Friday, August 29, 2008

Watch and Learn Son!

When I went to go pick up my son yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. When I got there he was in an exersaucer flirting with one of the moms. Guess what mom was doing – BREASTFEEDING! I was so pleased. I then went over to Kenneth and told him – in a voice loud enough for them all to hear – “Pay attention Kenneth. That is what you should be doing!”

I loved the fact that I saw another mother breastfeeding. Now granted, her 8 month old son is still a touch smaller than my almost 6 month old son. She was standing and breastfeeding with such ease. I struggled with the water works! She has issues getting her son to take a bottle. She was also very encouraging. At the same time she said he is at least getting breast milk. That is what I tell myself every time I don’t want to pump.

I have a 3 day weekend. Let us hope this is a break through weekend! I would love it if I had him breastfeeding again by his 6 month birthday on Monday! So please keep us in your thoughts this weekend. Send me all of the breastfeeding vibes you can. Let this be the weekend he finally gets it!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Freezer Stash

I think I am going to have to start a freezer stash! WOW! Those are words I never thought I would say. It just amazes me how I have been able to get my supply back. I feel blessed. I haven't needed to make a single bottle of formula in over a week. The refrigerator is over stocked with bottles of breast milk ready to go.

As odd as it sounds I am nervous about starting a freezer stash. I am scared that I will put away to much and somehow ruin it. I know it is crazy. I am just overly protective of my milk. I had to work hard for it and the only place I want it to go is Kenneth's tummy.

On a semi side note...he hasn't gotten sick in almost 3 weeks! This is very rare for him. While he was on formula, he was sick every other week. Now if only breast milk could help with teething.

We haven't had much luck with breastfeeding. I think a lot of the problem right now is that he is teething and doesn't know what is going on. I want to get some good books and DVDs with pictures of babies breastfeeding. Maybe if he sees it he will get the hang of it faster. He is 5.5 months old now. I am not looking forward to the 6 month mark. I just don't want him to take to solids more than breast milk and mess with our future breastfeeding relationship.

I know a lot of my fears are just that...fears. But they still creep up there and get me thinking. I just wish it could be easier. But nothing in life is. I just can't give up...

Monday, August 4, 2008

STREP THROAT

My new obstacle this weekend was strep throat. I was terrified that I was going give it to my son. I was also so weak and worn down that I struggled to carry my 18 lb 12 oz baby boy around on Friday and Saturday. It felt like he was a ton! I started to feel much better on Sunday. So we were still able to enjoy our Sunday walk in the carrier. It was such a beautiful day too!

All weekend my supply has been fluctuating. I am SO close to being able to toss every trace of formula out of my house. If I could just get up to 32 – 36 oz a day I would be set and possibly have some to store for a freezer stash! A freezer stash is something I never thought I would have. Now I see it as something that could happen. I just have to get better so I can see if my being sick is why things are slowing down in the milk department.

I have been able to empty the girls lately and get anywhere from .5 – 5 oz from each side. I have also been very nice to them by applying Lansinoh to them after every session. I think it is really helping. I don’t have pain while pumping anymore. Well, maybe for a second. But my nipples were getting to the point where they were going to give out if I didn’t start doing something more. I had been applying Lansinoh to them a few times a day. Then I read the container and it said after each feeding…so I am going after each pumping.

AND my lactation consultant is going to have my try a new type of bottle nipple. She wants me to get the Munchkin triflow. I have no clue what we are going to try, but we are going to do something new. Once I have a pack of them I am to call her and she is going to come over at some point this week and work with my son and me at home. That way he will not feel out of place. I don’t care how many different types of nipples I have to buy as long as Kenneth gets back to the breast. I will be so happy when I only have to pump at work and maybe one time at night! Life will be good again! So now I have to make sure that all visible areas look presentable.

I also asked my lactation consultant about the use of breast milk after it has already been offered once. My son’s day care will toss a whole bottle of breast milk if it hasn’t been used in an hour. I understand if it is formula, but we are talking about liquid gold here people. My lactation consultant said to take it home and offer it to him again. So I am going to be asking them not to dump it. I will put an ice pack in the cooler and they can put the bottles in there. I just can’t take seeing all my hard work go down the drain! I want my son to get every drop he can! I will report on what they say.

I feel like we are on the verge of a breastfeeding breakthrough. I don’t know why…but I just feel it…