Breastfeeding Difficulties

I count my blessing that I have not gotten thrush - Which I'm told feels like shards of glass when the milk lets down. Ouch... As wonderful and pain free as the labor was, breastfeeding started with difficulty and pain.

Poor latch - Baby girl did not like opening up wide, leads to sore nipples, which lead to blisters, which leads to scabs, which leads to cracked nipples (didn't get cracking, as they healed). But with blisters it leaves the breasts susceptible to mastitis. Which I did get. I had the chills and sweats one night and 101.7 degree temperature and one of my breasts was painful near the armpit, where the lymphnodes are. I didn't want to call the doctor, knowing that an MD would just prescribe me antibiotics... which can lead to developing yeast and then thrush... as I mentioned before... ouch!

So this is what I did and it cleared up within 48 hours...

• Lots of prayer!
• Husband gave awesome neck rub to help with tension I was carrying in neck and shoulders
• Kept a good diet of fresh fruit, veggies and Glenn juiced for me yumm
  
• Lymphonest added to my water (this helps to strengthen the immune system and clear lymphs)
• Echinacea (the one I took has shitake mushrooms added, it's called Lysine and it tastes awful)
• Cabbage or a slice of potato placed over the painful area (this draws out toxins)
• Before feeding on the effected breast I would place a warm pack on area (this helps with the flow)
• Stayed in the bedroom and got lots of rest
• Super hydrated, I upped the pH on my alkalizing machine too as bacteria (which is what mastitis is- a bacteria infection) cannot thrive in a high pH environment
• As I read on several other sites, Nurse, Nurse, Nurse
• While nursing, massage effected area to help unblock any blockages
• Keep areolas clean
• Don't wear a tight bra, better to go bra-less during this time

My temperature dropped really low, from 101.7 down to 96.6. This is the body's way of fighting off infections, best not to mess with it as it knows what it's doing :D

Within 48 hours my temperature was back to normal, with no pain in effected breast and no need for antibiotics.

If you are having high temperatures, it is recommended that you seek professional care. Mastitis left alone, untreated, without healing, can lead to the breast needing to be drained surgically.

Eating with Chelly...

2 oranges

2 bananas

cantaloupe

juice - carrot, apple and then put in a blendtec with spinach

pinto beans

carrots & tahini

raw blueberry muffin dessert

Glenn made us a smoothie: banana, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, agave - would be great with some nutmeg or cinnamon yum!

ionized water intake: so far about 50 ounces... ideally at least 80, which is calculated...

1/2 body weight in pounds = ounces of water daily + more if perspiring a lot

Day Two Raw

Ate all raw yesterday and been eating raw all day today except for my apple sauce. I will make raw apple sauce in the future, but figured I'd finish what I have and not waste it. Had juice yesterday and today - carrot, apple, dandelion greens and parsley. Husband juiced with some Kale this afternoon and was a bit nauseating for me, I think kale is a bit harsh on my stomach right now.

Another reason why I wanted to go back to eating mostly raw is that the past two weeks I've been having some really bad heartburn. I can't believe some people live their lives constantly with heartburn, it's incredibly painful and was keeping me from some much needed sleep. To get rid of the heartburn I first upped my water intake. A big cause of heartburn is dehydration and I had not been drinking enough. So I've been filling a large cup  (about 40 oz) twice a day with ionized water at an alkaline pH of about 7.5-9 depending on how I'm feeling, I'll change the pH level. I started feeling relief after one big glass of water and there was little heartburn that evening and I only noticed it because husband asked about it. Also cut back a lot on gluten the following days and I believe that this was also a major culprit. As the following day I was feeling great until I had some bread and the heartburn came back. So.... more alkalized water, no gluten, and eating more raw foods is healing heartburn :)

Went for a swim today and did weights and stretching in the water. I found it very therapeutic and also safer being the I'm not very balanced lately!