Edison isn't in any immediate danger but he is gaining less than the daily recommended amount of weight. In the doctors office Thursday afternoon it became clear that if I don't change something soon then Edison won't develop or grow properly. We suspect it's my milk supply but I'm sure there's probably other factors too. So the doc put me on a feed & pump, feed & pump routine. And made it clear that if I go out and about out of the house all day and ignore the routine then I'm not putting my breastfeeding commitment first. If I don't put it first then my beautiful boy has no chance of getting what he needs to grow. So of course I'm doing what I need to do and will continue to do it with a smile on my face.
When Edison was born he was in the 50-75th percentile for weight but at his last weigh in he dropped on the chart to the 25-50th percentile. So because of this drop and lack of adequate weight gain the word formula was thrown around in the doctors office. Now don't get me wrong, if you chose to feed your children formula I have nothing against your choice. I respect your decision, there are many moms I love and respect who have fed their children formula. But for me I'm determined to breastfeed. I will exhaust all other options before I rely on formula. So off to the clinic I go.
I even have a prescription for a milk producing drug but will give the mothers milk tea, fennel tea and fenugreek a try first. I'm going to start smelling like maple syrup really soon, so if you aren't a fan of maple syrup you might want to stay away from me for a little while.
But you know what the best news was out of my appointment? My sugar numbers are fabulous and my hemoglobin is back to normal. My doctor was so excited and actually surprised by my hemoglobin. She was surprised because it normally takes 100 days for a persons hemoglobin to return to normal after losing the amount of blood I lost. And mine returned to normal in less than two months! YAY! So thank-you for your prayers for my recovery, God certainly listened and blessed me! And to all of you who brought over food and just loved me through it have been apart of making this quick recovery possible so THANK-YOU once again!! Having Edison has really shown me how loved I am and how many true friends I really do have.
It's been so fantastic! :)
N.
2 comments:
Glad to hear you have an appointment at the BF clinic - I hope they are able to give you some help and answers. Try not to think of "formula" as a dirty word...it's really not that bad. I think the medical community has created a terribly negative stigma around formula feeding, and it has made too many mothers feel guilty for choosing or having to give their babies formula...I mean, I was raised on formula and look how I turned out ;)
There is no right or wrong way of being a parent - we are told "back to sleep" and "breast is best," but you've gotta do what works for you as a person, not just a mother, and if giving Edison some formula means some much needed and deserved R & R for you, then you should be able to do it free of guilt and unafraid of what other people think. I give Ben pumped milk in bottles all the time, and I'm sure people think I'm giving him formula...and so what if I am?! One of my friends gave her (third) baby a bottle of formula when she brought him home from the hospital because she was just too exhausted to BF him at that moment.
I'm so proud of you and your commitment to EBF, and I will continue to be equally proud of you if you choose or need to FF in the future. Don't stress! xoxo
That's awesome! Glad you have the opportunity to use the clinic. Hope the LCs there can provide some insight.
My sister didn't get to the drugs... She used fenugreek and it seemed to work for her. She went from supplementing with formula, to her own pumped milk, to not supplementing at all. Hers was also a weight gain issue.
She had to have a huge mental/emotional shift too, regarding FF. she literally thought she was pouring poison down her daughters throat. So untrue, but the hormones and emotions made her feel that way.
Do the best you can, mom. And if FF is the final step, then take it proudly knowing that 100 years ago, babies would die because there wasn't something like formula handy if they couldn't get BM for whatever reason. And your baby will *still* be healthy and thrive.
Keep it up, Nicole :)
Feel free to message, email or connect with me if it might help you. I'm available :)
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