Breastfeeding Challenges
I would like to think that I have done as much as I could on this area of motherhood. But, unlike other mothers out there, I simply wasn't blessed with enough milk supply for my baby. Even my lactation consultant confirmed that I have done everything to the T, but I still couldn't feed my baby full breastmilk. Even when I have succumbed to taking Reglan, a medication that supposedly increases milk supply, I couldn't extract more than 2-3 oz of milk per pumping. Is it because I had complications with my C-section? Is it because we have been plagued by seemingly endless issues and problems this time around? Or is it because, simply put, I wasn't blessed with enough milk ducts or they didn't develop fully? Is it related to my PCOS? For whatever reason, I simply cannot produce enough for my little Calix.
Since I started with the patch, I also noticed a steady decline in my milk supply, especially now that I ran out of Reglan. It has occurred to me to just stop trying and leave Calix with formula - he has no complaints anyway. But I was surprised that my husband noticed that I haven't been giving Calix breastmilk. He told me to keep pumping, and maybe I'll trigger the supply again.
You see, unlike Kail, Calix never had constipation, nor did he develop ectopic dermatitis. My husband thinks it's because he was getting more breastmilk than Kail ever did. But even with all these issues of milk supply, I am still grateful I was able to make it to the 5th month. My goal was 6 months but nature had other plans!
I truly salute all breastfeeding moms out there. This wasn't a walk in the park. I had to endure lots of sleepless nights because I had to steadily pump every 2-3 hours just to increase my supply. I am not ashamed at nursing my son in public - my only issue is that he still felt hungry after that. I just wish I had more to offer you know?
4 comments:
Mickee - don't be hard on yourself about this. I had absolutely no regrets supplementing Jake with formula right off the bat. And don't believe the hype that all mothers are the same.. because we're not. I don't know how it feels to be engorged and have soo much milk for my child. I had none.. and I was lucky if I pumped out an ounce. There is nothing wrong with supplementing formula. It's all about what's best for baby. Given the same opportunity, I'd do it all over again :).
Bless your heart. I haven't seen you in a while :(.
Mickee, you poor thing - dont blame yourself for the things that didnt turn out the way you want them to be - breastfeeding for example. I too had that moment before that I felt like throwing the white towel as Zechy would still cry even after taking both breast - the nurse that came to our house said that stress and sleepless nights and fatigue play a vital role in milk supply. Breastfeeding is indeed hard (and not how they picture it to be) but hey no one should judge you if formula is working better for your baby... those people that say otherwise have not known the agony we mothers would go thru just to suffice the society's expectation of breastfeeding... chin up girl you have two lovely and gorgeous boys that are growing in leaps and bounds and thats all that matters. look after yourself because you too matter.
don't feel bad about that.. you're a great mom and breastfeeding is not easy and you know you tried your best.
i've been there mickee! isipin mo, ngayon lang ako nagkaanak ha. and it caused a lot of tears and super pagod. and baby blues, lots of it. pero i let go na.
we had been on almost endless consultations with the lactation cons na rin, i was laso taking reglan before, i was also pumping every 2-3hrs a day, pero onti lan tlaga napump ko
nagiincrease perday(i kept a log) pero very gradual. so we had no hoice but give my daughter formula, nakamix sya ngayon ksi pinapabreastfeed ko pa rin sya (at night breastfeed lang sya and di naman sya nagrereklamo and it will last her til the morning na, so oks na ko dun).
wehn i get back to work next week, magpapump pa rin ako kahit 2oz per pumping lang ako. sayang pa rin yun diba. and i won't stop til may pumapatak pa :)
so oks lang yun, don't be hard o yourself. you did everything and it doesn't nmake you any less of a good mother. *hugs*
Post a Comment