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Epiphany
I have realized that there is no way I will ever be able to respond to comments ever again. Well, until the kid goes to school or something. So here is an all purpose lame reply: Thank you to everyone who has been super supportive. Thank you for all of your suggestions, kind words, and offers. To anyone who offered d0mperid0ne, I will take it. I am taking it now. I hope it works. To anyone who offered donor milk, we would like to talk about it. We are interested. To everyone who is nice, we love you!
A friend called me the other night and had tons of helpful suggestions for boosting milk supply and working around things. She is a serious wealth of knowledge! But out of all of the actual, hands-on suggestions she provided, the most helpful thing she did was ask what my priorities were. It was just a simple little question but it made all the difference, more than any pumping or feeding tip.
Our priorities: 1) for the baby to grow and be healthy and gain weight, 2) to have a nursing relationship with the baby, 3) to boost my milk supply.
It was sobering to see milk supply at the bottom of the list. Most of the specialists we have spoken to have boosting my supply as their number one. They are full of suggestions for dietary changes, pumping schedules, supplemental ideas, etc. But you know? All of those suggestions, while incredibly helpful and good, were causing us stress and taking us away from enjoying our baby.
We've had a baby for almost two weeks and we were too stressed out, harried, and guilty to enjoy her. That's a crime! So... we bought a bunch of bottles that are supposed to mimic breastfeeding (they're pretty good, actually!), we bought more formula, we started feeding the baby in bottles after every nursing attempt, and I put the pump away for a couple of days so we could sleep and chill out. And you know what? We are having fun with our kid! We get to hold her without trying to shove tubes in her mouth! We get to look at her when she is sleeping and not think about waking her up to stick more food in her mouth! I get to sleep without trying to find time to pump between feedings! IT IS AWESOME.
Thank you, Summer.
Oh, and yesterday at her weight check, our kid was an ounce away from birth weight. Which means she's probably at birth weight today. She gained 13 ounces in 9 days. FORMULA BABY FTW!!!
A friend called me the other night and had tons of helpful suggestions for boosting milk supply and working around things. She is a serious wealth of knowledge! But out of all of the actual, hands-on suggestions she provided, the most helpful thing she did was ask what my priorities were. It was just a simple little question but it made all the difference, more than any pumping or feeding tip.
Our priorities: 1) for the baby to grow and be healthy and gain weight, 2) to have a nursing relationship with the baby, 3) to boost my milk supply.
It was sobering to see milk supply at the bottom of the list. Most of the specialists we have spoken to have boosting my supply as their number one. They are full of suggestions for dietary changes, pumping schedules, supplemental ideas, etc. But you know? All of those suggestions, while incredibly helpful and good, were causing us stress and taking us away from enjoying our baby.
We've had a baby for almost two weeks and we were too stressed out, harried, and guilty to enjoy her. That's a crime! So... we bought a bunch of bottles that are supposed to mimic breastfeeding (they're pretty good, actually!), we bought more formula, we started feeding the baby in bottles after every nursing attempt, and I put the pump away for a couple of days so we could sleep and chill out. And you know what? We are having fun with our kid! We get to hold her without trying to shove tubes in her mouth! We get to look at her when she is sleeping and not think about waking her up to stick more food in her mouth! I get to sleep without trying to find time to pump between feedings! IT IS AWESOME.
Thank you, Summer.
Oh, and yesterday at her weight check, our kid was an ounce away from birth weight. Which means she's probably at birth weight today. She gained 13 ounces in 9 days. FORMULA BABY FTW!!!
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Every time I read a post I get all teary with happiness that you finally have your baby right there in front of you. I know you've been struggling, but cherish the time you have because they grow so fast (I know this because every time I see Seth, I am amazed).
I love you guys! Keep on keeping on!
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Go, mommies!
GO, SUMMER!
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(Anonymous) 2007-07-14 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)-Lynn
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That's why I said that if I had to be someone who exclusively pumps, I just can't do it. I don't pump fast enough that I'd have time left over for my kids, and they're only little once. What's more important, feeding a baby breastmilk or 3 kids having their mom pay attention to them and be a good mom, and everyone having fond memories. I always thought I was a boob nazi but maybe as you get more kids you start to figure out what the real priorities are.
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Ahhh those were the days. I'm not nervous about labor at all, I'm more nervous about afterwards. I'm paranoid about having another baby like Greg. I've heard some people on LJ say "Oh I had a nice, gentle home birth, and I attribute that to my baby nursing nicely and sleeping well, etc". I'm like HA HA, i had a not-so-gentle hospital birth and had a great baby, and then a gentle home birth and a baby with problems nursing AND sleeping. So, yeah right. ;-)
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Congratulations.
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this time will go by so fast, you won't even believe it.
we need more pictures!!
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YAY! :)
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If you get a sec, could you let me know what kind of bottles you got that mimic breastfeeding? :-)
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Can we get some more pictures soon? Pretty please?
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now post some pictures, dammit.
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Now - question! (If you do get a chance to answer comments, that is. ;) )
Do you scrapbook?
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So the answer is no... but sometimes yes. :) Why?
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love to you.
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Maybe if a friend asks what she can do for you, you can give them that recipe and say "Make these!" :-)
Enjoy this time!
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Anyway, obviously I have no kids of my own, so this is just my opinion based on what I've observed from my two nieces, but I can assure you that both girls are as healthy as anybody could wish. :)
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But one of the good things about supplementing is that Jen gets to be more involved in feeding times, too. I may have the boobs, but Jen can have the bottle no problem!
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*hug*
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