Breastfeeding

I know breastfeeding is a sensitive topic for a lot of people.  Now, I don't want to debate where and where NOT to do it and how much to or how much NOT to cover, but I would like to talk about struggles or successes people have had.  I am the mother of 3.5 kiddos and attempted to nurse the full three, and was not very successful at any of them.

With the first one, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was young and not very informed about the process (and I say process, because it has been one for me).  The baby would wake up at night and cry.  Sometimes I would wake up and sometimes my husband would wake up and take care of her.  When I woke up, I would nurse her, when he would wake up, he would feed her formula from a bottle.  Now, there's nothing wrong with being formula/bottle fed.  Don't get me wrong, but I was loosing valuable breast milk by allowing him to do this.  Too bad I didn't realize this until after my milk dried up less than six weeks into being a new mother.

For the second, I was very intent on ONLY breastfeeding.  I told him he wasn't allowed to feed her unless it is pumped milk and there was only a little of that.  If he woke up and I did not, he MUST awaken the "monster" of me.  It didn't matter how tired he thought I was or how rough my day had been, he was to awaken the "beast".  I had meetings with the lactation consultant once a week for three weeks.  We took the baby to doctors appointments every other day for weight checks, but I was starving her.  Still not successful, my milk dried up within five weeks after she was born.

Now, my last born almost five months ago and I am still nursing her at night.  It took A LOT of work to get where we are, and it's not too far.  I pump once a day (and get only about two ounces from each side) and she nurses two or three times through the night.  That's it.  Nothing more.  Again, for the first two weeks, we were in for weight checks every other day and I was starving her.  We had to start supplementing at day 10.

This time around, I went to lactation consultants every three days for four visits, the doctor every other day for two weeks, took Fenugreek like it was Tic-Tacs, took Reglan for a month, drank up a lake or two, and drank so much root beer I should have bought stock and the bartenders thought I was nuts (I really like 1919 on tap).  I didn't go to the dark beer, because I don't like it and by the time I was desperate enough to consider it, I was told I was starving my child.  So, we are where we are now.

I am thinking about trying to gain more milk, now that I am staying at home.  I think I know where to start, but I am not going to try more drugs.  I have yet to take any allergy medicine, as to not dry up anything milk glands on accident...and my nose is paying for it.

So...what are your breastfeeding stories?  What are some of the wives' tales you've heard of?  Did you or anyone you know try them?  Did they work?

Day 7 of My 30 Day Challenge

Day 7: What is your dream job, and why?

When I was younger, I never thought this is what my dream job would be.  I didn’t want kids, I liked to work, typical youngster in their late teens/early twenties…now, though, I have my dream job.  I have wanted to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom for five years, and this May, we made it happen.  My friends and family have all said they can tell how much happier I am, being home with the girls.  It is probably just as stressful as my last full-time job out of the house, but so much more rewarding.

Day 6 of My 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

This one is easy; placing my daughter for adoption.  I knew and know that it was the right decision for me, but it was still had on the day her parents took her home and I went home to nothing but engorged boobs and a few boxes of Kleenex.

Day 5 of My 30 Day Challenge

Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you happiest right now?

My kids, my kids, my kids, my kids and my kids…oh wait; I can’t use them five times?

1)  My family.  All of them, extended included (on my side).  I am so happy with the way my family interacts now.  It saddens me to have my brother so far away, but I am glad that he has turned a corner and wants to be a part of our family again.  He was “lost” for a few years, but has since realized that family is an important part of life.  We have realized that as much as we would prefer for him to be closer, it’s better to have a real connection than to have him “touchable”.

2)  Sleep.  I really enjoy my sleep.  All through my life, I have been a napper.  When I can, I nap.  I enjoy curling up with my body pillows, snuggling with my kids or husband and hunkering down, under my soft blanket. 

3)  White Collar, the television show.  I love this show.  It is the only one that I make my kids go somewhere else while I watch it.  Usually, my husband does something in their room with them, or they watch “Lem” a lot, but they are not allowed to talk while Mommy is watching Matt Bomer!

4)  When the Middle goes on the toilet.  Yep, it’s potty training time at my house!  The Middle was doing pretty well, until the Little one came.  Understandably, the setback occurred.  I was prepared for it, but it still bites the big one.  She is getting better over the last few days.  If she keeps this up, she’ll be potty trained by the end of the month!

5)  Not working at a full-time job.  I really like staying at home with the girls.  How did I go so long working?  I know; I trusted my husband to while I worked out of the home.  Don’t get me wrong, he did very well, but he cannot compare to me.  Not that I am doing a better job, but we do a lot more than they did before.   I think we are going to start weekly trips to the zoo before the Big one starts Kindergarten.  The littler two and I may continue while the big one is at school, but shhhhhh, don’t tell her!