Quick update - I am still breastfeeding Addy which is good... but it is still not enough to satisfy her. In the mornings I am getting enough that after I breastfeed she will usually fall back asleep for 2 1/2 - 3 hours and then I breastfeed again and sometimes at that feeding she doesn't need a bottle either - and it's so exciting and I love it. And then from then on I have to give her a bottle after or she is super fussy because she is still hungry and I have to give her more and more each feedind because I have less and less milk during the day. When I pump I get 2 1/2 ounces in the mornings and I'm down to 1 - 1 1/2 ounces at night. I know that pumping doesn't always give you an accurate measurment of what you are actually producing so I am choosing to believe that I have much more than that :) It is really hard though still because if I don't pump, don't eat enough, or don't take my Fenugreek pills - I can tell my milk supply goes down. I don't leave the house much because I want to be able to pump right after I breastfeed to tell my body to keep producing and to produce more since it is all about supply and demand. This makes life hard. I also have put off working out because I read that that can decrease your milk supply. So weight loss has been put on hold for a little bit. :( I'm not going to lie - it is hard and gets tiring when feedings consist of breastfeeding, making a bottle and bottle feeding, then pumping, then cleaning everything to be able to do it all agian at the next feeding. I also feel like I'm not giving Jaxon all the love and attention I could because I spend so much time doing this.
BUT
I am very blessed to be able to have the milk that I do have because with Jaxon my milk was totally gone at 6 weeks so the fact that I am still able to feed Addy is so exciting! And knowing that Addy is getting SOME of my milk at each feeding keeps me going! Jax is a champ and other than being more emotional about pretty much everything - he has adjusted to all of this VERY well and he loves his sister so much that I don't think he really minds :) And I know formula is so much better now than what it used to be, and I know Addison will turn out just fine if I were to only feed her formula - but breastfeeding is more than that to me for some reason. I can't explain it. But I'm happy I am still doing it and I will keep going for as long as I can. Thanks to all of you for your comments, help, and support after my last post! It all REALLY helped me so much! I am so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends!
I understand your desire to be able to breastfeed. I've never had a problem with it but I know that if I hadn't produced enough I would have been sad. Sounds like you're doing great, though! Keep it up! Cherish those moments no matter how long it lasts.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great mom!! I'm so proud that you've hung in as long as you have! I've had milk issues in the past & it is definitely NOT easy! But so worth it! Don't beat yourself up over any of it! Hang in there! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Lisa! I'm so glad that it's working out better for you this time. I understand how tiring it can be (though obviously not to the degree that it is for you) and early on I was wondering if I even had it in me to breastfeed, because it would be so convieniet to hand her off to Trevor with a bottle once in a while. But I know that our sweet little girls appreciate our sacrifices (whether they realize it or not. Lol).
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you're still breastfeeding! Man, it sounds like A LOT of work. But I understand completely when you say that breastfeeding means so much more. I have often contemplated just bottle feeding because the thought of pumping and storing milk for work is a little daunting. But every time I think of not doing it, I just can't. I love the connection I have with Lizzy and the feeling I get when feeding her and that we are bonding in a very special way that no one else can ever do with her. So I know what you mean. I'm so amazed that you are working so hard at this, you will be blessed. Addy has such a wonderful mother. I really hope that things get easier or you start producing more so it doesn't feel like such a chore and so you can start spending more time with Jax.
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