I love this one with the one eyebrow raised!
Lilly had a very interesting 2 months apt. She isn't really 2 months old yet, I planned just having a well child check at 6 weeks to find a Dr. here and get her weighed to make sure she is growing well. But she was given all of her vaccinations for 2 months because apparently you can do them anytime after 6 weeks, even 2 days after 6 weeks. So I figured we would just get them over with, and she handled them just fine.
The interesting, or should I say disappointing, part of the appointment came when they weighed her.
Lilly's height is 21.65" (48.84%)
but her weight is 8lb 12oz (18.77%)
This is a big drop % wise from when she was born. Even though she has gained weight, she hasn't gained enough because when she was born she was in something like the 60%'s and if she grows like she's supposed to, she should stay in the 60%'s, but instead dropped to 18%. So the Dr. weighed her again on a more accurate scale, had me nurse, and then weighed her again. Lilly only gained 2 oz. after nursing. I couldn't believe I only produced 2oz. at a time. Poor Lilly. But she is always so content and happy and sleeps so well I just assumed she was getting plenty to eat.
So now I have to nurse her every 2 hours during the day, but I can still let her sleep at night -thank goodness!- I'm supposed to do this for two weeks and then take her back in to get weighed again. Before I was nursing every 3-4 hours, depending on the time of day, she doesn't like to eat much in the morning, but nurses a little more frequently in the evening.
I've finished my second day of feeding her every 2 hours, and I'm not too sure how long I can do this. But Sam is encouraging me to keep going. It's just hard to only have an hour and a half in between feedings now, I feel like I can't get much done, and Lilly can't sleep as well during the day because I'm waking her up all the time to feed her again. But I'm going to try to keep it up for the two weeks and see if it makes a difference.
I've finished my second day of feeding her every 2 hours, and I'm not too sure how long I can do this. But Sam is encouraging me to keep going. It's just hard to only have an hour and a half in between feedings now, I feel like I can't get much done, and Lilly can't sleep as well during the day because I'm waking her up all the time to feed her again. But I'm going to try to keep it up for the two weeks and see if it makes a difference.
If any of you have any advice I would love to hear it. I'm getting kind of frustrated with this whole breastfeeding thing. I couldn't nurse Grace because my milk never came in...and now I'm thinking that's the same case here, only Lilly is a lot more content then Grace so I never knew it was a problem...Grace sure let me hear about it! So please, if you have any suggestions please share!
7 comments:
Oh man, Alicia!! I soooo feel for you!! I had to do the same with Seth because he lost 9oz from the time he was born 'til his 1 month appointment. The doctor made me pump every two hours and told me to pump no less than three ounces. He told me that pumping actually increases the amount of production, especially if you pump just a little more each time. I eventually had to stop nursing because pumping and feeding totally stinks. I would get finished feeding Seth, then have to start pumping again! I felt like all I did was feed Seth all day. He did gain wait though. So try pumping and remember to pump just a little more each time to increase your production. Totally stinks, but if nursing is really important to you, then it might help.
For me, there seemed like there was ALWAYS a hard time for breastfeeding. With Kyla, it was the first 6 weeks, and then sometime around 9 months. With Tayven it was around 4 months. Anyway, there is always something hard with breastfeeding but if you stick with it, you'll be so glad you did because then it gets easy again!
I know it feels like that's all you do is feed the baby and then feed again (trust me...I felt like that all the time for a long time....I felt very much like a cow, am I right?) but once this "phase" passes, it won't be as much and Lilly can start sleeping again and spreading out the feedings again.
That being said, don't feel like you HAVE to keep going if you don't think it's right for you or your family. It's totally up to you and completely a YOU choice. You know what's best!
Hope Lilly starts growing faster again. Keep us updated! Love ya!
Maybe try pumping? That can help with producing more milk and give someone else the blessing of feeding Lilly- a break might help ease the frustration. Also, Fenugreek and Blessed thistle are two herbs that help with milk supply. I've heard success stories with this stuff.
I am so sorry to hear you are having a hard time with this. I can really understand where you are coming from, I made it 6 weeks breastfeeding every two hours and pumping, I remember sitting in Addy's room just bawling, I couldn't handle it at all it felt like I was being punished, I was trying to do what I thought was best for her, but starving her and torturing myself ended up not really being the best thing for anyone. Sorry to say I tried fenugreek and two prescribed drugs during that time and there was NO improvement, but when we weighed Addy after having fed her I wasn't even getting her an ounce. I think the best thing for me, was to know that thankfully we live in a time when they have fabulous choices for feeding babies in the event the Mother can't. In my case I just couldn't feed her, I am going to try again with this baby when he comes, but honestly I am not going to torture myself like I did last time, a different mind set really. I admire your determination and I hope your supply increases, but if not I hope you know it is ok and things will still be good for you little one, maybe even better if she can put on a little weight. With that just a though if you don't have a quality breast pump, we went to a lactation consultant and they deemed it medically necessary for me to have a high grade pump, so our insurance picked up the entire tab so I could have a good pump to try and increase my supply, if you have insurance and need a quality pump to assist you in your journey I would certainly look into. Good luck, hang in there.
I dont really have any good advice for you because I am trying to figure out the whole nursing thing with Carsen now (we are having some trouble). But just dont give up and keep trying. I feel like giving up and giving him a bottle will be so much easier and he will gain his weight back much faster but I know that mommy milk is healthier for him to that is what is keeping me going (at lest for now) but just hang in there and I hope all works out for you!
So I was thinking about you all last night, and I just wanted to clear something up, I really wanted to breastfeed my child, but some women don't produce breastmilk, That may or may not be the case with you , looking back I think I just wish somoeone would have told me that I wasn't giving up, or being a poor mother, by choosing to do something else, if your supply hasn't increased after you have done all that you can, and only you know what that limit is, I really hope you know you are still a good Mom, even a Great one in my Mind knowing what you are going through to try and do what is best for your little one. I know that in the ideal world bestfeeding exclusively is best, and hopefully you will be able to do that with an increased supply. I am just noting if it doesn't happen that way you have options and good ones at that. Like, if you aren't increasing your supply but can keep that two ounces it could be a great "vitamin" if you will to a bottle, you can do both. We did for awhile breastfeed first then a bottle.(I would only do this after you are done trying to increase your supply if it doesn't increase enough for healthy weight gain) She will get some benefits from whatever milk you can give her. I really do hope things work out and that you are doing good, I am sure this is really hard, even harder with the move, your mom now being so far away and everything changing. Good luck. We'll keep you both in our prayers!
Hey cuz, so I never got a chance to respond to this post like I wanted to, Hope its not to late. But when I had Wrangler my milk supply didnt come in fast enough, so my mom told me to eat oatmeal around the clock. I have to admit at first I thought she was kind of crazy, but after a good long talk with the lactation consultant she reassured me that it was actually true that oatmeal helps bring in the milk. I know it sounds weird but it worked for her and worked for me. So everytime you feed the baby you eat a bowl of oatmeal. I did this for two weeks and it seemed to work. The only negative is that I dont think I will want another bowl of oatmeal until I have another baby!!! :) Either way its pretty cheap! And like the other comments, no matter what know that you are a great MOM!!!
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