Hi Heavenly
When I was discharged from hospital my iron levels were at 75 (pre delivery they were 86) which is very low and classified as Microcytic anemia. I'm on supplements for at least the next 4 months to try and get my levels back to normal range ie: over 100. When you are pregnant and/or b/fing your body uses up a lot of iron to grow the baby and to then produce milk. As my iron levels are so low, once my body uses up the iron stores I need to function everyday there is not much left to help with my milk production, hence the low amount of milk expressed. I was told that until my iron levels increase, my milk won't come in fully and this could take at least 6-8 weeks. The only problem with waiting that long is that Tara is now so used to having a bottle that even if I try to put her on the breast she flat out refuses as there is just not enough supply to satisfy her.
I am using the philosophy that she is thriving on the bottle and even if she only gets 1 expressed milk feed per day then that is better than nothing at all and I'll keep perservering with the expressing until it becomes evident that there is no more to give her. Something is better than nothing at all...
. Tara decided to have a big chuck up all over her bassinet this morning.... AHHH, so a full load of unplanned washing at 6.30am and no bed for her to sleep in, so she had to sleep with daddy in the big bed. Or should I say Tara slept in the big bed and daddy stayed awake watching and making sure she didn't get tangled in the bedclothes.
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Its hard enough as it is - without people telling you your are doing wrong!! Sorry for the rant
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