January 2016 Moms
MissMheMhe
member
And the "Mother of the Year" award goes to...
MissMheMhe
member
Not me! Last week we took DS to his 2 month appt and his weight was low. He was only up .5 oz from his weight check 2 weeks prior! So we had to start supplementing. I've been doing weighted feeds every feeding to see how much breastmilk he is getting from me. Turns out, barely 1 oz at most feedings! Early morning and mid afternoon were better at 3-4 oz. Talk about a terrible feeling! I've basically been starving my child. He was getting just enough to maintain, not gain weight. I felt so disgusted with myself!
Well, we've been supplementing with pumped milk and a little formula because I can't produce enough for him every feeding. This kid was 9lbs 6.5oz last Wednesday. This morning he was 10lbs 5oz!!! Almost 1 pound in 5 days!! I'm working so hard to keep my supply up (fenugreek, flaxseed oil, oatmeal, mothers milk tea, gatorade, coconut water, coconut oil and tons of plain old H2O.) The only thing I haven't tried yet is a malt beverage. I'm determined to give my boy something from my body. Studies show as little as 50ml of breastmilk a day is enough to provide antibodies and all the goodness of liquid gold. We still nurse through the night and first thing in the morning, so he is getting more than that. I feel so much better now knowing he is growing and getting all the nourishment he needs!
Well, we've been supplementing with pumped milk and a little formula because I can't produce enough for him every feeding. This kid was 9lbs 6.5oz last Wednesday. This morning he was 10lbs 5oz!!! Almost 1 pound in 5 days!! I'm working so hard to keep my supply up (fenugreek, flaxseed oil, oatmeal, mothers milk tea, gatorade, coconut water, coconut oil and tons of plain old H2O.) The only thing I haven't tried yet is a malt beverage. I'm determined to give my boy something from my body. Studies show as little as 50ml of breastmilk a day is enough to provide antibodies and all the goodness of liquid gold. We still nurse through the night and first thing in the morning, so he is getting more than that. I feel so much better now knowing he is growing and getting all the nourishment he needs!
Married DH 11/15/08
Formerly MissMheMhe
Re: And the "Mother of the Year" award goes to...
I can feel for you. Thanks to an undiagnosed tongue tie, and the "rule" that you introduce nothing but breast the for the first month, my daughter lost 1.5 pounds in the first 4 days at home. We knew she wasn't getting enough--she would scream and cry for hours until she was exhausted. The LC kept pushing us to keep trying breast only. I wanted to go out and buy a pump and bottle feed (I knew I was producing,) but the LC discouraged that. Turns out, I had a bad LC. My doctor told me exactly to do that. Pump. Bottle feed. We're at 8 weeks now, and my supply just never came in (I could get .5 oz after pumping for an hour. That's just too stressful.)
I've gotten over the guilt of formula feeding. LO and I have bonded. She's getting what she needs. It's OK.
Trust your instincts. What is right for you IS right for you.
The pediatrician, LC, and I eventually figured out that she was gobbling up the foremilk and leaving behind the hindmilk. So not only was she leaving behind fat and calories, but it then caused my supply to drop drastically. So my baby was hungry and even though she was eating constantly she never got enough to satiate her. I felt AWFUL and guilty, like I wasn't even meeting my baby's most needs. I can completely understand how crappy it feels to find out your baby isn't gaining weight like he's supposed to!
I started to pump after every feeding and supplement with formula. I also drink Mother's Milk tea. Eventually my supply did build back up and I haven't had to supplement in 3 weeks now. I actually just had her two month check up and she's up to 10 lb 7oz! So keep doing what you're doing and hopefully you can build up your supply. If not, then however your baby gets his nourishment is okay! What matters at the end of the day is that he's getting the nourishment be needs and that he knows he's loved and cared for, all of which you're doing. I'm glad you're feeling better about it!
You should be proud you're doing what you can, and don't feel bad, there's no way you could have known. There's nothing wrong with formula either! Have you tried making lactation cookies? I love them, and find them so easy to grab as a night snack after a feed.
In other mother-of-the-year news, my baby was extremely fussy the other day and barely slept all morning and afternoon. During this time, I drank over a liter of an off brand soda I thought was fruit punch flavor. I didn't even think to check for caffeine until later that night. Yeah turns out it was a knock of for mountain dew red, and had other energy compounds in it as well as a crap ton of caffeine. I know some babies are fine with it, but mine was obviously not! Ladies and gentlemen, your mother of the year.
TTC off and on 04/14
BFP 06/13/14 MC 06/15/14
BFP 12/14/14
1st Appt 01/13/2015
M/C 1/19/15 D&C 1/20/15
BFP 5/13/15
1st Appt 06/10/2015 Peanut has HB 150
A/S 09/02/15 It's a Girl!! Low placenta, but everything else great!
DS#1 born 02/19/2013
That being said, I think many Mothers will struggle and mentally beat themselves up over perceived issues. Whether it is V or C birth, BF or FF, staying home or daycare; I have a true gut feeling that everyone on here is doing the right thing. Let's keep up the women's intuition and positivity! We are slaying Motherhood no matter what.
TTC off and on 04/14
BFP 06/13/14 MC 06/15/14
BFP 12/14/14
1st Appt 01/13/2015
M/C 1/19/15 D&C 1/20/15
BFP 5/13/15
1st Appt 06/10/2015 Peanut has HB 150
A/S 09/02/15 It's a Girl!! Low placenta, but everything else great!