Any ideas? Don't want to give up?

[willowwisp]

I suffer extreme hypermobility in both shoulders which is made worse by my breast feeding hormones. I've got to the situation where expressing is fine, feeding LO on a pillow is fine but lifting/changing/bathing/holding is exceptionally painful. To the point where by 9pm I can barely lift a glass of water without crying.

I'm having physio and been told to lightly do all my usual physical activities, which I am and it's helping slightly. Using Tens machine which gives small windows of relief (but is a two person job to apply it as I cant get it on myself), any painkillers and 'safe' medications for breast feeding aren't touching the pain, and I obviously can't take anything stronger or I can't use my milk, which defeats the object!

The long and short of it is the doctors have said they can't suggest I stop producing breast milk, but that I need to for treatment and/or resolution.

I feel like I'm missing out on so many cuddles and play times as I just physically can't lift and hold as much as I'd like but I so desperately want to keep feeding my milk. I've got so much milk that I'm currently managing to fed him and store half a days worth per day. I keep telling myself each day I manage is 1.5 more days of H getting mummies milk.

Anyone been through anything similar or any words of wisdom/support? I'm flagging

 

[tweetyfoo]

Aww hun, it's a difficult situation to be in.

I kindof know how you feel though.

I was overcome with guilt yesterday because I'm spending 3 hours a day expressing when I could be using that time to help Aaron's development.

Everyone says tht breast is best, but it had to be best for both of you. Happy mummy is a happy baby. I've said from
Day dot that I will only express for as long as its not stressful, as it is bloody hard work.

If it was me I'd probably stop the expressing and get treatment, as before you know it they are all grown up xx


Please excuse any typos from my fat fingers!
Tapatalk madness!

 

[cosmicgirl]

What an awful situation
I really don't know what I'd do (sorry that's no help).
Hope you get it resolved somehow xx

 

[CARNAT22]

Personally I'd stop. Breastfeeding is just one aspect of taking care of your baby! Much better to be in better health an able to do "everything" you need to do?

I went to combi feeding as I wasn't getting along with solely expressing.

I was losing half an hours sleep for almost every feed and I was miserable and exhausted.

I do have moments of guilt that I "gave up" too easily BUT I refuse to dwell on what I am not doing.

I am now getting more sleep, baby loves his food (booby juice of formula - he isn't fussed) and we're both a lot happier.

xxxxxxxxx

 

[ceebee]

This sounds so difficult I've got hypermobility too hon, but thankfully it doesn't effect me so severely as it effects you. I didn't know that bfing hormones make it worse? Where did you hear that? I have other issues that may be related to the hypermobility (food intolerances for eg) and they have been worse, so maybe it's due to bfing? Wish I knew what to suggest, but if the docs say they can't help you whilst you're bfing then it seems you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. I would be really gutted if I couldn't bf now, but if I knew it was making me so ill then I think I might stop? How old is your LO? xxx

 

[willowwisp]

Thanks girls
Just got to get through today and tomorrow then DH is off for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year, so I'll should make it though at least the next two weeks much easier with having him home. I'm going to see how I'm feeling after that. Baby is 8 and a bit weeks now, will be almost 11 weeks by the time DH goes back to work next year. I'm getting away with the expressing time at the moment because he has three good long naps a day which I can cluster pump during, then I also have a good pump when DH is home in the evening and playing with him. But at some point I know I'm going to need to spend less time pumping and more time playing even without the mobility issues.

Ceebee, you continue to produce relaxin when you BF, just like in pregnancy, so the joints can remain soft for as long as you continue basically. I've so far seen three different doctors (including a specialist) and they all confirmed it.

Considering they told me I was too ill to BF in the first place I keep telling myself if I can get him to 12 weeks and have another 3-4 weeks worth in the freezer then that's not too bad considering what it could have been?

 

[ceebee]

Thanks willowwisp, I didn't know about the relaxin. I have been told that hypermobility makes my gut leaky hence the food intolerances. I wonder if relaxin also makes my gut leakier? Interesting thought...

As for you, I think you've done amazingly and for your baby to have breast milk for 4 months is great. I wouldn't beat yourself up if you have to stop then. Remember a lot of women don't even manage to bf at all, so 4 months worth is amazing, especially considering what you're going through. As I'm not sure if bfing is making me more ill or not, I am considering giving up after 3 months if things don't improve for me and if the docs think it might help. It will be hard tho as I want the best for Harry, but I also want to be well enough to play with him and enjoy him, like you say - that's really important too...

Hope you get throught he next couple of days ok and have a wonderful xmas xxx

ps I am still having pelvis issues too, so perhaps this is also the relaxin? Wish I could get some more advice about this but not due to see a specialist for some time...

 

[willowwisp]

That's the difference with people who suffer from pregnancy induced pelvic pain, and people who are hypermobile. Anyone can suffer during pregnancy, but from the research I've done most people who don't suffer with hypermobility feel better pretty quickly after delivering. Where as people who are hypermobile can suffer until they have finished BF'ing and the hormones have left their system. It's all things I've found out in the last couple of weeks as I couldn't understand why I wasn't improving. The disadvantage I have is that my shoulders are the worst and of course I'm lifting LO all day long. I'd say there is a chance your pelvis could still be bad because of the relaxin, be interesting to see what your specialist comes up with.

I'm very lucky to be covered by the private healthcare my husband gets through his job, otherwise the specialist wait around here is 6-9 months! I hope you don't have to wait so long to see someone if you haven't got cover!

 

[JJ Mum]

I get hypermobility in my joints, but it's really only knees, ankles and wrists I have ever had problems with.
I only ever sleep one way esp during pregnancy as my worse knee will dislocate and ill be stuck there..
I have had op on ankle and it's better than ever, and havedamaged both wrist ligaments now, all down to pregnancy. Once I can get past this possible future pregnancy I can maybee get refered to get on op waiting list for bad wrist, but it's manageable for now, now im not preg..

I think do what feels right, you need to be happy and in a position to be a mum, if your body is not playing ball on this, you have no guilt if you have to give up... if you have that much in freezer, then you could reduce the expressing and slowly wean down until your feeds have all gone... 12 weeks or more is fantastic bf, you will feel proud. that's totally the start they need and it's just milk after that, they have the antibodies they needed XX

 

[Danti]

You've done amazingly well! With regards to stopping bf, only you can decide that hun, just don't beat yourself up if you do! Your quality of life is far from perfect right now and you've given your lo the best start by bfing and expressing for as long as you have! If you want to stop and feel this will vastly improve things then do it! And don't let anyone make you feel bad for it! Hats off to you, you're a strong woman and a fab mum! xx

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