Rollercoaster days with new baby!

[Gemini]

I went over to DD3's straight after lunch yesterday, having phoned mum's care home to say I would be visiting today instead.

I have never seen anything like DD's breast. So red, hot and swollen. She cant express anything from it now and baby can't latch on.
I asked her if it was worse than the day before and she said yes. She then phoned the GP and was told to go straight in.
DD and SIL went off to the Dr's, I stayed with the baby. They eventually returned with more antibiotics to take alongside the ones she is already on, plus some co codemol for the pain. The other alternative was go into hospital for possible surgical drainage of the breast, and maybe IV antibiotics.
They decided to wait until today to make that decision, hoping things may have improved overnight.

She cannot go on like this. She is crying with the pain. It hurts all the time but standing and walking is unbearable. She applies cold flannels and covered ice packs to ease the pain and swelling a bit.
SIL is doing everything. I looked after the baby so he could get on with some things. He and I bathed the baby after his tea. Baby was not impressed, as new babies never are!
I watched the baby and brought in the washing while DD went up for a nap and SIL went for a walk.
Once he returned I left as I wanted to get back before dark as I'm not used to that road yet.

I do hope they turn a corner soon.

[Lizzie48]

Gem, that sounds exactly like M went through a year ago! She was admitted to the hospital twice as she was in so much pain, I do hope for your DD that the medicines help.xxx

[Gemini]

Thanks Lizzie.
Thank goodness DD has SIL. He is amazing.

[Oma]

Oh Gem that poor girl she must be in agony ,
It also means she isn’t enjoying the baby’s first weeks as much as she should be bless her .

I hope today is better but if she has to go have it drained then at least she will get some relief .
Thank goodness for good husbands
They must be exhausted the pair of them ,

[Daisy]

Gem - my heart goes out to your DD. Bless her, she is trying to do everything right and it seems so unfair that she should have so much pain. She hasn't even had time yet to recover from that long labour. Thank goodness she's got such a fantastic OH and a brilliant, sympathetic mum.

I'm sure they both appreciated your practical help yesterday. Sending hugs to you all. xx

[Plantaholic]

Gemini, I am so sorry to hear the news about your DD, what a lot of pain she must be in. I hope the infection is under control today. What a marvellous Sil, life is not as it should be with a new person to love.

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, hope there is some improvement today for DD.
This should be such a happy time for them,so sorry it's not.

[Gemini]

Thanks everyone. I feel so sorry, as you all say they are unable to enjoy this time. It seems to have been one thing after another.

DD thinks the breast may be a little less red today, but still can't get baby on there.

[Daisy]

Gem - I hope another 24 hours of the antibiotics will make a big difference and the pain will ease. xx

[Gemini]

I hope to come here with some good news one of these days!!

DD saw her GP today as there had been minimal improvement over the weekend.
He referred her to the hospital as he suspected an abscess. They went this afternoon and after an ultrasound scan staff were sure it wasn't an abscess, only milk. They tried to draw off some milk, but as it was so congealed it was too thick to go up the needle and they only withdrew a tiny amount.
So more antibiotics, and keep try to get milk off by feeding baby or expressing. I don't see how this is possible though.

DD is feeling very defeated I was hoping they would be able to do something for her at the hospital today.

[Oma]

Oh that poor girl I feel so sorry for her
I do hope she gets some relief soon xx

[Plantaholic]

How can the baby feed from that breast if they couldn’t withdraw it at the hospital. what they need is a very old fashioned nurse who would know what to do. How disappointing for her thinking the hospital could deal with the problem. Has she tried a warm bath or warm flannels on the swollen breast now she knows it is not an abscess.

[Clover]

Oh dear that’s not good. Poor girl, she must have been so hoping the hospital could do something, Surely she’s not the first to suffer like this.She’s had such a rough time from the word go.I sincerely hope things will turn a corner really ,really soon.

[Daisy]

Gem, as Clover has said - I hope she turns a corner very soon.

Like Plant, I was wondering if she has tried warm flannels on the breast. Perhaps jut before baby is due for a feed and then see if he can draw the milk through for her. Babies have the suction power of large sludge pumps, if I remember rightly!

[Gemini]

Thanks everyone.

I think she has tried everything!

We had a long chat on the phone tonight while SIL took baby for an evening walk.

I'm going over tomorrow to give her some reflexology.