(Blog) World Breastfeeding GUEST POST by Trisha
10:31 AM Posted by Erin
I always knew I was going to breastfeed. I went to a breastfeeding class, learned all about it, and planned on it from the start. I really didn’t have that many problems with getting my daughter to latch on. It took a few tries to get comfortable doing it, but she was on and she was eating. I remember when the lactation consultant finally came in to see us (2 days AFTER she was born) to see if I needed any help. I told her no, I think we were doing just fine. She seemed skeptical since this was our first, and I must not know how to do it right. I showed her our charts of how long she ate and when, and she said OK and left.I remember stressing so much about those stupid charts. I had to try to remember when I started to feed her, and then remember to look at the clock when I stopped. AND remember to write it all down. After doing this for a week I decided I was done. She would eat when she was hungry and who cared if it was only for 10 minutes? Every kid is different right? Some are snackers and take 30 minutes or so to eat. Not my daughter. She got in there ate and was done.
I was sore when I first started, but I never cracked or bled. I used my Lansinoh every time and it seemed to work.
We continued to breastfeed, and I finally decided to try a pump probably when she was 5 month old or so. This was so I could run to the store by myself and not have to worry about missing one feeding. I probably should have started pumping sooner, but I was afraid if I pumped that she would get nipple confusion and not breastfeed anymore. Um yeah. She was fine. She had no problem taking a bottle occasionally, which was nice for me to get a small break.
I still continued to primarily breastfeed her.
Then came her 6 month visit. She had dropped from the 50th percentile in her weight to the 10th percentile. She had only gained a few oz since her 4 month visit. The doctor was a little concerned, but said she still had gained some, so we were fine. I started her on cereal at 4 months and baby food at 6 months, but I still breastfed her often.
Then came her 9 month visit. She actually lost 5 1/2 oz from her 6 month visit. This time the doctor was really concerned. He had me keep a chart of everything she ate. He also told me to go from feeding her 2 containers of baby food a day to 3. He also wanted me to add 36 oz of formula a day, and continue to breastfeed her. I was feeding that girl every half an hour, and most of it was spit back up. I never was able to get up to that full 36 oz of formula, but I did give her a couple of bottles a day.
We had to go in for weekly weigh ins, and she still was not gaining a lot. We thought maybe it was because she spit up a ton that she just was not keeping the nutrients down long enough. We tried acid reflux medicine and it didn’t do a thing. He suggested stopping breastfeeding all together and just doing formula.
I could not give it up. I was determined to continue to breastfeed until she was a year. I started pumping in between feedings to get more breast milk. This is when I realized that my supply had dwindled so much that I really didn’t have much left. I was lucky to be able to pump at least 1 oz total. Often it was only 1/2 an oz. When before I was able to pump much more. I knew I needed to do something, so I went to the health food store and got the mother milk droplet which tasted terrible! I pumped every half an hour trying to get my supply back. Nothing was working. After doing this for over a month, I decided that maybe I did need to give up breastfeeding and switch to formula and baby food exclusively. This was my child’s health we were talking about.
I cried and cried about being a failure. I could not produce enough milk to keep my daughter healthy. I had enough milk in the freezer to continue to give her at least one bottle until she was 11 months old. Then we were done. I never went through any physical pain weaning her, because my body had been done long before I was.
At her 12 month visit she had finally gained plenty of weight and actually weighed 17 lbs. Much better than the 13 lbs she had been at at her 9 month visit. We started her on whole milk when she turned 1 and did away with the formula. She has been healthy and back up to the 50-60th percentile for her weight ever since.
I realize now that my milk had probably be drying up for a while now, and that is part of what caused her weight loss. She was so tiny you could see all of her ribs. I felt so bad that it was my fault for this. I could always squeeze a little milk out after she ate so I figured I was good. At least she had started on solids at that point in time so she was getting some nutrition, just not enough.
I learned a lot from this, and I plan on trying to breastfeed my next baby. Hopefully I can take what I learned and not repeat my same mistakes twice.
Breastfeeding Tips for Success GUEST POST by Judy Masucci, Phd
9:37 AM Posted by Erin
Recently, I met Judy Masucci, Phd. mom and owner of A Mother's Boutique and writer of the blog Mommy News and Views, on Twitter @mommynews. I truly enjoyed reading her encouraging and informative updates during World Breastfeeding Week and appreciated the information she supplied on her blog. I was thrilled when she agreed to write a guest post for this weeks series and I hope you'll find her Tips for Breastfeeding Success as useful as I have.
I am a strong proponent of breast feeding. It is the best thing for the baby and for you. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast feeding for at least 1 year and longer if mutually desired by both the mother and child. The World Heath Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of two years. The truth is – any amount of breast feeding will be beneficial for you and your baby: two days, two months or two years. Stick with it as long as you can and know that you are doing the best thing for you and your baby. Breastfeeding mothers loose weight quicker, get protection against certain cancers and have a host of other medical benefits. Breastfed babies are healthier and studies have shown that there are increases in their IQ scores as well (for references please visit http://www.breastfeedingtips.net).
Breastfeeding is also easy – no need to think about packing bottles and no worries about staying out longer than planned – your food supply is always with you. It is especially easy for feedings during the middle of the night – you hardly even have to wake up to feed the baby! However, breastfeeding isn’t always easy to learn how to do, especially in the beginning. And if your baby has complications such as delivery via c-section or suctioning at birth, it can be even more difficult. Stick with it, it will work and you will enjoy it. It is an incredible bonding experience for both mother and baby.
My Tips for Breastfeeding Success are:
• Try to feed your baby as soon after birth as possible. Most babies are awake and alert for the first 1-2 hours after birth. After that they may be groggy for a few days (they went through a pretty traumatic ordeal coming into this world!!). The best time to start breastfeeding is during that alert time right after they are born. This will teach them how to suck and latch on properly. They may not do it again for a day or two – but getting them started right away is the best way for successful breast feeding.
• Take advice from as many different people as possible. Every baby is different and every person you talk with has different experience and different advice. Don’t be disappointed if you have difficulties at first. Something that someone tells you is bound to help.
• It takes at least 2 SOLID weeks to become good at breastfeeding. Stick with it – it’ll work.
• Ask to talk to a lactation consultant while you are still in the hospital. Depending on where you deliver, they typically only come to visit you on the day you are leaving, so tell them if you are having difficulties getting the baby to latch on and they will come sooner. Ask to talk to them several times if you need to.
• Talk to every nurse you get. They each have different advice. It is difficult to breastfeed at first, so get as much help as possible.
• Drink a LOT of water. Breastfeeding can be extremely dehydrating and you will need to make sure you have a lot to drink so that you don’t get weak and so that your milk comes in strong. Keep a full glass of water by you at all times.
• Get a bra or nursing tank that you can sleep in. You will need one because your breasts will get very heavy when your milk comes in – and they may leak!
• Buy some nursing clothing. There are a variety of manufacturers out there. It is the easiest way to breastfeed in public without having to "bare it all."
• Keep nighttime feedings all about business. When feeding your baby during the middle of the night – don’t talk to him or play with him. Make your feedings as “business-like” as possible and do it in the dark with just a night-light. I even recommend that you change the baby’s diaper with the lights off. You want your baby to learn right away that he should sleep at night and that he shouldn’t be waking up to play during the middle of the night. Feel free to play with him and talk to him during daytime feedings so that he quickly learns the difference.
• If you are planning to go back to work, you will need to build up a supply of breast milk for your baby to have after you are at work. It may seem impossible that you will ever be able to pump because you spend so much time breastfeeding. Read this article for tips on pumping and working.
• Have everything you need within arms reach while breastfeeding – phone, TV remote, computer, books you want to read, cell phone, water, pacifier for the baby, burp cloth, nursing pillow, something to put your feet up on, etc. That way you don’t have to disturb the baby to get up and get something.
• Don’t leave any questions unanswered. There aren’t any dumb questions when it comes to being a new mother. Call up your local La Leche League leader, a lactation consultant, a friend or any other breastfeeding resource. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – something very complicated may be simpler than you think. Ask away
• Direct your breastfeeding questions to a breastfeeding expert. Many moms ask their pediatricians when they have breastfeeding questions. While some pediatricians can be very helpful, many inadvertently give poor advice. Unless your pediatrician is also a certified lactation consultant, leave the baby questions for the pediatrician and the breastfeeding questions for the lactation consultant. Always get a second opinion if you get advice that you don’t think sounds reasonable or correct. And get a breastfeeding friendly-pediatrician too!
No matter how long you end up nursing, always keep in mind that you have given your baby an incredible gift. This article by Diane Wiessinger is a great article that summarizes all of the benefits you and your baby get from breastfeeding – whether it is two days or two years. Take a look!
Dr. Masucci is a mom to one beautiful boy and a business owner. She lives in Pennsylvania just north of Pittsburgh where she operates a maternity and breastfeeding boutique (A Mother’s Boutique) and writes about parenting and breastfeeding on her blog Mommy News and Views.
