Clogged Duct :(

Well, I should have seen this coming...I mean, if you've been following my blog you probably could have seen it coming (maybe even wished it upon me haha.) Kendall's sleep has started causing me some problems with breastfeeding...namely a blocked duct. For some reason, I was in denial that this would happen to me, and I just kept thinking my milk would adapt to whatever Kendall's schedule determined...even though looking back that was kind of dumb.

It actually started on Wednesday, when Kendall starting sleeping for about 10.5-11 hours at night, and she has slept like that every night since (5 nights in a row.) Thursday morning I was fine, but I really wish I would have pumped on Thursday night before bed. I started feeling achy on Thursday night in the middle of the night, and I thought I might be getting the flu. Then I started feeling chilled and more achy on Friday, but my stomach was showing no signs of the flu. I realized that I was really "full" on Friday morning, but I didn't want to pump, because at the time, my reasoning was that I didn't want to trick my body into making more milk than necessary. By mid-day Friday I realized I was probably showing symptoms of a blocked milk duct, but I still couldn't really feel it. My right side just felt a little bruised. I took some Aleve, and took a bath that night and felt better. I continued nursing on the clogged side, and pumped on the good side. I also pumped before I went to bed, and I'm making an effort to only go 8 hours max between pumping and feeding. I felt better Saturday for most of the day between nursing and pumping, but still could feel the block Saturday night. On Sunday I really worked to clear the block, trying to massage it out, and use warm compresses, and different nursing positions. I think it mostly cleared, but I'm trying to be really careful not to neglect the other side so that I maintain my milk supply, and I don't get a clogged duct on that side!

Having a plugged duct has been semi-stressful, but we still enjoyed a nice weekend. On Friday, Travis took Avery out for a daddy-daughter date and they went to dinner and Build-a-Bear.

I stayed in with Kendall Friday night since I wasn't feeling well, and it's so amazing how my perspective has changed in just 3 years. I really enjoyed spending the evening with just Kendall, and I felt so relaxed! I know when Avery was a baby, it would have been more stressful to spend a Friday evening on my own with Avery and without Travis. I think it's because Kendall is such an easy baby, and also because my expectations are just so different (and more realistic) this time around. Also, I'm mostly taking care of a baby and toddler simultaneously, so now when it's just one or the other, it feels like a piece of cake!

On Saturday, we went to Travis's grandparents home for a visit, and it was actually the first time we've taken Kendall there. Because they watch her at our house once a week when Avery and I are at school, we hadn't made the trip over to their home with her. It was a nice visit, and it Travis's family was able to spend a few hours playing with Avery and holding and playing with Kendall.

Yesterday, Travis and I joined the new Planet Fitness that recently opened in Kent. I am excited to have a place to go with him when we want to go on "dates" instead of only really eating out. The gym seems really nice, and it'll be nice for the next few months during this cold weather.

Despite the breastfeeding issues I've been dealing with, I feel so lucky to have such an amazing husband and two wonderful daughters, and life with them couldn't be better!