It makes me really sad when I hear women say 'I didn't produce enough' or 'the baby was still hungry' or 'my milk never came in' OR 'the baby wasn't gaining weight so I needed to supplement'. Are there babies out there who legitimately have failure to thrive? Of course. Are there women out there that legitimately do not make enough? Of course. I am here to tell you though, the odds were rallying against me and I pulled through. I feel like I'm becoming such and advocate for breastfeeding that perhaps (eventually) I could become a Lactation Consultant or at least a La Leche League Leader here in Orlando. I feel like my story can inspire some moms who otherwise wouldn't have stayed with it!
Without getting in to the gross details of my struggles with breastfeeding, we will just say I was a bloody, raw, painful mess. I had this 9lbs6oz baby boy and I dreaded breastfeeding him because he had such a powerful latch (aka painful) but I knew that breastfeeding was something I wanted to do and I had some obstacles to overcome. A) I had an intraductal papilloma (benign tumor of the milk ducts) just a few months prior. They *warning gross* slice half of the aerola and lift up the flap of the incision (while cutting any ducts below the incision). When she removed it she said I probably would not be able to breastfeed on that side...so I had that against me. I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (read about it HERE). This syndrome can cause hormonal imbalances in women (hence fertility to conceive Bryce) and cause difficulty in breastfeeding. I believe the statistic is 1/3 of women under-produce, a 1/3 overproduce, and a 1/3 do just fine. The 3rd and final thing I have is Hypothyroidism...however, this is well controlled with medication so I wasn't too concerned about this affecting me. Once my milk came in (it took 5 days for me because of the csection) then I just persevered. We bought a baby scale for my peace of mind...and honestly, as obsessive as I got about his weight, it really helped me to realize that my body was doing something NORMAL for a change...it had been so out of whack with PCOS and what not that I was amazed that my body was FEEDING my son. He is 16 months now and still nursing 5-6 times a day. Some say it's too much...I say it's just enough...he is a very selective eater and would not be getting the proper nutrition otherwise.
My left side produces MUCH less than the right side because of the surgery and when I pump...wow..I feel like a failure. You all have seen how chunky Bryce is/was so I know I'm producing enough but when I pump I get LESS than an oz from both sides total. The left side pumping doesn't even cover the bottom of the bottle! (also, word to the wise, pumping is NOT NOT NOT a good indicator of how much you're producing). I have heard that one too (Oh I tried pumping and nothing came out) and it really gets to me because women are told every day by their Doctors or friends or family that if the baby is crying after nursing they are still hungry and they believe them! Your baby is crying because it is a baby. Bryce cried every moment he was awake for almost 5 weeks. He hardly slept..etc. If it was because he was hungry then he must have been starving.
Trust your body to do what it was meant to do. Trust yourself, your instincts, and ME! Feel free to contact me any time with questions regarding breastfeeding! Also remember, you have the law on your side to pump at work. Working is a big reason that supply goes down because if you're not pumping while baby is eating at home, your body will produce less...it is producing less because it is being used less (supply and demand). If you are a healthy woman that has no known issues...Do NOT let anyone tell you you're not producing enough or other excuses. The average baby only takes in 2-3 oz of breastmilk per nursing session...which is plenty for them...which is also why they nurse more frequently than a formula fed baby...formula fills them up and breastmilk begins digesting almost immediately. In addition, don't adhere to the 'standards' every baby's needs are different. Sometimes I wouldn't get my shirt back on and Bryce wanted to nurse again. Sometimes they go every hour (which gives you about a 15 min break for a newborn) and sometimes they go 3 hours...listen to your baby and look for cues. OK I'm done...for now!
