My mom told me I should update my blog. I should also vacuum the house, take a shower and do some laundry, but hey, mom said.
So…an update? Well, things around here have been a bit messy.
It started in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I was feeding O as usual, but when I sat him up to burp, he projectile vomited across my bed all Exorcist-like. Projectile. Across the bed. It was dark, and yet I still saw the ocean of breast milk shoot across my sheets. We all got up and as I put new sheets on the bed, O hung out in dad’s arms looking all happy and content.
And very awake for 4 a.m.
Did you know Friends airs at 4:30 in the morning? I didn’t either. Now we know.
So that was that. And all was good until Tuesday night, when I felt the familiar pain of a clogged milk duct — my third — coming on. Basically, the duct becomes clogged by dry milk somewhere in the breast, and it takes lots and lots of warm compressing, massage and milk expression to make it go away. And in the meantime, the duct becomes hard and painful, causing the rest of the breast to become inflamed, tender and engorged.
Oh, what fun it is!
Like I said, this was the third time I had one in as many weeks, so I’m well versed in getting rid of them. But it takes HOURS to get rid of them. In my experience, after all the work I do, it’s usually O who finally unclogs it with his little barracuda suck. And when that happens, milk shoots out like a fountain, sometimes onto him. Or forming a puddle on my sheets.
I used to wash my sheets once a week or so. I’m lucky if I get two days out of a clean set now!
Although, if we’re being honest, if there’s some sort of puddle in the very early morning hours, I’m more than likely to just throw a burp cloth over it and deal with it in the morning. You’d be surprised how low your standards can go after having a baby.
I finally contacted a lactation consultant about this annoying problem and she gave me some tips on how to avoid future clogged ducts. She also said that I most likely have a over-supply of milk (16-pound baby, anyone?), which is a blessing that I can provide for him, but also a curse for my poor backed up boob.
Which brings us to yesterday. Yesterday, O contracted his first cold, and there is nothing more heartbreaking than watching your baby struggle to breathe through his tiny, stuffed up nose. Babies this young don’t know how to mouth-breathe yet, so each breath is harder than the next. There’s not much we can do — cuddles, saline drops in the nose…and the dreaded bulb snot sucker.
He HATES the snot sucker. So much, that he’s actually started punching it when I come near him. Some mothers have recommended a new kind of aspirator to me called the Nosefrida, which apparently works wonders. Only, you have to suck the snot out through a tube WITH YOUR MOUTH. The reviews I’ve read swear no snot actually comes near your mouth, but I can imagine the process is still pretty gross. However, if he’s still this stuffy tomorrow, I’m probably going to buy one.
And if I do, you KNOW I’ll tell you about it.
All that snot is also running down his little throat, so he’s constantly spitting up. There’s not a clean shoulder to be found in this house and all my shirts smell fabulous. I see blogs of trendy little moms all decked out in fancy outfits posing with their infants and I can’t help but wonder, is there some new breed of child that are born to only posh women? Babies who wouldn’t dare to spit up on Mommy’s designer duds? Because I wasn’t aware I could get on the waiting list for one of those.
Last night, my kid spit up into my underwear.
No, I don’t know how he did it, but I had to change my undies in the middle of the night, because that was one thing I wasn’t going to cover with a burp cloth.



19 comments
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September 16, 2010 at 10:17 am
christina
I have heard that a cabbage leaf helps with a blocked milk duct. you warm it in the microwave and put it on you breast. It is an old wives tale but I have heard it works wonders.
Hope that you and baby O feel better soon!
September 16, 2010 at 10:19 am
Sandy
That’s the funniest post I’ve read in a long time…like Laugh Out Loud sort of funny! And just know that I’m not laughing at you, but hopefully WITH you…because at this point I’m pretty sure it’s either laugh or cry!
Hang in there!
September 16, 2010 at 10:22 am
Becky
Ugh. The spit up. James is 6 1/2 months old and he still spits up (although admittedly less than he used to). I can’t count the number of times he spit up down the front of my shirt and into my bra. That smells wonderful…oh wait.
I hated that first cough. Ours was ok with the nose sucker on it’s own, but the saline drops put him OVER THE EDGE. But they helped so much, so we did it anyway. Poor kid.
Have you tried block feeding? I only feed James on one side per feeding (unless he’s REALLY hungry, which happens more now). At first you will feel engorged on the other side, but your supply will even out a little and it will get better. Good luck, Momma!
September 16, 2010 at 10:34 am
CJ
I had the same problems early on b/c of oversupply. Eventually everything will even itself out and your boobs will “settle” down. At least that’s what I like to call it.
I haven’t heard of that nosesucker contraption that you speak of; however, I do have one of these: “Graco Nasal Aspirator”
It works wonders. My little one hates the bulb suction but I put this up to his nose and hit the button for music and he is all smiles, even while I suck the snot out.
Glad you posted!
September 16, 2010 at 10:39 am
Candice
Awww. So much to deal with! My little one had his first cold at 2 and a half weeks old and, yeah, it was so sad – esp, like you say, they can’t do mouth breathing yet then (and they’re too young for any medicine… not that I’d rush to give any to a baby anyway). I was so paranoid about the breathing, ugh.
I hope it gets better soon!
September 16, 2010 at 10:48 am
Kathryn
I love hearing your stories – keeps it real for me. Some insight into what may be ahead for me in the few months to come. Spit up in your underwear, eh? Oh the things I have to look forward to. But ever so excited!
September 16, 2010 at 10:57 am
Kaley
Wow, good times all around! Go you for having an abundance of milk, though – that is a good problem to have!
September 16, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Jennifer
Have you ever gone to a La Leche League meeting? I’ve never had oversupply issues but many people with them seem to have gotten helpful advice at the meetings I’ve attended. It’s also a good place to vent about your troubles to others who have suffered to successfully breastfeed a baby!
September 16, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Sassafras
I too produced more than enough milk so I actually had to pull him off the breast after a certain amount of time of he would just spit it all back up. Little bellies. And clogged ducts – no fun! Baby is really the only way to make it better.
I knew I reached my low when I would still wear my spit-up-on outfit to work figuring it will dry on the way.
Whatever, as a new mom anything goes!
September 16, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Rachel
I think he knows your a blogger and does this all so you can make us laugh! Just saying
September 16, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Rachel
I mean “you’re”. Gah – I hate spelling errors.
September 16, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Rachel R
we have the Safety 1st Nasal Aspirator and LOVE it! Not only did our daughter hate the bulb syringe, but it didn’t work nearly as well. And it is so satisfying to “see” how much you got out, and be able to clean it thoroughly!
September 16, 2010 at 9:52 pm
katherine
We had our doubts about Nosefrida (as in gut busting over where one end of it went in our mouth?) but it WORKS. There is a filter and the snot does not go in your mouth – kinder and more effective than the bulb or any other way. Get it. And big smiles, this too shall pass.
September 18, 2010 at 7:41 am
Aly
Oh dear.. I’ve always wondered how some mums can look so glamourous ALL THE TIME. They’re either blessed in the child department or just very, very good actresses! Hope little O feels better soon! x
September 18, 2010 at 9:00 pm
kes81
Just wanted to pass along taking Fenugreek for clogged ducts. My sister has had a lot of problems with her ducts as well and after taking Fenugreek it got a lot better. Worth Googling or asking your lactation consultant.
September 19, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Veronica
that whole projectile vomiting thing happened to my couch – not so easy to clean up! and the throw pillows have been bannished for all eternity, because they smell like sour milk!
are you pumping after he is done eating?? that may help you empty out a bit more and help prevent the clogged ducts.
September 20, 2010 at 10:11 am
Raz
I have always wondered how some mothers seem to be all poise and cleanliness. I think the answer might be professional help, to be honest. You seem like you’re doing really well!
September 20, 2010 at 3:22 pm
mrs shortcake
Baby Shortcake and I are battling a cold as well (we like to share EVERYTHING), and we’re using a similar device to the nosefrida, but it has a filter and other “stuff” between her boogers and my mouth. It works wonders, especially when she wakes up choking on post-nasal disgustingness. My husband gags when he hears me using it, but it works, and it gives my newborn relief, and that’s all that matters to me! I also have a really strong stomach…
I have a review of the hydrasense snot-sucker here: http://www.ourlittlehaus.com/blog/2010/9/9/mama-s-hydrasense.html
September 23, 2010 at 2:21 am
Jenna
I have the nosefrida. It will make you gag, but it’s so freaking effective that once you do it you’ll never even think about the bulb thing again. Seriously, a miracle worker.