After catching up on Jaena's latest blogs, I feel the need to post something. (By the way, I'm sorry that Mike is no longer making posts, so you're stuck with me....the non-funny one.) :)
Hannah is almost 4 weeks old, and for almost that entire time, I have been in excruciating pain when I nurse her. At times, I would burst into tears as soon as she latched on and would continue for the duration of her sucking. I finally called a lactation consultant and saw my doctor to see what they thought. My doctor took one look at me and said that I had
mastitis. She gave me a prescription for penicillin even though I hadn't had it since I was 18 months old because I had broken out in hives. I'm thankful that I'm no longer allergic, it seems! However, a week later I went for my follow-up appointment with the nurse practitioner and she said that I didn't have mastitis, I had a yeast infection! So, I am now taking another medication which does seem to be helping, at least on one side. I am still in lots of pain on one side and just occasionally on the other. She said it will take awhile for the pain to be completely gone, so I'm trying to be patient. While this was all going on, I also had a UTI, for which I had to take a different antibiotic, and I discovered a lump on one breast. (Could anything else happen???) During all of this I struggled with the decision of switching to formula or continuing to breastfeed. I've always dreamed of having my own baby and being able to nurse, and the thought of not being able to because of the pain just crushed me. So, I've kept it up. I went for an ultrasound of the lump on Monday and it is just a cyst. (Thank the Lord!) I had been having silly thoughts about it being cancer and not being able to see my daughter grow up, which just added to all the other disappointments along with the pain.
So, now to the reasons why I am thankful....
*I have a husband who allowed/allows me to cry without making me feel stupid.
*My child is still able to breastfeed and is getting all the benefits from that.
*I am still able to breastfeed my daughter and am getting all the benefits from that.
*I have a child who is healthy and growing....it seems like she's been in a growth spurt for the past week and wanting to nurse every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day. Ouch! But I'm still thankful....
*We don't have to buy formula!
*I am in less pain now than I was last week!
*I don't have cancer!
*I'm only taking one pill at the moment!
So, thanks to Jaena for helping me put things into perspective! :)
