Hellobee Boards

Thank you so much for the well wishes everyone. The doctor (at the out of hours doctors service) was adamant it couldn't be retained placenta as, according to him, they check it too closely after delivery. Now reading Zippylef's comment - who gave birth in the UK - I'm not so sure. He said it was likely to be from where there was an internal tear, the blood pooled and clotted (like a scab) and 9 days would be around the right time to pass it. I've passed a further two smaller ones since and I do actually feel a bit better for it.

He said my stitches were swollen too - Id completely forgot I even had stitches!! Minor pain in comparison to mastitis!

He then checked the breasts, which was 48hrs after starting treatment. The left breast (which was the worst) is responding well but the right is worse, despite antibiotics. It has gone from a road map of red lines to a giant, shiny red bowling ball. My temperature was high despite my having taken paracetamol and my pulse was racing. He prescribed even stronger antibiotics and some kick ass painkillers (as I'm pumping and dumping) and last night I have slept about 6 hrs between feeds so far - and its only 6am (I'm up pumping). I feel so much better for it, I even tidied round while LO's bottle was warming.

Again, thanks for all the thoughts and advice. If it happens again I will go directly to A&E (ER) and demand an ultrasound.... coz there's no denying my milk hasn't properly come in (but that could equally be poor latch and mastitis).

@zippylef: You're very welcome to come and visit, it would be lovely to see you. DH goes back to work in two weeks and I imagine I will really appreciate the company!

@Foodnerd81: I've cancelled those commitments I can. We're having dinner at MIL's today - she is so excited. Honestly, she's a pain in the ass, she keeps finding excuses to drop in. In fact, on Wednesday, MIL is throwing a kind of sip-and-see for her friends and family - that's non-negotiable, too!

Honestly, I can't tell you how much better I feel today. It's like coming out of a fog. It might be because I've had 7 hours sleep (woohoo!), it might be the effect of the super strong painkillers (I'm just sore now, not in agonising pain), it might be because the antibiotics are starting to take effect... but I can't help but feel (irrationally, probably) that whatever that HUGE clot was I passed yesterday, it had been making me really sick.

DH has done a sterling job managing the house, seeing to DD and looking after me. I feel like a wounded soldier, waking up in hospital to discover that my comrade carried me 100 miles to safety. him.