AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: Because I can't believe it myself DATE: 2/22/2008 02:35:00 PM ----- BODY:

At the pediatrician's office today:

Doctor: I don't see any signs of thrush.

Me: Are you sure? Because my breasts hurt so badly. Like I would rather be in labor again than have my breasts hurt this badly.

Doctor: And you're sure you want to continue breastfeeding?

Me: (after initial stun of question wore off) Absolutely I do, and I will.

Doctor: Well, they're your boobs, not mine.

OH MY DEAR GOD. He actually said those exact words to me. Perhaps I am still hormonally sensitive???

Or PERHAPS NOT?

Please. Weigh in. Would you be taken aback if your older than dirt pediatrician actually taunted you about your persistence in breastfeeding? And used the word BOOB? I mean, I use it all the time, but the letters M.D. don't follow my name either.

Let's discuss, shall we?

And you don't have to tell me to get a new pediatrician. It's already in the works.

Labels: Bird, Boobilicious, Breastfeeding, Just plain pissed

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Heather @36 balloons DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 2:48:00 PM EST One of the ped's our practice is just that nonchalant about preserving the breastfeeding relationship. Very irritating! Have you looked through kellymom.com for ideas? I thought I had thrush with my first, but it turns out she just had a crappy, lazy latch and was using her jaw instead of her tongue or some such nonsense and my nips wanted to run away from the torture. It got better. Hoping for the same for you. You rock! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Steph DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 3:44:00 PM EST Im sorry he was so flippant and hope you can figure out why you hurt. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

TheMusingMommy DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 3:58:00 PM EST delurking to comment...

I find it so hard to believe when members of the medical community play down breastfeeding. It is SO AGGRAVATING. If I could, I would send you my lactation nurse. She's the best...when I run into her at the grocery store she takes time to find out how it is all going.

We had breastfeeding issues in the beginning too. My daughter wouldn't latch, and it took a lot of (literally) hands on work to teach her. We used the supplemental nursing system, as well. But after a couple of weeks it got better.

They say the first 6 weeks are the hardest for breastfeeding. I found after the 4th week it was smooth-sailing. I'm still nursing her (just before bed) and she's 17 months now.

So good luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Anonymous DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 5:42:00 PM EST First 6 weeks are horrible, but keep it up! If our ped. said that to us, we too would be getting a new Dr. I thought we had thrush, and our Dr. saw no evidence, but suggested several things I could do, none of which included quitting breastfeeding! You have my support. Keep it going, and have that lactation consultant come back out to check on your latching and for thrush, sometimes the baby has no symptoms... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Anth DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 6:46:00 PM EST Um, yeah, I would think it was really weird if the ped used the word "boobs." And was so nonchalant and unsupportive of me continuing to bf. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

the new girl DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 8:13:00 PM EST Not that you asked for stories but I had MASSIVE NIPPLE HURTAGE and her latch was fine, it's just that she was clamping down from an overactive letdown.

I know that may not be your issue but the lactation consultant will probably be more helpful than your asshat pediatrician in figuring out the problem. She will certainly be more supportive than your asshat pediatrician.

It boggles my mind that they know next to NOTHING about breastfeeding, really. They honestly don't. Your determination and your lactation consultant are all you need to do this.

Your conviction that you're doing what's best for your beautiful son is what makes you a great mom.

And yeah, they ARE your boobs. Damn right they are. lmao.

Did I mention that I think he's an asshat? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Anonymous DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:12:00 PM EST I can't believe he said that. Breastfeeding can be off to such a rough start and it GETS BETTER, much better. WOmen need encouragement!

Anyway, I had a horrible yeast infection in my breast when I nursed my daughter (who did have thrush) and it was like she was suckling on my breast and there was a horrid piece of glass deep down inside. If that had been my first nursing experience I would have stopped. Hope it's not what you have.

My OB gave me an oral pill (1 day) for a vaginal yeast infection (which I didn't have) and it cleared it up pretty well.

Best best of luck to you.
Maybe find a lactation consultant... but not one that's too militant! :)
C. B. in NY ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

sunraysnsaturdays DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:23:00 PM EST Whoa. That man needs a new profession. Asshat. Hope you figure out what is going on so you can get some relief. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

FENICLE DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:37:00 PM EST Although I understand his point...that he can't tell you what to do...it was a rather inappropriate way to get his message across!!! Geez. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 10:08:00 PM EST If any of you (CB in NY!) are back reading comments, could you tell me if your baby was treated too? Or just you?

Right now, I'm just taking the oral medication you mentioned, C.B., but I'm worried that we're not also treating Bird.

Any insights? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Clifford DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 10:29:00 PM EST Did you burn four-letter words into his forehead with your eyes or what? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Mutt DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:08:00 PM EST Seems a little casual to me.

Breastfeeding is hard and it surprised me how little help those in the medical profession were. We did find an incredible lactation consultant through our local childrens hospital. She spent over an hour listening to us and watching me try and then really helped us.

Hang in there. As much as you can give him is great for him. If you can't go for a year (or longer, I don't know your thoughts on that) then at least you know you gave every drop you had.

I had very few supporters, but my husband was great and we just kept going as long as we could. We made it to about 10 or 11 months and switched to formula.

Again, I think it's great your doing this for bird. It's so hard with the recovery, no sleep, sore boobs, and all the other issues. Congrats to you!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Beautifully Unique DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:14:00 PM EST Hang in there girly, you are doing a great job and your Dr. should be slapped in the mouth.
Just a little FYI, when I had thrush, we BOTH had to be treated. We did Nystatin and it worked great. Best wishes! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

toddlerplanet DATE:Friday, February 22, 2008 at 11:31:00 PM EST Bee-zare. If our pediatricians don't support us, who will?

Oh, yeah. Lac consultants. Love them.

I'm seconding the hurtful latch idea and suggesting making some LLL buddies locally too ... others may have reservations, but I mostly found them WONDERFUL. Christopher could also just have a very strong suck, which could be hard for awhile.

Breastfeeding is SO important, for mom and baby, but it is also SO hard for the first 4-6 weeks.

Good for you to keep going. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Cher DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 6:15:00 AM EST I would be so completely pissed, and probably not polite enough to NOT say something to him right on the spot!
Its been many moons since I breast fed, but my mother gave me a set of nipple guards. They are little plastic sheilds that fit over your nipple area and help the baby latch on better. Maybe seeing if you can find some? Like I said, it's been a while (like since 1984) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Anonymous DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 7:57:00 AM EST Hi C-
This is CB (Carin) in NY. Yes, baby was treated too-- a goo to squirt on her cheeks inside. Her thrush was obvious-- white patches on the insides of her cheeks and back of her tongue. The medication was for both of us-- I was supposed to rub it on my nipples also, which I did.

I'm not a doc, but I had been timid enough with physicians to just do what they said-- no more. If you think your baby has thrush, get a second opinion. If you don't trust your pediatrician (with good cause it seems!)or even just feel wierded by him get another. If you think you have a yeast infection in your breast, find someone to take you seriously. It frikkin hurts!!!

I found a serious problem was, no physician seemed to think my breasts were their area of responsibility. Seriously! Because I was nursing, my breasts became this third entity!... my OB thought the pediatrician should do something. My pediatrician said I wasn't her patient. My general practitioner helped me, but thought the OB dropped the ball (I agree).

Best, best of luck to you. I even nearly bought gentian violet http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/breastfeeding/a/gentian_violet_2.htm to treat my sore breast, even though it might turn your breast-- and baby's mouth-- purple for a while. But, the oral yeast pill did the trick for me, so I never attempted the purple cure. :)

Take care!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

katy DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 9:51:00 AM EST A new pediatrician is definately a must have. Wouldn't you walk out if your gynecologist told you he/she needed to see your boobs? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

useless_rambler DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 10:57:00 AM EST I just emailed you (off of the picture link email) and forgot to change the subject so as to get your attention...

check it out...

Good luck!!!!

j ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

KimmieRo DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:05:00 PM EST Treat Bird too. You can pass it back and forth otherwise. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

~JJ! DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 1:33:00 PM EST I can't believe he called them Boobs. He's a professional. Or supposed to be.

Since you are already on the path to a new ped. All I can say is do what is right for you...If you can get over the pain threshold until it becomes comfortable for both of you, do it....

However, I have no idea about breast feeding we couldn't do it.

Good luck Mamma. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Paige Jennifer DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 9:20:00 PM EST Apparently Bedside Manner 101 was not part of his medical school education.

(1) Find a new pediatrician.

(2) If there are multiple physicians in the practice, I'd eventually pen a letter explaining why you left. Sorta similar but I had a doctor with a cunt for a receptionist. And when I relayed how she handled his patients, he was aghast. Doctors are doctors but they also are a business and the less people who come in the less money they make. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Anonymous DATE:Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 11:19:00 PM EST Okay... so I'm totally a lurker... but I wanted to offer up an unlikely possibility.

I thought I had thrush because my breasts burned and itched and were red and swollen and my nipples were always sore. I kept smearing myself with Lansinoh, because baby didn't have thrush and I just figured they were irritated from nursing 24 hours a day.

After consulting with a lactation consultant, turns out, I was allergic to the "hypoallergenic" lanolin ointment. Within 24 hours of stopping using it, I felt 800% better.

I think this is super atypical but I bring it up just in case. I know you have a lactation consultant, so you probably don't need my second hand advice. :) Hope things get better for you two soon! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Momma B DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 12:19:00 AM EST I would have probably bitten his head off. That's terrible! You might want to check with your OB/Midwife. Snugglebunny had very obvious thrush and we battled it for over a month, but there were times during that period when she didn't have it and I still did. We both got treated with nystatin, her with a liquid and me with a cream. I hope your new PED is more supportive! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Andria DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 6:54:00 PM EST No words. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Space Mom DATE:Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 8:15:00 PM EST Dude, that is SO wrong. Boob is not acceptable for doctor....

Sigh.... ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Bubblewench DATE:Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 7:26:00 AM EST I definately don't have the experience you or most of your commenters have, but it doesn't seem right to me. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

sltbee69 DATE:Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:44:00 AM EST Delurking to say that pedi needs to retire. And yes, if it is thrush bird needs to be treated as well or you'll never get rid of it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

VDog DATE:Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 1:38:00 AM EST OHmahFG!!

My jaw would have been on the floor. KUH-RAZY.

I am so sorry that happened to you!

I've always read that you need to treat both mom & baby.

If it is a latch/other problem, I love, love, LOVED my nipple shield (Medela small size, if ya need to know, heh). We used it until 3 months, and then weaned off of it. By then their mouths are larger and suck is more effective. And they've learned correct mouth positioning from the shield (easier to manipulate their mouths on the silicone than on skin).
The only drawback is when you're out and about and have to put it on -- I carried mine in a 4 oz tupperware or specimen cup (seriously) everywhere I went.

Good luck! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Lilith DATE:Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 10:31:00 AM EST Find a lactation consultant, they know their stuff. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

The Mommy DATE:Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 8:44:00 PM EST That's SO uncool! I can't believe he said that to you! Pediatricians should try to encourage breastfeeding! My gosh! ----- --------