At her appointment today, she measured in the 50% percentile for height and her head measured in the 10% percentile. I have another appointment with the lactation consulatant today and I'll discuss with her the pediatricians advice to feed her with the bottle a few times a day. The doctor also asked to have the LC call her after my appointment. We have another appointment with the pediatrician on Friday for a check-up.
I have been concerned with how much milk I'm pumping the last two days. I was getting a nice 4 ounces from one side over the weekend and now I'm getting 1 maybe 2 ounces each time I pump. The pediatrician told me how important it is for me to eat, eat, eat and drink lots of water. Both of these things I have been slacking on. The last thing on my mind is eating when Courtney is fed, sleeping and I have an hour until she eats again. I'd prefer to sleep or shower. So this is something I have to start working on. I need to keep eating high calories in order to keep up my milk supply.
As for me, it has been two weeks since I had major surgery and my incision is healing pretty good. According to our scale at home I am down a nice 31 pounds. Just 11 pounds away from what I weighed before I got pregnant. But I have a feeling that weight will plateau since I need to start taking in a bunch more calories to keep up my supply. My next doctors appointment is June 29.
6 comments:
I had to give Sagelynn pumped breast milk because we were having such a hard time latching on too, but Micah loved it because it gave him a chance to feed her. At least with giving her a bottle you know she is getting enough to eat. I found with pumping and alternating breastfeeding that my nipples started toughing up which in return made breastfeeding easier for me and she seemed to be latching on better, I don’t know if it’s because I’m more relaxed cause it doesn’t hurt any more or what. I also gave her one bottle of formula a day cause I was so fearfully that she wasn’t getting enough milk when I breastfeed, I continue to still do it now even though I know she is gaining wait and thriving. To me alls that matters is she is getting enough breast milk whether it’s pumped or from breast feeding. But I understand how it makes you feel like you can’t do the one thing you born to be able to do. It will all work out :) And congrats on the weight loss!!!
Breastfeeding was so hard for me. Ava latched on well, but it hurt like hell and I wasn't getting her enough milk. You get fewer ounces from pumping, but what worked for me was wrapping my boobs w/a hot towel while pumping. You need to be relaxed and try not to think about the pumping too. I would usually watch TV or read while I pumped which really helped. And its best to pump in the morning right when you get up and at night right before bed.
I know how you feel Steph. This is such a hard time. My advice though, if you really want to continue to nurse her is to give her as little bottles as possible. I did the opposite and gave the twins almost all bottles and now they don't want to nurse! Katelyn was the same way though. She would not get as much from me as she would from a bottle. We pumped and gave milk that way. You have to be proud that she is getting your milk, one way or the other! She will catch on. Seriously, 4 ounces from a bottle is a lot. My twins are a month old and still only taking 2.5-3 oz. per feeding. I am able to pump about 4.5 oz. per side every 3-4 hours. Just to give you an idea. However, i have thrush right now and i am DYING! So painful. hang in there. You are doing all you can. Seeing a LC is great too.
Congrats on 2 whole weeks with your beautiful little girl!!
I'm sure it must be hard to feel the way you do about breasfeeding, but I hope you don't feel bad about it.... it's not for everyone.... I know you worried about it a lot before she was here, and there are sooo many opinions and such that will go around.... you try as much as you can, and if you can't, then it's okay. i know that the lactation consultants will likely not ever tell you to just go to formula, they are VERY strong advocates for breastfeeding.... however, formula was made for a reason... it's not for everyone, and it does supply the baby with quite a bit of what the breastmilk does.... don't feel like you're failing at anything. taylor wouldn't latch for the life of me and i would bleeed and cry, and it hurt soooo bad.... Lewie latched without a problem in the world. every baby is entirely different. don't ever forget that. i think you're doing everything you can to get her to feed. also, if you aren't pumping a lot, talk to them about supplementing.... i would feed lewie bottles in the day and nurse at night.... so he was still getting nutrients from the breastmilk. i couldn't keep up with him and all that he needed to eat.... you're doing a great job. don't kill yourself over it.... and congrats for dropping 31 pounds! =)
I think you're doing great. Don't give up!
Thank you all so much! We saw the pediatrician this morning and she was back up to 7 pounds 9.5 ounces and the doctor was very happy with that. She even told us that we don't need to wake her at night to feed her. She takes about 2 - 2.5 ounces at each feeding with a bottle and I have been nursing her about twice a day. I'm actually happy to say that since we started bottle feeding and doing some tongue exercises with her, her latch is getting much better. I haven't bled in around a week. Yay!
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