So I've Decided....

[bdavis337]

...to stop working on bf'ing Mr. J. He's so addicted to nursing himself to sleep and nursing a few times in the middle of the night that I can't see giving that up anytime soon. I'm comfort nursing him when he wants it, bottle-feeding when he's hungry enough to need more than a few trickles every few minutes and expressing every 3-4 hours (when I remember, that is). He's getting 2 oz of bm from me in the bottle every day, and whatever else he gets from his snacking and comfort nursing, which is actually quite a bit if he snacks in the middle of the night.

I thought this would be the hardest transition from breast to bottle that I've had so far, but b/c he's so happy to comfort nurse, it's been ok. I know he'll be healthy and happy no matter what he eats, and I know that if/when I stop producing milk, he'll probably still comfort nurse, which I love. : I'm also very happy to have discovered that I can read books with the boys and build things with blocks while Jeffrey is latched on, sucking away blissfully and allowing me to have fun with the rest of the crew. I never was able to do that with Mark.

I just can't figure out why, this time around, my right breast looks like it's been inflated, and my left is only about half the size of the right. It's very, very strange.

[AuntG]

Are you just having low supply issues? I don't see why you couldn't just let him snack as he likes, as long as he is gaining weight.

[Lissybug]

Your arrangement sounds like it's working well for you all. You seem much less stressed I think it's really great that he wants to comfort nurse.

[AuntG]

Charlotte has presented her own very unique way of doing things that has, at times, challenged my limits.
I was pumping, and trying to use that darned SNS thing (what a PITA!). My supply was running really low, and I was getting anxious. Charlotte, my sweet baby, just doesn't have a very hard suck and she doesn't get a good seal so she spills as much as she swallows.
SO, here I was one day logging how much I had pumped (one ounce or less) and how much she was eating. I had resolved that maybe she was going to be getting the bottle from now on and we could do some comfort nursing when she felt like it. (The lactation consultant said I could consider giving her a bottle of x amount and then nurse her "for the sweetness of it" -- that phrase stuck with me because it underscored what nursing is all about!)

Then, next thing I knew, there was formula on my kitchen counter. Ugh.
But, the following day, I suddenly started making more milk than could be contained.

I don't know what you're going through, but I can certainly relate to the stress! For me, it took stepping back for a bit and making sure she got what she needed, even if it wasn't from me, to sort of "reboot" my own system and get things going right.

This is in no way advice, only meant to say that I know how stressful it all can be.
The end goal is to make sure baby is growing, and that both mama and baby are getting the right "groove" - by whatever means and according to your own definition!

Best wishes!

[bdavis337]

I've had a breast reduction, so my supply is low and limited in how much he can get out. I'm taking some herbs to help maintain what supply I do have, and he loves to comfort nurse.

AuntG, I think it's awesome you're able to bf Charlotte! My good friend here in town is mother to a 5 yo boy with Down Syndrome, and they were not able to nurse b/c his suck and latch were so very bad.

[AuntG]

I thought about you last night when Charlotte would NOT go to sleep unless she had my boob in her mouth! She'd fall asleep so I'd remove myself only to have to stick it back in there when her eyes suddenly popped open and her voice echoed through the hall!


I thought, I need to go edit my post: Comfort nursing is highly overrated!!!


I told my husband that I can't believe I'd already spoiled her that much and he muttered something like "...wish ... fall asleep ... boob ... MY mouth..." that I didn't really listen to.


I think it's great that your surgery didn't rob you of the experience completely. I'd wish I could get mine put back where they were before I started having kids but I think that will probably remain just a wish.

I hope it all works out for you in whatever way best suits you both. The fenugreek/blessed thistle/alfalfa combo seems to have worked for me.
But it definitely took loads of patience above all else.
Though I still have issues of short supply when it comes to patience! Never have had enough of that. Grr.