I met with my
lactation consultant 3 times a week for 4 more weeks. I started supplementing
with 2 oz. of formula after every feeding and pumping after every feeding. I
started taking 3 Fenugreek pills 3 times a day and took a prescription that was supposed
to increase supply. After a month SJP was finally at her birth weight!! But still…
6 weeks later I was up to an oz. total. I was still devastated, they tell you
it will be so easy, your body makes what baby needs, but it’s not always true. I was still meeting with my lactation coach
once a week and meeting with a breast feeding support group. The women in my
group were amazing. Most have issues with over supply (I was jealous) some have
problems with baby not taking a bottle when they go back to work and some the
baby just won’t take the boob.
So here I am 10 weeks after the amazing birth of SJP and I still
don’t make enough breast milk to feed her just off of me. Has it gone up? Yes…but
with A LOT of work. I take 2 oz. of Goats Rue 3 times per day, 3 pills of
Fenugreek 3 times per day and Reglan for 5 days once a month. I still feed her
from me (I finally make around 1 ½ to 2 oz. on both sides combined) then I give
her 2 oz. of formula (or the little bit of milk I manage to pump a day (around3
½ oz./day) and I pump. This is EVERY feeding, every 2-3 hours during the day. I
will never get to freeze breast milk, or save up for “date nights” there are
weeks we still struggle with weight, and I cry when I am told she only gained 2
oz. or that that week she gained 12 oz. Could
I give up and just feed her formula? Yes. But I refuse to give up.
I love that I get to feed SJP, then the Hubs gets to feed
her as well. We both get that bonding time with her. We are lucky that she has
taken both the breast and the bottle from 2 weeks. It is nice that if I am in a
hurry or somewhere where I can’t breast feed I can give a bottle and not feel
bad.
So when you ask if I breast feed and I say “yes, but that I have
to supplement”. Don’t give me a hard time, don’t tell me to quit, don’t tell me
to drink more water, don’t tell me to eat more calories, don’t tell me I am too
timid, don’t tell me that I am not trying hard enough! I do more for these
little girls eating then people who only breastfeed and people who exclusively pump
and people who only feed formula COMBINED!
Keep in mind that breastfeeding does not come naturally for
everybody. If you have issues get with a lactation consultant or your doctor.
If you think that there is something wrong, ask!
UPDATE: 2/10/14
SJP is currently 5 1/2 months old, and I must admit...it never got easier. I still breastfeed, formula feed and pump. Sadly my supply has gotten worse over the last few weeks. SJP has decided that rice cereal, prunes and the bottle are less work than breast feeding and is slowly weaning herself. I am trying to make it to just past 6 months with her, but I think this May be our last week.
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