Hi Moms,
Just wanted to see if anyone else out there has been through this. I had a c-section about a month ago. About 2 weeks after that I started feeling more soreness in my abdomen and lower back and started to have diarrhea. I had not taken any pain meds once I got home from the hospital where I was for 5 days. I started taking vicodin again and then switched to percocet thinking maybe the diarrhea was a reaction to vicodin. One Sat night I took my temperature just to see - I really didn't think I had a fever. Turns out I did have a fever - 102. I took some Advil and it quickly went back to normal. Since it was the weekend and I was frightened that I was having an infection from the surgery I went to the ER. They ran a bunch of tests and said I had some kind of viral infection but it wasn't bad. I'm breastfeeding and I think I passed it on to my baby. She's had diarrhea for about 2 weeks now. Over the phone the pediatrician said as long as she's eating and having the normal number of wet diapers that she'd be ok and I don't need to come in. The pediatrician also said that b/c she is a newborn she'll have diarrhea for about a month since her immune system is so new. Poor baby is so fussy especially when she goes #2. She also has bad diaper rash. I try to change her diaper right away to help prevent this. When I called my ob/gyn to update them on my ER trip they said there is a stomach bug going around and everyone was calling them about it. So 2 wks later here is where I am at: everytime I have a bowel movement it's diarrhea like but not too bad, my ab area is still sore but not as bad - I'm off percocet but still taking advil. I'm wondering if I should stop breastfeeding? Did I get her sick? Is it a food allergy? What can I do to make her more comfortable? Etc. Anyone out there been through this?
Thanks!
I agree with the other noters! Don't stop breastfeeding. About the rash, when my son was newborn and had a rash the only thing that helped was Triple Paste (I think they sell it at Target). That stuff is amazing! Cleared up his bum in a matter of a couple hours.
Do not stop breastfeeding! Breastfeeding provides your baby with the antibodies your body makes to the virus that is bothering both of you. If you stop now, her condition might go downhill.
You should keep taking your child to the pediatrician. It is normal for breastfed babies to have loose stools. Show a soiled diaper to your doctor and have him determine whether it is really diarrhea (in newborns diarrhea is mostly green/brown and smells TERRIBLE, normal BF stool may be loose and yellow-greenish, kinda sour smelling). She might not be sick after all.
As long as she is not dehydrated, no fever and feeding fine, keep on doing what you are doing.
I would still breastfeed. I'm sure you have been dealing with this for a long time, so the longer you worry about it, the more drastic measures you think you need to take. Breastmilk is still the best for baby--keep it up!
No, you should not stop breastfeeding. Your breastmilk is the very easiest thing for her to digest and since you have antibodies specific to the stomach bug in your system right now, she needs to benefit from this. Those antibodies are coming through in your milk, so she needs your milk now more than ever.
That said, are you sure it's diarrhea? Babies that age poop constantly and its very liquidy. Heck, they are on a liquid diet, so it's SUPPOSED to be liquid poo! LOTS of poops (after every feeding) are simply a sign that your baby is taking in lots of milk!
Here's some info about normal baby poop:
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/normal.htm#NormalStools
Here's some info on breastfeeding while baby is sick:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/baby-illness.html
Here's some info on breastfeeding while mom is sick:
http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/mom-illness.html
So yes, yes, yes. You should absolutely continue breastfeeding!
Breastfeeding is the best way to get through this. Put yourself on a BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast) to help firm you up. Drink plenty of water, Pedialyte or Gatorade to keep you hydrated and balance your electrolytes. When my son was a few weeks old, I was changing him when he had to go and he shot the poop across the room. My husband was joking about needing to install a blast shield on the changing table. Newborns poop especially when breastfed is pretty soft (some say it resembles some kinds of mustard) and makes it easier for them to pass. At diaper time wash thoroughly and slather on the Vaseline, Desitin or Bag Balm to protect the skin. To fight acidity you might want to rub a little liquid Mylanta on the skin before the diaper cream. Diaper rash this young is tough since you can't really leave the diaper off for awhile to let her skin breathe. You will both get through this. Hang in there.
do not stop breastfeeding.. that will cause more problems.
she likely got the same bug you had.. she will get over it.. are you suer she has diahreea.. breastfed baby poop is almost water.. and that is totally normal...
just keep nursing her. put desitin on her butt. changer her frequently.. and soak her bottom in the bathtub ..
gi bugs are the worst.. we usually get one once a year.. lots of puking... lots of luandry..
As scary is this is, it is actually BETTER to breastfeed when you are both sick. Breastmilk will help boost her immune system, and you will actually pass on many of your own antibodies that your body is producing in response to being sick. Most illnesses are not passed on through breastmilk, and usually only ariborne or passed on through physical contact. The best thing you can do for both of you is to drink a lot of water, and breastfeed as often as you both desire.
Your C section site is probably sore because your abdominal muscles are being strained by the diarrhea. While an allergy is possible (I became allergic to apples after giving birth to my son), with your fever it is more likely to be viral.
If your doc says it is ok, you can give her infant tylenol to make her more comfortable. Also, clean her bottom with UNSCENTED aloe wipes, and powder her bottom with cornstarch. It will neutralize any remaining acid and dry up the bottom without irritating it. It is also safer than talc.
Unless she gets a high fever or either of you get dehydrated, you should both come out of this fine.
Don't stop breastfeeding! That is actually what will keep her more healthy. Most of the time when you get sick you pass the antibodies onto your baby through your breast milk so your baby doesn't get sick. I have had two winter babies and the flu always goes through our house and guess who is the only one that never gets it? My breast fed baby. Plus new born babies that are breast fed poop a lot and it is pure liquid until they start eating solids. So if your baby doesn't get a fever she probably doesn't have it and frequent pooping is due to her just being a new born trying to get her body all adjusted. Believe me breast milk is the best thing you can give that little one.
You poor thing! Don't stop breastfeeding her, your breast milk is the best thing for her, and please take care of yourself with lots of liquids and some decent food!
For her bottom, don't use wipes. Get a little container of warm water( I use those disposable ziploc/glad containers, so when this is over you can toss them) when you need to change her and just use a baby washcloth to wipe her. Or several washcloths. Follow with some Aquaphor, not diaper rash creme. You will go through a lot of little cloths, but this really stops the irritation.
Your doc is right, it is "just" a stomach bug and you didn't "give" it to her, she got it the same way you did, from the environment.
Good luck!
Breastfeeding is the Very Best thing that you can do for your baby! Breast milk is considered a clear fluid and easily absorbed into her system. You are also passing your antibodies on to her which will help fight off any "bugs" that she comes into contact with.
For the diaper rash try using a thick layer of A & D ointment to create a barrier from her poop.
It is also possible that she may not have diarrehea. BF babies have watery, seedy poop. Babies can also poop very forcefully.
Don't stop breastfeeding. I don't know all of the science of it, but it seems to me that if your body can pass the infection to her through breastmilk than it stands to reason that you are also passing on to her any antibodies that are fighting the infection, right? Besides, how can you really tell that a newborn has diarrhea? Newborn poop is very frequent, watery, and acidic anyway
