The toughest part about last week was our first trip to the Dr. office to check on baby's weight and overall health conditions. The first thing my doctor said to me as I past her in the hallway was..."uh-oh, she is looking yellow." Then after weighing Charlotte, she informed me that she had lost too much weight (about 1lb) and I needed to start supplementing with formula. She said if her weight wasn't up in 2 days she would have her admitted into the hospital.
The words "You need to start supplementing with formula" was something I have been dreading through the whole pregnancy.
With my first child, I had wanted to nurse exclusively but found that right from the start, I wasn't producing enough milk to do so. In an attempt to increase my milk supply I would first nurse my baby, then rig-up this unpleasant SNS tubing system, followed by about 15-20min. of pumping. Each feeding would take 1-1/2 to 2 hours...the whole thing was incredibly exhausting and I'm sad to say nothing worked.
So, you can imagine my frustration when I began to re-live my last experience. Following the Dr. visit I spent the rest of the day with the "Baby Blues," (I had really hoped that my body would respond differently this time around and that I would be able to nurse like a normal mother). After meeting with a lactation counselor and spending A LOT of time weighing my options... I have decided to just deal with what I have been given and not stress over it too much. I am just going to nurse my baby whatever I can and supplement when needed.
Other then that, things have been going very well! Baby Charlotte still spends a lot of time sleeping, and Nolan (my 2 yr old) has been adapting much better then expected.
I am planning on posting a great DIY project this week (since my mom is now here to help out) hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Congratulations on the birth of little Charlotte! You are so smart to "not stress over it"! They will thrive because you are doing your best every day for yourself and them!
ReplyDeletecongrats! she's so sweet. And hang in there, I'm sure it's not the way you had planned, but it'll be great no matter what. Same thing happened to my sister in law, so you're not alone!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and your family. What a blessing, she is adorable! Tell your mom "HI" ;o)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet picture :) Its okay if you have to supplement with a little formula. I was SO set on nursing exclusively with my first baby as well and that didn't go as I had planned in the beginning. I used a little formula...got my milk supply up and then bye bye formula. It will all work out :)
ReplyDeleteI had to supplement too, so I know how frustrating it is. I hated not knowing if she was getting enough to eat, but there is nothing wrong with doing a little of both. Nursing was not a very good experience for me so I hope it gets better for you this time around. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I think you're taking the right approach - the most important thing is that you're both happy and healthy :)
ReplyDeleteWow you are super mom wanting to post a DIY so soon. You inspire me! Sorry about the supplementing. You know what though A. you'll suffer less compared to last time with pumping B. Your baby will get what she needs and C. as much as it's desirable to solely nurse, in the grand scheme of things it's not that bad. I'm glad you aren't going to worry about it. Congrats again. She's lovely!
ReplyDelete- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
Charlotte is beautiful! I know how you feel about the whole SNS thing. It's so hard not being able to give your baby enough. Have you tried any herbal supplements to help with your milk? I hope you are at peace with everything and feeling well. :)
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize because I went thru similar nursing struggles. I think you've got the right attitude about the whole thing! :) She's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've had a rough first week! I think your attitude to just do what you can is good though... no need to stress yourself! I hope you can relax some while your mom is there this week. And I'm glad to hear that Nolan seems to be adjusting well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling picture! And, man, can I relate to your breastfeeding struggles! I did the SNS and pumping regime too and NOTHING worked. So I pumped exclusively for 10 months. That was not fun. So I'm glad you have some peace with the process - you are doing FABULOUS!!
ReplyDeleteSO precious. Congrats Andrea!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte is beautiful, and I love her name! Hope everything gets better...I'm sure it will with your momma there to help:)
ReplyDeleteI had a similar situation with my twin girls....not enough milk!! How could that be??? I felt like a crazy person...trying to nurse or pumping with an industrial pump (I thought my chest was forever destoyed) 24/7...it was sooooo stressful!!! The lactation specialist made me feel soooo guilty!!!! Like it was my fault & I was just keeping my milk from them. Even suggested I try a milk bank....SERIOUSLY???? My pediatrician finally hugged me...told me to FEED YOUR BABIES...reminded me God made the people who created the formula. Guessswhat??? They survived and thrived!! Now they are almost 15 years old...and sheesh...you would never know the did not have ONLY breast milk:) Charlotte is beautiful...you are doing great...they just need love more than anything else and it looks like you have enough of that for everyone in your family:)
ReplyDeleteTake Care,
Kristin
I just found your blog and started following it! Congratulations on your new baby. As a new mom of an 11 months baby, I hear ya, when you feel fustrated about not producing enough milk. I experienced something similar with my daughter, who wasn't getting enough milk either. You see they don't explain to you that sometimes your milk production takes more time than other people to level off with your baby's demands. I had to supplement two weeks into her life, because I just could produce more. And of course, you feel guilty, or less of a mother, but it all worked out for my daughter, she's healthy now, and turns out that my body adjusted to her milk intake. I supplemented 40% of all the milk intake with formula up until she started solids at 6 months. Now she only takes two bottles of formula, morning and night, and still breastfeeds in the very early morning. The best thing you can do as a mom, is to give her what she needs, and if she needs formula right now, so be it. You are beautiful mom!
ReplyDeleteYour baby is beautiful. COngrats. This is the first time I'm at your blog. I found it from a pin.
ReplyDeleteMy DD didn't nurse at birth and didn't for 18 days. I pumped and eventually got her nursing but my supply never recovered. I'd nursed her older brother for 2 years without a supply issue so it was surprising. I supplemented with formula and then at 4 months due to a bunch of reasons none of them my supply we had to wean to formula exclusively. I cherish the nursing time we had but she's just as awesome as the child who didn't get formula, just as attached and just as loved.
Congratulations on your beatiful baby!!!! Do not worry about not producing enough milk, formula is great so that people can help you feeding the baby, the father also gets more involved, grandma can help as well...take your time to recover...sleep lots. I have 2 beatiful, healthy formula feeded babies! Try to enjoy the moment is not worth te tears!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog!