I normally just L&L (lurk & learn) here. ;-) However, I got an email last
night from a former client (birth photography) who has so many things going
on that I thought I'd bring in the big guns by posting it
here (with permission) and getting as many opinions as possible. A little
background....her first three births were at home, so no meds. Her last was
a hospital transport during second stage after several hours of pushing.
Her contractions stopped, so she slept and they waited. When she woke up
ready to give it another go, her contractions still hadn't returned, so they
transported her. She got an epi and pit and baby was born vaginally. She
is a healthy, 30 yo, white female. No medications. I believe her older
children are now 8, 6, and 3 (or 4). She lost two pregnancies between her
third and fourth. Peaceful household, great marriage....she loves mothering
and is not overwhelmed or stressed out. Lots of support and help of nearby
family and friends. Here is her email:
>> *My question has 3 parts.
1. PLUGGED DUCTS: I get them every couple of days. Sometimes a few in a row.
Like 2 days ago, I had one on the top of my right breast. It cleared and
started squirting out everywhere. Now, I have it on the left side of my
right breast. Hard as a rock.
I've done everything I've read about. Soaking in hot water, cabbage, nursing
over him so gravity pulls it down, I'm taking Lecithin supplements. This has
happened w/ all of my children and gets worse each time. I've nursed shorter
and shorter with each one. 1st: 18 months. 2nd: 12 months. 3rd: 9 months.
After 3 bouts of full-blown mastitis w/ my 3rd, I quit cold turkey at 9
months. (With the help of sage tea and lots of cabbage.) I kept thinking it
would get better and it never did.
And now K. (He's 3 months) I'd love to go at least a year, but it's not
looking too good.
I've read that mastitis can permanently affect the duct paths causing
inefficient emptying. Do you think this could be the cause? My plugged ducts
are almost always on my right side*.
*2. FIRE BOOB (that's what I call it.) This does NOT seem connected to
engorgement or plugged ducts at all. Randomly, my right nipple will feel
like it's on fire. Like someone has lit a match and placed it just under the
nipple. My breast feels feel fine. It is debilitating.
Rather than warm water that I use for engorgement, the only relief I can
find is numbing it in ice cold water. There is also a shooting pain like a
needle being stabbed just under my nipple. It lasts 3 or so hours and goes
away. There is no thrush or blister or anything seemingly associated with
it.
This hasn't happened in over a week, thankfully! But for a couple of months
it was every 3-4 days.
3. A BUMP: I hesitate calling it a lump because it is so visible on the
outside, so I call it a bump. It is like half a marble is sitting on the top
of my right breast, just above the nipple. I can feel it, and it isn't
connected to the skin. After a while, it goes away.
I have a picture of it I could email you. I've tried to show my OBGYN twice,
but it was gone when I got there. (Yes, very frustrating.)
It doesn't hurt, it doesn't "massage out," it doesn't feel like a typical
plugged duct mass I get more often. It's just there, and then it disappears.
I tried finding some sort of pattern, but haven't found any yet.
Ok, so there's my mystery!!! :) Any ideas? <<
*
If you need more information, let me know and I'll email her. (We live in
different states now.) I can also email the picture of her "bump" if you'd
like. Btw, she is open to "alternative" health treatments. Thanks in
advance for your valuable insight!
--
Celeste Kraft, LPN, CCE
Gentle Spirit Birth Services
Childbirth Classes ~ Doula Services ~ Birth Photography
Lactation Education
Serving Southeastern Michigan
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
