Solid food

The last couple of days, Lola's dropped about an ounce (each) from two of her afternoon feedings. So, this evening, we skipped one of her supplemental feedings (as in, didn't use the SNS.) I nursed her, and then she fed herself some peas and carrots and peaches, and then I nursed her again. I have been trying not to push solid foods, because I don't want to risk hurting my supply at all, but she's an eager eater. I wasn't planning on doing baby-led weaning, as in letting her feed herself solid foods right from the start, but she prefers it. She certainly is a decisive baby! I'm just sitting back, and letting her take the reigns.

A story of Blessings, a Baby and Breasts (link)

When I was pregnant, one of the biggest themes present in my crazy, extremely vivid pregnancy-style dreams was that of breastfeeding.  My baby, in my dreams, was faceless, but beautiful.  I didn’t know if my baby was a boy or girl, because we had decided not to find out, let nature run it’s course, and find out when I gave birth to our child.  In my dreams, it was the same, I didn’t know if it was a boy or if it was a girl, and sometimes, it was a boy, and sometimes, it was a girl.  But for the most part, when I would dream about my baby, my baby was simply that – a baby.  But MY baby, a beautiful tiny little being, full of life, love, and full of dreams.

Read the rest of this mama's story here.

If you have IGT, also known as hypoplastic breasts, and you'd like to share your story, please e-mail me at nyssaretter@gmail.com with the subject line "IGT moms."

I'm so glad I'm still nursing.

I'm so glad we didn't give up. I'm so glad she refused bottles. I'm so glad we can use the SNS and she's satisfied AT the breast.
I love the way she nuzzles me when she wants to nurse. I love when she nurses for reasons other than hunger, like when she latches on for 30 seconds or so between meals, and then gives me a huge smile as if to say, "Thanks for the snack!" I love snuggling and nursing her down for a nap. I could spend all day dozing and cuddling with her.
All the struggles, all the heart-ache... totally worth the nursing relationship we have now.

Lactation... failure? (An explanation for new readers.)

If you're reading this blog, chances are good that you've hit a few bumps in the road on your breast feeding journey. Maybe you have IGT, maybe your baby doesn't latch well, maybe you've been dealing with mastitis or thrush, maybe you were separated from your baby or had a sick or premature  baby, maybe you're re-lactating, maybe all of the above. Maybe you found this blog on your own, maybe someone referred you to it. Whatever the reason, you're here now. 


It's been brought to my attention that a hormonal, frustrated mom may be further discouraged to be referred to a blog with the words "failure" and "lactation" in the name. So, I wanted to write a post that explains exactly WHY I use the term "lactation failure."


In the 6+ years I've been searching for an answer for my chronic low milk supply, I'd heard the term more than once. During my current struggle to establish a milk supply, I heard it again here.

So, why call myself a Lactation Failure?

First, it expressed very accurately how I was feeling at the moment. The first few weeks were a rough time. I felt so much guilt and shame.

Second, "lactation failure" literally means "inability to produce adequate milk volume" which is exactly my problem.

Thirdly, it poked a little fun at an absolutely devastating medical term for a heartbreaking condition (if I couldn't laugh, I'd cry.)

Although there are times when I still get discouraged, for the most part, I am at peace.

Most moms who experience breastfeeding problems can resolve them with time and proper support. I am not one of those moms.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up. Far from it.

(My blog was never actually intended to encourage other moms dealing with breastfeeding problems, just to document my experience and possibly help other moms with low milk supply. But if you get encouraged to continue despite whatever obstacles may be in your way, even better!)

Six Months!

Experimenting with other nursing positions, lol.

"Do you mind?"

"MY tube."

We've made it six months! (.)(.) <---Silver boobs

A fellow IGT mom posted this quote in our IGT support group and I love it:

‎"Why is it so hard to believe that there really are women with low milk production? There are diabetics for whom the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin; there are hemophiliacs whose blood doesn't make enough clotting factor; there are people whose eyes don't make enough tears or whose ovaries don't make enough estrogen. Why do we think the breast is the one body part that always works perfectly?" -Peggy Robin

Guest Post: Breastfeeding Broke My Heart (link)

"Or, rather, the inability to truly breastfeed broke my heart. I wasn’t sure I’d be ready to tell my story for quite some time. I felt inspired, compelled to share it now, don’t know why…but here it is…
“You have insufficient glandular tissue.”  These words were spoken to me by my lactation consultant after what seemed like hours as she poked and prodded my breasts. I was three weeks in to being a new mommy and I was an emotional wreck.  Breastfeeding was going horribly…I was hardly producing any milk and despite all my attempts, I just couldn’t figure out why."

Click here for the rest of the story.
Read it, and weep.


If you have IGT, also known as hypoplastic breasts, and you'd like to share your story, please e-mail me at nyssaretter@gmail.com with the subject line "IGT moms."

This post has been moved to http://diaryofalactationfailure.blogspot.com/2011/12/many-faces-well-not-faces-of-igt.html

Lola continues to grow and thrive with the help of our SNS.

Right now, she's fighting her first cold. Thankfully, this hasn't presented any problems with nursing, but she breathes best, I've found, if I nurse her lying down. Which is totally no prob, because that's my favorite way to nurse her.