Thank you to everyone who extended their advice and support from the last post. Things have been progressively better. I've changed my diet a little and have been now eating lots of fish in the hopes to pump my body up with natural goodies instead of going the drug route. I've read some other blogs where other women really experienced deeper depression feelings and I have to say that I am not there. I just need sleep. Sleep is the key. I feel like a new me when I can get my three hours when Max decides to sleep.
Well, I had intended to blog today about how this week was going. Up until a couple nights ago, it was going great. Maximilien and I had found a nice little rhythm and I actually felt confident enough to try to take him out to go Rue Mouffetard to look for some shoes for myself. But two nights ago I felt hot. Flu like hot. It's warm in Paris. Spring is here but not hot enough where I am sweating all the time and uncomfortable and Julien and Max were just fine. So, I took my temperature and it was 100.5. Uh oh. I didn't know what to do about the breastfeeding if I were sick. I panicked for about three seconds and then jumped on the computer and Googled it. Oh, how I love thee Internet. I visited three sites that said to keep breastfeeding and that it would be just fine for the baby. If anything it's a good thing to expose him a little to what I have so he can build up his immunity. I hadn't noticed but my breasts were engorged. I just thought that they were full and I needed to feed max. He had been sleeping for nearly 4 hours and when I go that long without feeding him they tend to get super full. I breastfed him and fell asleep to wake up with the most excruciating pain coming from my right breast. It was engorged but not like it normally would be after a few hours of sleep. A friend came over and brought me soup, I tried to eat as much as I could but feeling feverish, I had little appetite. She played with Max while I took a long shower and massaged my sore breast. After she left, I took my temperature again and it was 102.2. Not good. I laid down and called S.O.S Medcin and they sent over a doctor right away. She examined me and immediately said I had an infected breast that it probably was Mastitis. She prescribed me pain relief, antibiotics and a breast pump. Yep, in France you can get a prescription for a breast pump and they will even deliver it to your house. Before the doctor left, she sat with me to try to figure out how this happened. I told her that I had been breast feeding all the time so I was surprised that this happened. She asked if I had changed anything lately and I did, in the last two days I had introduced the pacifier to Max in the afternoons when he's awake and all he wants to do is suck. I needed the break and he was content on sucking on the tetine. What happened was that my body didn't get the message and kept making more milk, normally I would have put Max on my breast to ease his sucking urge. And me being so tired, I didn't notice that my breast were so full. The combination of me being so run down and the slight change in our breast feeding routine threw everything out of wack. So, last night I spent the entire night shivering and sweating from the Mastitis induced fever and breast fed Max as much as I possibly could. As painful as it was for the first few hours, we got through it and I noticed that my breast hurt a little less today.
Honestly, when I thought things couldn't get any harder they did and I'm getting through it. For a few minutes there I was in tears, talking to Max asking why this was happening... he just looked back at me with his little blue eyes and smiled. I know it's hard but it's worth it. I want to do it for him but more importantly I want to do it for me. I'm living the most amazing experience in my life right now. I don't want to waste it away with tears and worry. Yes, Ahppa... I'm going to stop worrying so much and just go with the flow. I still feel quite bad today, physically but mentally I feel almost the best I've felt in three weeks even though my right boob feels like it's leaking needles right now.
Max just let the biggest fart ever. And he's all laying there in bed looking up like he didn't do anything. He is definitely my son, I'd do the exact same thing. These times are the best times, just mommy and Max moments. Can't wait for more of them to come...
You go girl!
Posted by: Melinda | April 13, 2007 at 18:15
PS Glad to see you're listening to U2 -- they give me great energy!
Posted by: Melinda | April 13, 2007 at 18:17
Oh terrible mastitis. I went through a brief moment with that too. For me, my relief was to massge my breasts daily, and would collect the milk in a bottle while doing so. I also pumped but still kept getting blocked milk ducts. So I found that massaging every once in awhile was very effective, and kept the fever and chills away.
Yes, unfortunately there will always be little bumps and hills that interrupt the nicely established routines, but we mothers are tough, we learn, and keep going.
Glad to hear that's you're better now. Take care!
Posted by: Jiwon | April 13, 2007 at 18:24
What an adventure! Glad to see you've got everything figured out.
Posted by: Veronique | April 13, 2007 at 19:20
Glad things are better and you are getting great care from the docs. Ahh, going with the flow is easier said than done, Omma! But, you are going to make it!
Mary Anne and Katy sending hugs to Aimee and Max!
Posted by: Mary Anne | April 13, 2007 at 23:44
That SOS Medecin sounds great - I've got their number here in case I ever need help since I don't have a regular MD here yet.
Proof that Max is already a "real" man; he farts and then acts all innocent about it. What a cutie!
I'm emailing you a longer response to your last few posts as I'm still up coping with JET LAG. Hope to see you soon!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | April 14, 2007 at 00:14
Sorry to hear that you are not feeling good! Mastitis sucks I have heard. I have done with 1 plugged duct, and the best (I got the tip from a mom's group here) is to have baby nurse so that his chin is pressing on the plugged duct. Helpful tip to have on hand...
Having a pump is awsome! I find that it makes things way easier and you can sleep through a feeding every so often :-)
Posted by: Caroline | April 14, 2007 at 01:56
Oh, how horrible to be so sick with a little one. I hope you are well soon. I used to get plugged ducts, not quite mastitis, but uncomfortable the same. I found that taking some Lecithin made it stop. My doctor says it has something to do with the viscosity of the milk. I wonder if you have a mom's group near you or at the hospital where your son was born. I loved mine for all of the tips I didn't know. Keep working on that sleep!
Posted by: tracy | April 14, 2007 at 06:21
Sorry to hear about Mastitis. Sounds painful!!!
Get well soon.
Nina x
p.s Massage those tits regularly:-)
p.p.s 'try' to rest when Max sleeps, I never did when Milla slept and I lost all my weight too quickly as a result
Posted by: Nina | April 14, 2007 at 09:49
Mastitis is no fun! Keep those boobs warm and drink lots of water. Hope it will pass soon.
Posted by: Emma | April 14, 2007 at 10:05
Mastitis, that sounds ilke a drink you have in the summer. Oh, wait, I must be thinking of pastis...
When you recover from that nasty mastitis, I'll bring some pastis to you then.
Hoping that boobie of yours will get better soon, my dear.
PS: Let me know when you are ready for a lunch out at Pho 14, ok?
Posted by: frog with a blog | April 14, 2007 at 19:42
Hope you are feeling better! Breastfeeding is definitely harder than I had hoped, but I think it's worth the effort, too. Hang in there (I'm trying right along with you) and enjoy those baby farts!
Posted by: Pardon_My_French | April 15, 2007 at 13:09
Oh, I feel for you. Mastitis just sucks -- I've been there, but it sounds like you've got the right kind of support and medicine, so I hope it passes soon.
Hang in there! I found that breastfeeding was pretty tricky at first, but after a couple of months things got into a routine and I didn't have any more issues. I hope the same for you!
Posted by: Erica | April 16, 2007 at 13:42
aww hon... i know it's so hard! been there- it sucks.
try a cabbage leaf to reduce swelling and take away some of the pain. it really does work! google it....
Posted by: Jennifer | April 18, 2007 at 19:26