7 Months 3 Weeks

BVC (Children's Health Centre) visit today. Isolde weighed in at 7,180 gr and measured 65 cm (I think she's taller but the nurse doesn't want to stretch the little ones too much). As Isolde is approaching 8 months (what?! already?!) the nurse checked a few physical (e.g. if Isolde was cross-eyed) and developmental (mostly by questions to me) things. She passed with flying colours. Next visit will be another routine check-up followed by the 10-month appointment with the doctor in November (previously at 2 and 6 months).

I also asked the nurse about blocked milk ducts and if it was okay - and whether it'd help - to take lecithin capsules that I learned about on Google (as you do). She told me that in some county councils (responsible for healthcare provision) it's prescribed for this very problem (among other things) and she thus recommended me to try them to help clear the ducts (however in Stockholm I had to go to the alternative medicine shop to buy them). Will let you know if they do the trick!

In other "Isolde news", she has just mastered both waving (a few days ago) and clapping her hands (today). She didn't really want to cooperate with the camera though so this is what you get!











Via Anna's iPhone

Blockage

Arghhh! I have blocked/plugged milk ducts for the fifth time in a month! I didn't have any problems for six months (and the first two months of these were cold, cold winter month) and now I get it from the slighest breeze! It's so annoying! So far I've managed to cure it before it turns into mastitis (breast inflammation) but it's still painful (and affects me for 12-24 hours). I started getting it when I stopped breastfeeding during the day (I only nurse in the morning and the evening now) and no longer "use" the breast as much. As a result the breast doesn't fill up as much as before and when it's smaller it seems to be more sensitive. I try to wear a sweater outside but when it's a sunny and warm day I forget and don't think about the breeze. It's always my left breast that gets affected - it has always been my tender breast (especially in the beginning when the milk was almost overflowing) and the one Isolde has found more difficult to nurse from (at least the first two months; not sure why but maybe the cells in the right one are better?). I now have a white dot on my nipple, which is an indication of blockage, even when I don't have any pain or problems. I read that you can try to remove the white blister with a sterilised needle but that sounds a bit scary and possibly painful?!

Now I'm thinking that perhaps I should just stop breastfeeding altogether but on the other hand I know that Isolde could use a couple of months more of the good stuff! What to do?! Tips on how to prevent and alleviate are also welcome, in addition to what I'm already doing - applying heat and then nursing (or pumping), wearing a loose bra and trying to remember the breeze. I had put away the wool nursing pads because I thought they were mainly for winter weather but guess I have to wear them now when autumn comes...


-Via Isoldes padda