Janie you helped me out heaps when Jimmy was a newborn and not sleeping. i remember speaking on the phone to you and coming away thinking that there was no way i was going to go to sleep school, just gonna keep plugging along taking it day by day. well i got through it.
use all your supports hun, and keep doing the great job you're doing.
Hun, I am so sorry that things are so hard again I know that no-one has tried harder to bf than you It is just fantastic, and a real credit to you, that your little man is still exclusively bm fed - well done hun. I hope you are able to maintain this, I know that is what you really want, but if it doesn't work out that way you will know that you did absolutely everything you could. What lucky boys your little men are hun - they have an amazing mumma
I'm so sorry things are hard for you again. I remember a while back promising to cheer on your boobies, and I promise you I have been (in a totally not-weird way)
But you know what, you have been and will remain to me an absolute breastfeeding STAR! You're such a great source of support and excellent advice and your determination and hard work are truly inspirational. So thank you.
Janie,
I found an article which suggested that hand expressing out the last bit after feeding or pumping helped with milk supply for Mum's of premies - it would be worth a try!
hope you're all OK
hugs
Kate
Thank you Kate, I'll give that a go! We're plugging along, trying not to think about things too much, and just DO, if that makes sense. I'm trying to source some Goat's Rue, which is supposed to be an excellent galactologue, in that it can help to promote glandular tissue growth. Sounds like it would be helpful in my specific situation, so I'm wanting to give it a go. Just have to lay my hands on it, very tricky in Aus, it's not popular here like it is in Europe and the States!
I'm so lucky that our EBM donors are STILL pumping for us, they are amazing. (Olive is one of them ). It has taken so much pressure off me, and D is thriving because of it. I am buying some formula this week, because I think having it here will actually stress me less. I've been getting worried that I am cutting it fine with the amount of milk I have in the fridge for comp feeds, so having the formula here will eliminate that stress. I don't want to give it to him,but am accepting that it's pretty likely that I will. But I have to look on the bright side.......D was due tomorrow - we have gotten through all this time with him being exclusively fed BM, which is AMAZING!!!!!!
ETA Kate, was that article in Breastfeeding Review?
I had so many issues breastfeeding Brendan, I ended up just expressing and bottle feeding. Was not what I wanted but at the same time it was good to have him on EBM and not formula. But it was inevitable that he end up on it eventually, I did manage just under 5 months before comp feeding started though. Brendan had a very weak suck, bottle feeding took nearly an hour let alone breastfeeding(attempting to) I also found things got much harder once we left the hospital. Breastfeeding was so easy there, I had an over-supply, it all fell apart when I was sent home with him and the stresses of gaining weight ect. It didn't take ery long for my supply to fall below his wants. I really feel for you, I've been there.
I guess my point in all that ramble is that you are not alone. Feeding a prem is difficult and low supply is a common part of that too.
Have you tried the breastfeeding cookies? They saved me a few time with Tristan (he is still BF at 9.5 months!)
BF'ing a prem is a long and difficult journey for some of us, and you are doing an awesome job and I think it is just beautiful that you have had the lovely support of friends to donate their BM for you
You wee little man must be still very tiny, and it was what I encountered with DD and she was just over 2kg when we brought her home. Her mouth was small she had limited energy and yes it was stressful and difficult. BF'ing such a little one takes a lot of work, it is exhausting and our feeds used to take 1 1/2 hours and we were supposed to be feeding 2 hourly
We found that using the nipple shield helped both of us, it made it easier for her to attach and stay on and wasn't as hard for her to work, as it takes a lot of effort to hold a boob The reality for us was that DD didn't feed without causing me pain until she was 5 1/2 months old, I really don't know how I persevered.... I was also on 60-80mg of Motilium a day, after we actually saw a really good GP/LC, it made a big difference to my supply
I completely understand the F as well, it broke my heart when we had to do F top ups, it was the last thing I wanted to do, but as DD lost weight and was already so far behind in her gains she didn't really have any to lose. But I found ways to look at it, without it being so painful and emotional. As a mother you are providing all of the wonderful nutrients, antibodies and loveliness of BM, the F is there to just to help but on that bit of extra weight gain that gets you over the line as such. I found it easier if I could get others to do the F top up other than me when I had the opportunity, that way I found I could separate myself from it at times and it made it easier.
The day I had to go out and buy formula I bawled my eyes out, I was absolutely shattered, I wandered the Baby section in the supermarket with tears rolling down my cheeks, trying to work out which one to buy. I felt horrible, I did feel like I had failed... But it took me a long time but I eventually looked at it not as failing, but doing what I had to do. It was that or FTT..... The following week when I went back for another weighin for DD, the MW said to me so your Formula feeding now, and I said, no, I am breastfeeding and topping up with formula. She was certain I would be FF, and I said well you don't know me very well. I was even more determined at that point to prove her wrong and eventually get back to Exclusively BFing.
What I eventually did was buy my own digital baby scales, I got them from ebay and were quite cheap But they are accurate and I check the callibration on them regularly. But what this allowed me to do was monitor DD's weight myself, without the added pressure of someone looking over my shoulder at each weigh in waiting for the gain or loss. I found that this took pressure off, and I tried different feeding methods and worked out what worked best for us, and I could see what I was doing helped her gain or didn't help. TBH a lot of my prem friends have them, and if we have been concerned then we do go back to our Paeds. That way you can weigh at the same time, after the 2 feed for the day or what ever suits you, that way you know that the weights are as consistent as possible, as during the day weight fluctuates and on our wee one's a pee can make a big difference
Here for you hun, and you can do it again, we will be here for the good days and the bad, take care xxoo
Just quickly.........my naturopath has got some Goat's Rue for me! And we're trying a supply line, once I get it set up over the next couple of days. A bit scary, but I'm happy to be trying new things, in the hope that they improve the situation! His attachment is pretty dodgy, so I'm really wanting to reduce the amount of bottles he's having.
Oh, and he was weighed today, gained 180g this week
Hey Janie,
That's great about the goat rue! Quick question - what is goats rue? And, if it is to promote glandular tissue growth can you take it while you're pregnant in anticipation of breastfeeding. Having had the same supply issues as you with DD am nervous about this one being the same and this is the first time I've heard of something new so thanks.
Janie
Just found your thread (my head must have been firmly under a rock!). You're doing great!
It won't help your supply, but if you need more milk I can get pumping, too (DD is nearly 6mo, not sure if that rules me out? I did pump for a newby when DS was 2yo, though ). Hopefully your supply responds to this new treatment.
I've had thrush 3 times with DD...just when I thought it didn't get worse than tongue tie attachment!! It feels silly coming and asking for help with BFing after the first time...but there are no guarantees against things going awry, huh? You're a gun, no matter what you have to end up doing, cos you've given it a red hot go
Sarah, I would highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of 'Making More Milk' written by Diana West and Lisa Marasco, who are both LCs in the states. And they both have personal experience with low supply. I heard Diana speak at a conference a couple of years ago, she was fantastic, and her presentation really highlighted a couple of issues for me. The book has higlighted even more, allthough they are not anything I can remedy. I hadn't realised that placental function played such a big role in setting our bodies up for BFing, and my placental function was $hit. Especially this time. And the steroids I was given can delay lactogenesis, which doesn't help when you're already having a premmie, and an emergency c/s! Of course, I would rather have the steroids than not, DS has never had any issues with his breathing, which I credit to excellent management IRT when I was given the steroids. Anyhow, the book is excellent, and can really help you to work out firstly if it IS low milk supply.........and the reason/s for low milk supply which is really important in working on how to remedy it. Of course, having a fantastic LC on board that you can consult with during your pg as well is a great idea. Happy to chat some more if you like
Just a bit of a vent from me..........it's looking increasingly likely that DS2 is getting refluxy (is that a word? LOL). Not the end of the world, but just another spanner in our works. And I feel sorry for the poor little guy . An appt with the paed is extremely unlikely, unless it becomes urgent, so we'll just wait and see.
Oh Janie, I feel sooo bad that I missed this thread If I'd known this was all happening I would have done things a bit differently over the last few days (you'll know what I mean ) so for that I am truly sorry. I hope I have not been an added burden.
Honestly, I don't feel I can give you any advice hun because you are the breastfeeding gu-ru and what you don't know, aint worth knowing
I am here to give you support though and after my experiences with D and having to comp feed a sick baby with formula for the first time ever, I now understand the heartache and feelings of failure that can go along with that. And it was you in part that helped me get through that, move on and get on with our breastfeeding journey. I hope will all my heart that is what lies ahead for you.
I think you're amazing. And if anyone can make this work, it's you.
I hope the new plan of attack brings results I'll be keeping an eye on you babe
Last edited by Willow; April 9th, 2010 at 10:18 AM.
Willow, please don't feel bad, I very much want to be included. I feel bad that I haven't been responding as I normally would! You're not a burden at all As for me being a guru, well I might take an interest in BFing stuff, but like everything, the more you learn, the more you realise you don't know! There is plenty that I don't know, but thanks for the compliment I very much remember your early days with D, and how hard that was for you so glad things have worked out so brilliantly for you guys
Not a great head space today, I HATE expressing, it's so depressing (sorry for the unintentional rhyme LOL, but it's the only word that truly fits!).
Aw chick. I'm sorry things are not going so well.
I too don't have any advice for you - you are forever teaching me new things! I just couldn't read this and not post my whole-hearted support for you.
I hate expressing too.
Thinking of you, matey. Hang in there.
Registered User
I know that no-one has tried harder to bf than you
and your determination and hard work are truly inspirational. So thank you.
). It has taken so much pressure off me, and D is thriving because of it. I am buying some formula this week, because I think having it here will actually stress me less. I've been getting worried that I am cutting it fine with the amount of milk I have in the fridge for comp feeds, so having the formula here will eliminate that stress. I don't want to give it to him,but am accepting that it's pretty likely that I will. But I have to look on the bright side.......D was due tomorrow - we have gotten through all this time with him being exclusively fed BM, which is AMAZING!!!!!!
The reality for us was that DD didn't feed without causing me pain until she was 5 1/2 months old, I really don't know how I persevered.... I was also on 60-80mg of Motilium a day, after we actually saw a really good GP/LC, it made a big difference to my supply
. An appt with the paed is extremely unlikely, unless it becomes urgent, so we'll just wait and see.
I'll be keeping an eye on you babe
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