I'm refering to feeding and (loosely) scheduling...NOT WEANING!
Okay, our "old schedule" was that she had a pretty set breakfast, lunch & dinner plus a feeding before bed but she was draining a very full SNS. That was the schedule SHE chose, however, she was getting formula via the SNS and still waking 2-3 times a night.
Our new "schedule" (I use this term loosely, it's more like a routine) is that she nurses AND has a solid supplement about 6 times a day. She sleeps better at night (sometimes waking once). This was a routine I chose because I was trying to wean her from the SNS.
At first it seemed fine. She was willing to nurse without the SNS and all was happy. Lately, though, my supply seems low and she's not quite as happy nursing, kwim? When I used the SNS, she stayed latched on longer and I KNOW she equated nursing with fullness and contentment. Now, though, I think she see's nursing as something fun to do, snuggling with me, and just a way to get a 'drink' before and after eating. In that regard, my supply was actually a little better with the SNS than now without it.
Her latch has also changed. When we nursed with the SNS her latch was great. But now her latch isn't so good and she's more like "nippling" me.
I should say that I was anxious to make this switch to get rid of the SNS and formula supplements before we go on vacation for Easter. So, my motivations were purely selfish. DH was kind of anxious for me to drop the supplements before vacation as well.
However, I'm thinking of going back to SNS and formula supplements. I want her to hang out on the breast longer and I want her to see me as fullfillment and not just a "drink" before and after meals, kwim?
Some of my motivations are selfish for getting rid of the SNS and I don't know if *maybe* I'm not listening to HER needs. Does that make sense?
If you've followed my story the last several months you know I'm already doing, domperidone, mother's milk tea, motherlove herbals, supergreens, oatmeal...all the lactogenic foods, herbs, drugs, etc.
I'm just confused. I HATE having low supply...sometimes I think it would have been so much easier to have given up in the beginning and gone to bottles. ACK!!! Did I say that!?!? No...we've gotten this far, I'm sure things are going to change soon. Thanks everyone!
