You wrote:
>She has a 6 day old full term daughter, =
> weighing just over 6 lbs. Came to our office requesting bfing help =
> because it was "killing her." She showed me her left nipple, which was =
> very large, probably larger than a quarter in diameter. It was cracked =
> vertically & scabbed over, looked really raw. The entire breast was =
> engorged, as she had not nursed on it for about 36 hours, just finding =
> the pain unbearable. Her other nipple is much, much smaller, and baby =
> is nursing there just fine, and getting plenty, as she had 2 large bm's =
> while I talked with mom! Very contented after feeding. She is leaking =
> from the affected breast and had not yet tried any of the "usual" =
> suggestions for engorgement. I also called around the area and found a =
> source for one of the large-sized flanges to go with her pump, which she =
> was willing to try, even though I did tell her that pumping that side =
> might not necessarily be any less painful than nursing on it. She is =
> using Lansinoh on that side, too. I just wondered with the discussion =
> we've had lately about what/whether OB's should say/do regarding =
> prenatal breast exams, is there any documented evidence that having very =
> assymetrical nipples can predispose mom to problems of this sort? I =
> really think that if she can preserve the supply in this breast until =
> baby grows a little (oro-boobular disproportion???), that the baby will =
> nurse fine. I kept reassuring her that it was possible to fully meet =
> the baby's needs using just one breast, as well. Would welcome your =
> thought and additional suggestions, privately or to list!
>
Just a thought about the assymetrical nipples. Perhaps the larger nipple is
only larger because it is swollen and inflamed, either from engorgement or
irritation. Then the treatment measures for those problems would bring the
nipple size relatively back in line with the other one. She may have had
less than optimal positioning on one side (the one with the larger nipple)
but not the other, which could have caused her the pain she is describing.
Perhaps infection has set in as well.
Also, I have a question. My sister-in-law just gave birth in Israel, so I
can't be around to support her like I'd like to. Anyway, she took her 13
day old for a weight check and he hadn't regained birth weight. Turns out
she's been letting him sleep during the day, nursing only every 4 hours on
one side (for about 30 min.). HCP emphasized the importance of waking him
for feeds at least every three hours during the day. My sister-in-law wants
to keep nursing on only one side per feeding. There is no issue of
oversupply or overactive MER here, she just wants it that way. My question
is, what are everyone's thoughts on one-sided nursing from the beginning as
a matter of preference. How important is it REALLY to use both breasts
for milk supply?
--Julie Rosen
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
