If you are one of those people who think what I write gets too personal or that I give too much information, STOP READING NOW. Hopefully by saying that I can save myself a few complaints.
Thank you to all of you who have given lactation advice. Here's my scoop. Sam wasn't latching right and because of that, caused some serious damage. I was raw and bleeding and in tremendous pain. I saw a lactation consultant and she said I was so damaged that she wouldn't even help me with Samson's latch. She wanted me to heal first. So I have been solely pumping, every 2-3 hours to try to sustain my milk supply. The thing that makes me so sad is that when I was REALLY damaged (things are finally starting to heal now), I went long stretches without pumping or feeding because it was way too painful. Ever since then, my supply has gone way down and I'm having a hard time getting it back up. I cannot keep up with what Sam needs right now. :(
I'm taking Fenugreek capsules and drinking Mother's Milk tea three times a day, in addition to pumping every 2-3 hours. I'm doing everything my lactation consultant has suggested and I'm still not seeing good results. Right now we are having to give Samson formula a couple times a day and I hate that. If anyone has additional suggestions for me, I would be happy to hear them!
Once I am totally healed, I will head back to my lactation consultant to get help with Sam's latch but in the meantime I need to make sure I'm producing enough to make it worth it. This has been the most difficult thing I've dealt with since Samson was born. If it weren't for this, I seriously would have no complaints. I love this little boy and am enjoying him so much. I am trying to absorb everything about Samson when he is still so little because pretty soon he will be jabbering and running around like his crazy brother.
Thanks for the lactation encouragement, everyone!
9 comments:
Oh honey... I know that must be hard. I applaude you for trying. My whole husbands family thought I was nuts for doing it as none of them had. I'm so thankful for that time I got with Evan. He got thrush at about 5 months old and with 24 hrs. he and I were in horrible shape. I went to the Dr. and he said I would have to stop for x amount of weeks and feed Evan formula. I was so sore I just quit. I remember crying the whole way home because I had feed him that morning and didn't realize it would be the last time. I rented a pump from the lactation consultant in the beginning because Evan was wisked away. That pump was awesome... expensive but awesome. When I gave that back my supply went way down - thankfully Evan caught on quick and the pump wasn't needed. Hugs to you - well pats on the shoulder.
I'm sorry you feel you have to sensor your blog. I only find honest true life post are the ones that connect and help each other through.
Megan, you are such a great mom! Hopefully everything will be better soon, fingers crossed!
Sending our love your way!
Have a nice week!
there is a medication called domperidone, or something like that. google it and see what you think. I'm not sure how you get it. good luck!
Cathy
Megan I am so sorry you are going through this. I do not have any advise sorry I did not breast feed or use the pump. It was just to painful for me. But I really hope everything gets better. He is such a beautiful baby boy.
KAren
Try not to be discouraged. As many others have said, breastfeeding is very hard. Babies are much more efficient than the pumps, so once you are healed there is a great possibility that he can build up your supply again. If not, formula is a healthy choice too. I have 4 kids and I gave up breastfeeding my oldest at 10wks because I was so stressed with the whole thing. He has not been sick more than my others, who I breastfed for a year. Each day Sam gets breastmilk is a benefit...even if it is from a bottle. Hope this helps. He is so beautiful!
Just stick with it. I had a low supply at first, and had to exclusively pump. It took weeks of determination, gallons of mother's milk tea, and the exhausting 2-3 hour pumping schedule, but I got my supply up.
You can do it.
Hang in there friend!! This exact same thing happened with Gracie....I had the bleeding problem. Plus, both times she was in the hospital for surgery...my supply went WAY down. As soon as I started nursing again, it came back.
If you can't do it, please don't be discouraged! They make formula so well now. I know that it is tough, but just love on that little boy and it will be okay!!
Love you!!
Oh, Megan!!! He's absolutely beautiful!!! Congratulations! It's my first day back on the computer in like a month, and I had to check in to see what I'd missed....so happy to see your new little man and to hear that all went well! Give both of those sweet boys a big hug and kiss from us, and I hope that you are feeling well - breastfeeding issues included! I will be back soon to read all the journal entries that I've missed, but for now just know that reading your news and seeing that precious face made my day! :)
Lots of Love & Prayers,
Wendy (& Emma, too!)
OK, this may sound weird, but when I was in this situation I got a CD that had a rhythm that mimicked the rhythm of my pump. My choice was Shania Twain's Up CD. I would sit back and relax and put on the CD and start up the pump. Pretty soon I was like Pavlov's cow! I ended up with a freezer full of extra milk. The down side was the song would come on when I was in a store and whammo, I began to let down. It has been 7 years and that song still makes my boobies tingle! Plus, like everyone said, you will catch back up. You are doing awesome!!!
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