Revelation 1:1 - 1:5

[psocoptera]

I have also learned some things:

1:1 If you put cabbage leaves in your bra, when you open up your bra again later to pull them out, it will smell like cabbage.

1:2 What with leaking milk, you're halfway to a coleslaw.

1:3 But adding carrots and mustard seed would not help anything.

1:4 Speaking of mustard, when they said baby poop was "mustardy", I was picturing something like brown mustard. No, they apparently mean bright yellow-orange fake ballpark mustard. Dang.

1:5 It's really hard to tell where the line is between being paranoid and properly concerned. For example, , the little scabby bits on the ends of my nipples aren't really a problem for me, and they definitely don't seem to be a problem for Juniper, but after reading a zillion things about Your Latch, Oh God, Your Latch, You Are Totally Doing Something Wrong Even If A Lactation Consultant Said You Were Great, I can't stop worrying that I am Doing Something Wrong and they are a precursor of the dreaded Cracked and Bleeding Nipples (the breastfeeding advice has a lot about Cracked and Bleeding Nipples and not anything I can find about Tiny Flat Totally Non-Bleeding Scabs). I just feel like pain or a baby who didn't seem to be satisfied by feeding would be a less ambiguous concern - I mean, maybe they just tend to scab a little at first? How would I know?

Comments

[gannet.livejournal.com]

Reduces pain & swelling when milk is coming in because it is cooling.

[rebeccapaul.livejournal.com]

I thought cabbage leaves weren't usually used if you want to keep your milk supply, because they are pretty strong. I think there are less extreme options, like cold showers. (I had no idea of the effect of milk on them!)

As for cracked nipples, I also suggest lanolin (like Lansinoh). It's probably not worth an emergncy lactation consultant, but you could drop by a La Leche League meeting some time to double-check. (And if Junie spits up blood, first check if your nipples are bleeding, because that is the most likely cause. I don't think that causes her to become a vampire.)

Have you joined the breastfeeding LJ community? Also, you should go check out kellymom.com for extra advice.

(And I am giving breastfeeding advice on my phone while breastfeeding. Very odd.)

[gannet.livejournal.com]

I never actually tried the cabbage - it was mentioned in passing in my breastfeeding class. Good to know!

[psocoptera.livejournal.com]

I think kellymom said 3x day/20 min for cabbage for engorgement. I've only ended up doing it twice and ::crosses fingers:: the engorgement seemed rather better this morning (and I have a happy full dozy baby, hence my answering comments ::grin::) so I think I've gotten away with it. Honestly, once I first heard about it, I was totally like "I have to try that at some point", just because, I don't know, it's this wacky low-tech solution, and how often do you have an excuse to stick cabbage in your bra?

I hope Juniper does not become a vampire, that seems like it would make it even more difficult to ever leave the house (during the daytime)...

I was hoping to get a free sample of lanolin in the hospital so I could inner-arm test it before buying any - I *think* the last time I had hand lotion with lanolin in it, it irritated my skin, so I'm reluctant to put any directly onto my nipples without a good 24-hour allergy test, because that would Not Be Helpful. But it never materialized. Probably still worth buying some to test, though, thanks.

[rebeccapaul.livejournal.com]

I agree that the low-tech solutions are intriguing. (It makes sense that they exist, snce the species has been breatfeeding for a while...) My favorite was oatmeal (and oatmeal cookies) to increase supply... not that you need it now!

Engorgement will eventually end. (And it also helps that Junie's mouth will get bigger.)