Aviana's one month visit to the pediatrician was this past Monday, and the doctor was concerned that she looked a bit pale. So, he drew some blood to make sure that she's not anemic. The results were negative, but apparently Avi has a high hemoglobin count. According to the doctor, this could be because she was on the verge of dehydration and wasn't getting enough to eat.
Unfortunately, I am not producing enough breast milk and Avi hasn’t been gaining much weight.
~When she was born she weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces.
~When we left the hospital she weighed 6 pounds 1
ounce.
~For her one week doctors visit she weighed 6 pounds 7
ounces.
~And for her one month visit she weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces
(same as her birth weight).
The pedi wants to see her back tomorrow (Saturday) to see
how her weight gain is going. He recommended
that after each feed, I give her formula or pumped breast milk until she is
satisfied.
To be honest, this has been really tough for me emotionally. After he told me about her weight issue, I
came home and cried. I didn’t let anyone
see me like this, including my husband. I felt like this was my fault because I should
have noticed this sooner. I felt
horrible. I felt like a bad mommy. I even considered giving up on breastfeeding
altogether because it has been such a stressful and frustrating process. When I pump, I’m lucky if I can even get a
full ounce. Also, when Avi latches on it
hurts like hell. My nipples even started
to bleed at one point (not fun). I have
tried everything that my gynecologist has told me to do to produce more milk
and nothing seems to be working for me.
I’m still not sure what I’m going to do about
breastfeeding. I’m just not certain I’m
ready to give up on it just yet. I know
that breast milk is the healthiest for my daughter so it’s hard to give it up
so soon. My goal was to breastfeed for
AT LEAST 3 to 6 months. My husband and I
discussed getting a lactation specialist to come to our house and help me
out. I’m hoping this helps. Any mommies out there have any advice?
P.S. Did you know August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month? =)
Please please see a certified lactation consultant... Your post title is SO right... Breast is best... Please see a lactation consultant ASAP and try to avoid formula... Keeo her on the breast as much as she wants and keep pumping even if you get nothing... And pumping isn't an indication of how much milk you have... Nothing can get the milk more efficiently than your baby. If you get chapped nipples again put coconut oil on it. It's a miracle cure!! I am so happy you chose not to give up. It's the greatest gift you can give her - to keep trying... I have two boys - my oldest just turned 4 and my baby is almost 6 months. I only made it to 6 months with my first and I was also supplementing. He used to comfort nurse 24-7 so I thought he was eating. But he want . He was just using me as a pacifier. Ended up he was almost failure to thrive because he wasn't getting any milk it was so heartbreaking. And I liok back at pics and he was sooo thin and small :( but I was uninformed. This time around I had issues put I pushed through and my boy is doing great. (besides waking up ever 1 1/2 - 2 hours at night :/ ) hang in there!! If it doesn't work out its ok because you will know you tried your very best. Congrats in your precious baby girl. xxoo
ReplyDeleteI met with a lactation consultant and everything is great now! Thank you! ;)
DeleteSorry for the typos - I typed the whole thing on my iPhone while nursing my baby :)
ReplyDeleteoh huni please get some help with breastfeeding it shouldnt hurt at all! you shouldnt not have sore nipples it maybe baby's latch isnt so good. she is the demand after all and you are the supply, so if she wants more then she will take it and she will indicate when she wants it. I just have to think of my baby and I start to need to breastfeed! I'm sure everything will work out fine Id recommend trying to get comfortable whilst trying to feed and both of you relax and enjoy it. Good luck. Your' blog is inspiring by the way. xxx
ReplyDeleteI met with a LC, and now it doesn't hurt at all. I actually enjoy breastfeeding now. ;)
DeleteHi Marissa! I had the exact same problem and I really beat myself up because I didnt want to use formula. I was told to try Fenugreek which is an herbal supplement (available at health food stores) that makes your milk taste sweeter which in turn makes the baby nurse more and then (supposedly) your body produces more milk. I cant say that it worked 100%....I was able to sustain my son soley on breastmilk while he was with me but was never able to pump enough for when I was away from him so I had to supplement with formula.....dont feel bad if you have to do the same! You are trying your best and that is what matters! Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Isabella,
DeleteI tried the Fenugreek (as recommended by my lactation consultant), and it really helped. :)
Hi, I so know how you feel about feeling so bad when your baby isn't doing great. I didn't have issues with breastfeeding, but my son (who's almost 3 months) has severe reflux and suffered for weeks. It's such a terrible feeling. Don't get down on yourself. You are doing the best you can.
ReplyDeleteI have called my lactation consultant numerous times and have gotten so much advice from them. Don't give up, but also don't put extra pressure on yourself either. Apparently stress can also affect your milk production. Do what's best for your little lady. If that means supplementing with some formula, I would do it.
It will all work out.
New-momma-notes.blogspot.com
What a little fashionista :) don't feel bad about the breastfeeding...it happens to A LOT of women, that's why there is an awareness month & why there are lactation consultants, you know? Your not the only mommy struggling with it. Don't give up, breast is best :), but you always have to do whats enough for your daughter, so bare through it!! :( I think your doing an AWESOME job.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend had the same problem and it was so heartbreaking for her. She basically tried breast feeding almost all day just to try and produce enough milk. But it still wasn't enough in the end she had to give formula a go and both and baby were immediately much happier. Also her baby started to grow quickly after that. Good luck!
ReplyDeletewow, nice blog ;)
DeleteI like this pictures ! <3
If u want follow me and writte comment ;*
This is all normal. I encourage you to keep breastfeeding even if you have to supplement. you can bring your milk supply back up. The biggest thing that hinders milk supply is stress..... So try not to stress (I know easier said than done) please seek lactation help I know that they work because.... I am a lactation consultant ;) I see your same situation on a daily basis and I want to encourage you that you r def. not a bad mama for giving a little formula, sometimes it is medically necessary to get over this little hump. Good luck and she s ADORABLE!!!
ReplyDeleteStick with it Mama!!! You are doing a great job with your little. I am on baby two (she is six months) and still needed help in the beginning with breastfeeding. The best advise I got was to avoid formula. Pump and keep babykins on the boob so your body knows it needs to produce more milk (Herbal supplements and mothers milk tea are great too). Having sore nipples adds to any nursing frustration and that is where a lactation specialist is great. They'll get her latch just right and your nipples will thank you! Mine even weighed my girls before and after feeds to see how much they transferred, it was so cool to know how much milk they were really getting. Good luck and hang in there!
ReplyDeleteAwww every mother feels this way about something, dont worry! My simple advice : lactation consultant, mothers milk tea, and nurse nurse nurse!! Your body will do it! The more you nurse, the more your body feels the need to produce! Dont give up, and dont forget she will be fine no matter how you end up feeding her! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar problem with my baby.. When he was born, he was 5 lbs 7 oz, and when we left the hospital he was 5lb 4oz.. the first week he had only gained 2oz, and the first month he was only 2oz more than his birth weight. It was so hard for me to breastfeed, it was emotionally stressful and it hurt knowing that this was what i was supposed to be doing and what everyone says is the "right thing to do", even if it hurt and both me and the baby ended up getting frustrated at every feeding bc he wasnt getting enough, wasnt latching on right, and i couldnt pump enough. After almost 4 weeks i had to give it up and felt that in the end, it was better for the both of us, even if i was going to hear it from everyone around me that formula isnt the best idea. Well, once i switched to formula, he not only started gaining so much weight, but i was able to let me husband help me during nighttime feedings, and nipples were no longer sore! Now he is 18 months and i could not ever tell you the difference between if i would of continued bf or had done formula because as he is in the 50 percentile for weight. Just dont let anyone tell you you are a bad mom for the nutritional decisions that you make, because since you ARE the momma, you naturally will always know best. :) Good Luck with everything, shes gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your struggles with breatfeeding.First off makesure that you are getting pleanty of fluids, Try to relax in a quiet area , or with soft music. Also making sure that the most of the areloa is in her mouth since that is where the milk ducts are, and those need to be stimulated.Hope this helps, and good luck.
ReplyDeleteMars- you are doing such a great job as a mommy! Dont beat yourself up over it. I also had trouble breast feeding. I really think the LC will help you! By the way, I nominated you for a Liebster award. Check out my blog www.jagstyle.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteKatherine
Don't give up. I was in the exact same position. My baby never seemed to be getting enough milk. Unfortunately, we did have to supplement with formula for a while. Luckily, she is now exclusively breast feeding again. I started taking Fenugreek, and it worked wonders! Good luck! http://ryanandkari.com/
ReplyDeletesoooo cute!
ReplyDeletecongrats :)
xx, rebecca
awayinparadise.blogspot.com
I'm so sorry to hear that it has been rough! I had a hard time with my first baby. It hurt like CRAZY when he latched on for about 2 weeks solid. (He was latching on correctly too. They don't tell you that you will be sore even if the baby is nursing correctly. But think about it, your nipples aren't used to that kind of activity. So soreness is normal but it should go away.) Also, I couldn't pump to save my life and I had an awesome electric pump. I think some women can pump and some just can't. I was lucky to get an ounce. I let my friend borrow my pump when she had her baby (she ordered all new parts, just used the machine) and she got several ounces. So I think it depends on the woman. I only made it to 7 months with him and it was a BATTLE. With my second baby it was much better because 1. I knew what I was doing 2. I was not as sore. I would tell you to get a lactation consultant to come help before you give up. They will make sure that the baby is latched on properly. Also, are you drinking enough water? That can affect your supply. Nursing women need to drink lots of fluids because they lose fluids from nursing. Definitely drink at least 64 ounces. I drink about 120 a day, but I had to build up to that because that is a lot of water!! They also make nipple shields which I used with my first baby to help with the pain. Also rub some lansinoh nipple cream on them after each nursing session. It will help with the dryness. I hope that this helps! Please email me if you have any questions or just want to unload your mommy woes on someone. I've been there (twice) so I can definitely relate to you. (My email is linked to my blog.)
ReplyDeleteAmy
Fashion and Beauty Finds
let me start off by saying this : it's not your fault she's not gaining weight nor is it your fault that you "didn't notice". you're a new mom so it's all new to you and it's all new to the baby too. i know quite a few girls who went through the same situation, and like you, they felt terribly guilty that they weren't doing enough. now, they have the happiest and cutest kids i know :-) breast feeding is definitely hard, but i've heard that it can take a few months for you and your child to find a routine that works best for you. with that being said, if all else fails and you have to go to formula, then that's just what you'll have to do. you tried and thats the best you can do. i can already tell you're going to be an amazing mother. best of luck to you and your little girl!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! I produced no milk for my first child and the second it was a water flow.....stored soo much in the fridge too!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOTS of water and soup is what I was told you needed to do to produce breast milk.
MIA BOSSI diaper giveaway next month on my blog www.fashion-a-holic.com so check back!!!!
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Aw so adorable! Little cutie :)
ReplyDelete-Adriana
Little Petite
You are a darling mom and have been doing such a great job. Mommy guilt that is tied to breastfeeding is the worst. I totally understand. My first (now pregnant with my fourth) was a fantastic little eater. I didn't own a pump and didn't need one, he ate like crazy! But my two girls after him had reflux and were tinsy little girls. Just the act of trying to eat wore them out and they couldn't suck hard enough to stimulate my milk. I had to pump for 20 minutes on each side after I'd nurse my oldest daughter. It was such a difficult act of devotion. Ultimately, it worked and our nursing got better to where she was a GREAT little eater. My second daughter was in the NICU for 9 days and we couldn't even leave the hospital until she could eat and breathe on her own at the same time! No pressure... yikes! All of my pedi appointments with her for her first 3 months of life sounded exactly like the one you just had. I felt confused because I thought I knew exactly what I was doing since it was my THIRD baby! But, every situation is different, that's what I learned big time. My pedi had me nurse, relax, drink a lot, pump a lot, AND SUPPLEMENT WITH FORMULA. I have to say, the relief that came with giving her formula and KNOWING that she was getting what she needed was one of the best feelings I've ever experienced. I definitely experienced the mommy guilt that I wasn't able to nurse her like I wanted to, especially because I was comparing her experience to my other two children. But seeing her thrive and grow made the better, more rationally minded person in me know that I was doing the right thing. thealphaparent.com just wrote a timeline for the breastfed baby and I read the whole thing. It was so comforting and such a good reminder of all that goes on. It's definitely PRO bf, but it made me think that even if this next little baby of mine is tough to nurse, that I'm going to stick with it as long as I can because ANY bf you can give your baby is GREAT! So I guess my advice to you after all of that is, that every mom has a story and a different story with each of her babies. What makes you a great mom is honestly trying your very hardest to give them what they need. True great mom achievement is judged on what's in your heart. You have given bf everything you've got, and if you end up being able to nurse longer, AWESOME! If you can't, and need to (not GIVE UP, but rather...) give your baby the nutrients she needs through formula and the peace of mind you need through the reassurance that she is thriving, AWESOME! My daughter that ended up with more months of formula as an infant than my other two, is equal to my other two kids IN EVERY WAY. We have a phenomenol relationship, she's smart, beautiful, and happy. Those things come from YOU, not necessarily just your breastmilk. I am a HUGE fan of breast is best, and will always try that first. But just wish I could sit right in front of you and give you a hug and tell you that everything is going to be just fine. God gave you this beautiful baby because He trusts you with her. And it's not all hinged on whether or not you breastfeed her for an entire year or not. I promise. Please keep us all posted. I have no doubt you're going to do the right thing for her.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Just another girl in this big motherhood sorority!
I just wanted to say that you're a great Momma no matter what your desicion ends up being about feeding your sweet girl. With my first son, I ran into a shortage of supply and the only thing that worked for me was More Milk Plus by Motherlove. It's a liquid that you drink in drops and I bought it at Whole Foods. My lactation consultant recommended it and and the very first day I took it, I actually leaked all over my bed that night! The results were amazing. I went on to successfully bf my son for his first whole year. On the flip side I also wanted to share with you that with my second son, I was unable to bf and now he's exclusively formula fed. 2 days after he was born, I went into anaphylactic shock and almost died because of a super rare condition where my body became allergic to the hormone that is produced when breastfeeding. After a fun ER visit and lots of tests and medications, it was just too much for me to breastfeed. Did I feel like a bad momma? Sure! But you know what? I'm not a bad Mom for giving my son for formula. He's 2 months old now and he is a fabulous, healthy boy! Whatever you choose to do, just remember that you know best and that God gave you the exact child you were meant to have. No one and nothing will ever be better for her. Don't stress! You're a beautiful mother and that precious little girl just needs her amazing Momma!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog, so I don't know you or your story or even more than this post (yet); but I just wanted to let you know, I struggled with supply issues with Iris as well. It was so incredibly emotionally draining for me, and I pumped after every feeding for more than three months just to get two ounces of breast milk a day. I eventually stopped and Iris was formula fed, and she and I found other ways to bond and learned the conveniences of bottle feeding. I feel like there is so much emphasis on breast feeding (and I really do believe it is best!) that sometimes mommas who have supply issues or other physical difficulties breast feeding feel outcast if they can't. At least that's how I felt. But Iris is 18 months now, and you'd never guess that anything was different about her! I'm pregnant with my second now, and I hope to breastfeed with her, but I'm also preparing for the possibility that I won't be able to.
ReplyDeleteThe whole point of that big long comment was: I know how you feel. And I REALLY agree with the lady above me. You are an amazing mother breastfeeding or not, just by making decisions that are best for you and your baby.
I totally understand and wish you strength and clarity during this time!
S
the Reverie blog
You are a good and extraordinary mother! We send you our best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI am also new to the blog and read a few of the comments. Breastfeeding is always a hot button issue - everyone who's ever breastfed seems to have an opinion. And, yes, I took my best shot at breastfeeding my now-ten month old son. Your story sounds almost identical to mine, to be honest.
ReplyDeleteAnd even though we DID see a fabulous lactation consultant, one who was an extremely experienced, knowledgable and helpful woman, I still never seemed to be able to pump more than .5 oz. and every time Tucker nursed, I bled and cried. Despite what several might insist about pumping - I was told that if the natural stimulation from the baby sucking is not kept up (by actually nursing him, not just pumping), the supply just decreases and decreases until there is nothing left. That was eventually what happened to us.
My only advice is to not be afraid to go to formula!!! I got what breastmilk I could into my son (and I think the early 1-2 weeks is really what matters the most with that), and then we switched to formula gradually and now we love it.
Just surrender to the baby - if she's a starvin' marvin' and you're not making enough, there is NOTHING WRONG with going to formula.
Last thoughts: "BREAST IS NOT BEST WHEN IT IS NOT BEST FOR THE MOM!" I was starting to cringe and cry at the sight of my mother bringing my son over to me to nurse him that first week because I knew it would hurt severely. Now, to me - that was not helping me love and bond with my newborn. Had I continued, I fear it would have made me resent him. Just do what is good for the baby - but do what is best for YOU, too!!
And - by the way -- bottle bonding is just as AWESOME. Sometimes my son props his legs up on my shoulders to relax - it cracks me up. And when they get in the zone bottle feeding - it's bliss!
Just be confident no matter what you decide!
Hi- I just found your blog. Your baby's trouble with gaining weight and breastfeeding was pretty much exactly the same as mine. I never produced enough and she wasn't gaining weight. I cried many times over this too, it was extremely difficult for me to give her formula...and worse to think I couldn't provide for her...and worse to think that she was hungry. I never got a lot our (pumping) either and pretty much pumped until there was nothing left. It's nice to hear someone else had a very very similar experience.
ReplyDeletewww.themilehighmom.com
It really is nice to find someone who has experienced the same thing. After I wrote this post I received many comments, some bad and some good. Some mommy's gave me a hard time about it. Saying NOT to give my daughter formula. Saying it was bad. But I HAD to. She couldn't survive without it. And in my opinion, that's what makes me a great mother. I did what I had to do to keep my daughter healthy. Plan A didn't work, so I had to turn to plan B. Love your blog by the way! Loving the DIY baby wrap carrier!!! ;)
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