I haven't written much lately, because not much is going on.
We're still using the SNS, and she takes about the same amount. We're still dealing with the occasional biting incident, but, she's not teething at the moment, so it's not too often.
We dealt with a cascade of illness at my house the last week, with first my son, then my older daughter, then my younger daughter, then me getting a fever for 2 days each.
It was NOT fun nursing while sick, it took so much out of me. And the night I felt the worst, Lola woke me up twice an hour to nurse. But, I am better now.
i have spent the entire evening reading your blog with tears for each setback and joy for each step forward. At two weeks we found out my little guy had a shallow latch and was still losing weight. we corrected the latch and started supplementing. for the past 4 weeks my heart breaks with each bottle but after reading all of this it lets me know that we are on a good path with nursing before and between supplementing and that there is hope! the past two nights he has had at least one nursing a night that is just breast and is fine with just 1oz supplement after our morning nursing as opposed to his normal 2oz. your bronze boobie post was the most spirit lifting for me though as i hadnt considered the boobie awards could be for struggling supplementing mamas too, when really, why shouldnt they?! We have gone through more than any EBF mama has with herbs and supplementing and tears and pumping and worry. Hell- our three months should be DIAMOND!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for documenting your journey. It has made me feel like less of a failure to read your story and the links you have posted and to know that low supply is a real thing and I shouldnt be ashamed of how things are when Im going above and beyond what any normal person would have done by now if confronted with the issue. Hell- I even WILLINGLY took a medication (Reglan) that could cause severe depression when I have a huge history of depression in my family and myself have PTSD, just because there was a CHANCE that it MIGHT help my supply.
I bow to your four months and cannot wait until we hit that mark too! I can only HOPE to be as close to EBF as you are at this point. (I know its not a good indicator but when I pump I get maybe 1/10 of an ounce out of both breasts and have to pump several times over 3-4 hours to even get one ounce.)
I honestly cannot thank you enough for sharing your journey. You really have no idea how much better your words have made me feel! 3 days shy of 6 weeks of nursing, no end anywhere in sight!
Brandy
Comments like this are why I've been keeping this blog. "There's no such thing as a failure who keeps trying," to quote Blues Traveler.
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me cry. :)
Have you thought of using an SNS? It can be tricky in the beginning, and I still want to throw it against the wall sometimes, but it really does help, and I know she's stimulating my breasts with every feeding. They aren't cheap (for the long-term kind) but you could try a starter SNS to try first (MUCH cheaper!) and see if it's for you. It's done wonders for my self-esteem to have every feeding at the breast, I feel like we have a much more normal nursing relationship. Thank you for your comment! It made my day!
Ive thought of it but I dont have the money to at the moment. With me staying at home and hubbs working a p/t job its pretty tight. things are looking up for us though. We have had some nights where he is just fine with me and no bottle and several stretches during the day where he just needs me. and with roughly 10-14 oz of formula he is still gaining an ounce a day and staying in the 25% for everything so he must be getting at least 10-15oz from me depending on the day!
ReplyDeleteOnce we get the cash to buy a sns though, we are def going to get one!
I totally understand not having money. I wish I had some extra, I'd send one to you. (I have 2 right now. One that I use out of the house, and one I use at home.)
ReplyDeleteYou can order one for much cheaper if you order tubing and the "extra" sns container from the nuture center (http://www.nurturecenter.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=86) It'll be about $20 plus shipping as opposed to almost $60. That's what I'm going to do when I order a spare. :)
I went to the big latch on at a local place yesterday and one of the women I met is the aunt of one of my hubbys best friends, and she has two that she said she could GIVE me once she found them! They were never used and given to her with her second when she had jaundice but she knew she didnt need it. I cant wait to get it. It breaks my heart when he screams for a bottle beacuse hes hungry and nothing is coming out.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! It can be a pain in the butt, but it gets easier. Stick with it if you can!
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