Hi ya
Just thought I had better do a quick update to say hi... but to be honest the computer and blogs have been one of the last things on my mind lately.
Had a real bad night on Sunday night with Rachel crying most of the night... and very little sleeping was done by all three of us!
Anyway, to cut a long story short - it looks like I am in the 5% of women who don't produce sufficent milk so therefore we have had to start "topping up" Rachels feeds with formula. This is something I was hoping to avoid but have accepted quite freely at the same time as it means more sleep for all of us and a happier healthier Rachel which means more sanity for her mummy and daddy! :)
Not looking forward to next week already when Steph goes back to work as he has a real knack with Rachel and getting her settled but hopefully by then we will have sorted out the breast/forumla ratio and Rachel will be more settled.
I was thinking that I do need to update my template etc now that Rachel has arrived but its a matter of finding time and motivation to do it... I am trying to sleep or at least lay down when Rachel is sleeping but sometimes I just can't do it and find myself doing lots of other things. Also going through the "baby blues" in the evenings and find myself quite tearful...
Oh I have weighed myself a couple of times since getting home - and total loss since Wed 1/11 (last pre Rachel weigh in) is 6.3 kilos. I think I am not eating enough these days considering I am trying to breastfeed so really have to make an effort to keep up both my food and fluid intake.
Anyway, thats enough from me - will post again when I can :) Once again, a big thank you to you all for lovely comments and support - it does mean the world to both Steph and I.
About Me
- Karen
- Full time working mum who lost 42 kilos prior to falling pregnant. Gained 17 kilos while pregnant and 5 yrs later am still sitting here with that extra 17 kilos plus LOTS more.... In fact I am now heavier than I was before I lost that initial 42 kilos!! I am so over being fat and want to do something about it!
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14 comments:
Hi there Karen..
I can honestly say I can not remember much of the first few weeks home with a new born... once the inital overwelming thrill wears off and the sleepness starts to kick in, I felt totally numb.. I can remember nearly falling asleep at my kitchen table when I had people over with presents for Emilie.. I was so tired, i felt like I could be sick!!! Arhh.. the good old days...
You are new to this Karen... It is going to be the most challenging, rewarding thing you will do in your life... in my opinion, the reason for life!! Each time you think you are on top of things, little rachel will change again... and will never stop!!
Things will get easier and don't forget to ask for help if you need it! I bet Steph would love a couple of hours with Rachel on his own while you caught up on slept. I don't function without it!!
And promise me you won't hop onto those scales until Rachel is at least 6 weeks old!!!! That is the last things you need to be worrying about!
Take care and slept!!!!!
hey chickey!!!!
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS FROM BILL AND I!!!! So proud of you and your beautiful baby girl!! Know how long this journey has been for you and again really happy for this special time!!
Lyn :)
bills-honey@xtra.co.nz
I so know how you feel. When I had Bethany I couldn't feed her properly. I kept asking for help in the hospital but was made to feel like a real inconvenience and was told because I was large to feed her the "football" way (tucked under your arm). She still wouldn't feed properly when I left and I was so sore and felt totally miserable. I tried for 6 weeks before developing mastitis, getting quite sick and put on antibiotics. I finally gave up and put her on formula. Once I made this decision and she started being happier, my mood improved and I actually got to enjoy being her mum finally.
This time if I have to put bubs on formula again, I will do it without feeling bad or guilty, as long as mum and bub are happy, it doesn't matter about anything else.
You have such a beautiful little girl and have every reason to be proud. ( and geez she has your eyes!)
Luv ya chicky and get as much rest as you can.
Hey hun,
I just have to say I agree completely with the above comments. The first few weeks are SO hard, SO SO hard! I promise you it does get better... once they hit that 6 week mark the fog lifts slightly, and then it just continues to get better. Your hormones will still be all over the place - your body is going through a lot. My advice: rest when you want, eat when you are hungry, drink heaps and heaps of water, cry when you need to, and talk to Rachel all day (somehow helps the loneliness when Steph goes back to work).
Big hugs! If I was down there I'd come over and give you a hand!!
xx
I so understand the top ups hun.. it didn't work for me either and sometimes it doesn't.
You are a trooper I went to about 4 weeks and gave up feeling like everyone was going to hate me when I should have thought of only myself and my baby and really shouldn't have gone that long... well done for make an informed choice and doing what was right for you.
Hi Karen - I've been wondering how everything is going. I know the first few weeks after our kids were born it was just a blur. It does pass, I'm sure every day she will settle into a bit more of a pattern.
Really everyone has said it all - and you have the right attitude - go with what is best for Rachel (and you) just take one day at a time.
Take care and hugs - Anne
I also after 2 days had to top up...... by 2 weeks they were fully bottle as I had no milk at all :). Keep smilin it will get easier.
I know EXACTLY how you feel Karen, I too was in that small minority that didn't have enough milk and it was hard to accept that my little baby needed to be topped up on formula when I wanted him breastfed 100%. I don't think there's anything in the world that can prepare you for the roller coaster of emotions in those first few weeks of motherhood but as long as you're doing the best you can with each and every day then you're doing great for both you and Rachel!
Hi Karen, I've been reading your blog from a far for a while. Congratulations on the birth of beautiful Rachel! Have you considered getting any help with the feeding? I'm in Australia and find the forums on the Australian Breastfeeding Association's website invaluable (http://www.lrc.asn.au/forum). You can join the forums, even though you're a kiwi! ;) There's already a number kiwi's on there. There is also an equivalent in NZ (http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/) ... but I don't know much about them. I’ve been breastfeeding my baby boy for nearly 10 months (times flies with babies around!). I wouldn’t have got this far without everything I’ve learnt from the other mum’s on that site. You need to do what’s best for you and Rachel, whether it’s fully breastfeeding her, a combination bf with formula top-up feeds or formula alone. Good luck with everything and keep having naps/lie downs whenever she sleeps, especially in these early days – everything else can wait, let the dishes pile up! Enjoy these special days with your new bundle of joy! :)
Another breastfeeder here.
With the greatest respect to your midwife I find it odd that she would diagnose you like that at 5 days post partum. Your milk won't have fully come in yet and by topping up with artificial milk you're missing out on the additional stimulation required to build a milk supply.
If you do want to build supply and breastfeed you need to feed 8 - 12 times a day/night in these early days. Night time is important because prolactin is abundant and this helps build a permanent, longterm milk supply.
In general babies topped up with artificial milk this early are fully formula fed in no time at all...which is no problem if this is what you're going to be happy with!
Your midwife is not advising you in the interest of breastfeeding. So long as you're aware of that in order to make your choices in a way you won't look back and regret.
It takes a good 6 weeks of exclusive feeding to establish technique and 12 weeks to build a longterm supply.
Very best wishes to you and your beautiful girl. Do what makes YOU as a family happiest. A happy Mum is VERY important and that absolutely can't be under estimated.
I agree that topping up can be detrimental when the idea is to build your supply but Joanna had the exact same thing - her milk did not even come in until 7 days!! She had to top up. There is a herb she took (something thistle?? your midwife will know) that helped bring in the milk better.
Good luck, this is the hardest time.
Just remembered - the herb is called "Blessed Thistle" and is available at chemists. Worked a treat for Joanna.
Hi again, you could also try fenugreek capsules which I know have worked for other mum's for increasing their milk supply. There is a post on the ABA that talks about it specifically: http://www.lrc.asn.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4349 - have a read when you get a moment (which I'm sure are few and far between!)! -Kate
Yet another case where formula is "prescribed" for breastfeeding difficulties.
Plenty of people have supply issues. Usually because they don't feed the baby often enough in those first vital weeks.
Breastfeeding problems can be worked through with just a little more commitment and dedication.
Further along on that theme: Why don't people care to mother these days? Why do people have babies only to give up the responsibilty of nurturing them, shoving them into daycare at only a few months old.
...Watch the long succession of ear infections start. The courses of antibiotics, the fussy eating, the stressed parents....
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