stuck chilled cabbage leaves in my bra after feeds.

Melanie said...

"Ouch" probably doesn't describe how you really feel. I well remember crying in frustration and pain when my milk came in the day after I got home from the hospital, and my daughter couldn't latch on because I was so engorged! The thing that helped relieve some of that pressure and pain was a hot wash cloth on the chest when I wasn't nursing. I also stayed at home those first few days just because I didn't want to wear a bra and add extra pressure on my breasts when I didn't have to. Expressing enough milk to relieve the pressure is also a good thing.

Keep at it, and it's going to get much easier! God bless!

Drea said...

milk coming in isnt to fun especially if it comes it really good ha....
Mine never came in real good... So I cant help you there. Hope it feels better.

One thing that worked for cracked nipples (yea joy joy joy) for me was hot tea bags... yup just head the tea bags up sit them on the boobie-o's and relax. Helped a lot.

Trev and Rebekah said...

Well Heather, I am sure glad I have you next door so I can ask you for all the advice I need. I'm sure you will have lots to share. I never knew that it hurt when your milk came in. Yeah...things to look forward to.

Jobina said...

I'm all for the warm showers! It really helped me reduce the pain I felt. Sometimes just before I fed Trinity I'd just express a bit into a warm facecloth. She was so eager that I had to get my milk down before she latched or OUCH! The lanolin cream really worked for me too and you use such a tiny bit; worth the money. I was a leaker 24/7 even at night. I'm a back sleeper, so I had no other choice, I thought, than wearing my nursing bra at night too. I'm sure you'll figure out what works for you and James. So much of it is trial and error!

Jen Gilbertson said...

He is beautiful . . . Congratulations Heather and Ryan.

Anonymous said...

Awwwwww Heather - JK is really cute! Especially for a newborn, because well, you know how newborns typically look . . . Congrats on your adorable little bundle. I'm sure he'll be a lot of fun for y'all.

Matt looks way beyond thrilled with him in the pic - very cute!

Post lots of pics. Wanna see your mom and dad with the little guy too as I'm sure they're overjoyed with their new Granny and Gramps role!

Am enjoying your website. I've browsed a little on your sis-in-law's too (the beautiful model-like Ang) and it's really neat to see how children are celebrated for the treasures that they are. I'm surrounded more often than I care for with the idea that children are too much of a bother and if pregnancies are inconvenient and would be too "disruptive" to someone's lifestyle then the only option is to get rid of it . . .

It's a real blessing to browse your site (and others) and read the comments and just see how children are celebrated and cared for! You know, how it was always meant to be . . .

Blessings on ya, Girl!

- Sandie (Is there a limit as to how long a post one can make?!?)

Amber said...

It was so great to see you on Friday and meet James. He's even more adorable in real life (is that possible??!) and you guys look like naturals ;) Hope things are going well...you are in my prayers.

kelly ens said...

I never had pain when my milk came in, but I've heard the showers help, pumping helps, and cold cabbage leaves help (just slide them in your bra for a little while). As for the lower half pain...oooh, that is not a fun recovery. Mine was really tough, but it does get better. the best thing for me was to have a hot bath 1-2 times a day with some epsom salts. it also helps prevent any infection from stitches.
james is looking so beautiful!

Unknown said...

Yes it DOES hurt when the milk (bottle falls out of the frig and ) comes down (on your toe).

Nin said...

have been thinking about you. hope the breastfeeding is still going ok, and that it's not too painful anymore.

Renee Shaw said...

I don't rememeber having any pain when my milk came in, but I do have an embaressing story! lol
I was shopping in Thyme Maternity for a nursing bra, and it decided to come in there...I didn't have any breast pads because I had never leaked. Oh my gosh, well I for sure had to buy a new bra! Mine was soaked and so was my shirt. So needless to say I left with a new bra and shirt! And I went straight to Wal-Mart to buy Johnson & Johnson nursing pads.