Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Breastfeeding complication Nipple Infection

I wanted to feed HX till 23 months , like what I did for HE. However, I had to stop much earlier at 19th month due to complication. I never expected that I developed nipple infection at the late stage of breastfeeding journey. For the past one month, I had on and off sore, then cracked nipple. It was painful as it happened on both side, but resolved when I apply saline rinse and vaseline. However, it recurred, then resolved when I applied fusidin cream.
Suddenly, it cracked again, but the wound looked different, with some sloughs and with oozing. At the same time, HX was coughing and her mouth had really bad smell. I applied the fusidin cream consistently, hoping that it would heal. Only left side was affecteed, hence I only fed HX the right side. However, as I noticed that there was one tiny pustule on my right too, and my left was inflammed and pain till I cried, I needed to see Dr Koe. I started with oral antibiotic too. As Dr Koe concerned that HX might have passed on the bacteria to me, she had to start oral antibiotic too.
Then I got to ask for babysitter help to take care of HX for overnight for a week.
I seeked a nurse help, and she helped to clean my wound and apply dressing. However, as I was still lactating, I got to take out twice a day, to empty the breast, and it was truely painful, Above was the picture of the dressing I took out, could tell how bad my left breast was. It basically affected the whole area of arveola. It seemed different from mastitis and more superficial skin infection, but a real bad one.
How about HX? After 5 days, I tried to bring her back to home at night. First night of not breastfeeding was difficult. However, it only took her one night. Next day onwards, she never asked for nen nen...sch adorable girl. Need to tell details in next post.