birth story and breast feeding issues
Good Morning ladies,
Sorry it is so late but here is the story:
Devin Robert Eden was born on 10/13/09 at 1:13 pm 7 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long
I was induced on 10/11 and sure did not expect to be in labor for that many hours. Once progression started it actually went fast, but getting there was hell! I did learn a lesson for me...Never again will I be induced for a non medical reason. 12 hours of cervadil, and 20 hours of pitocin later ( the results worth it) but was more than anyone should go through.
Giving birth was actually the easy part.
Devin is a good baby. He does seem to have his days and nights mixed up. During the day he does not want to eat, I literally have to wake him (which is hard to do) to eat every 4 hours. At night he likes to graze every 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs. Being awake from 11 pm to 2 am. I am working on keeping him up during the day more to utilize night for "sleeping". This morning he did not wake up until 1:40 am so maybe I am making progress.
Breast feeding issues.........................
In the hospital I was convinced that he was not getting any thing from me. I finally demanded a bottle after 3 feeding attempts, 12 hrs later, no wet or poopy diapers. The hospital staff looked at me as though I was from mars.......who is this lady to give up on feeding her child only 12 hrs after birth? Well I won and he was started on a bottle.
When I got home, I pumped to see if there was anything..........NOTHING...not one drop of colostrum.
I pumped everyday trying to force the milk......................................NOTHING
Saturday night I started to feel engorged but I already decided not to pump anymore.
Sunday after talking to a lactation consultant I was encouraged to continue to pump. The milk could come in up to 2 weeks later. So I went home and pumped. I got 1 oz.........HAPPY
well after giving the "special treat" to my little one he became so fussy. He screamed better part of the day. As I continue to pump small amounts, Sunday 1 oz, Monday 2 oz, and Tuesday 1 oz I decided not to give it to him to see if that was making him fussy. This being decided because I will not be able to just put him on breast milk so I do not want to make a good thing bad. He has adjusted well to formula......no spit up, no puke, no excessive crying.......he is good.
I just pumped before getting on the computer....................NOTHING.
Now why is it that once you have gastric bypass that will be the cause of every problem you will ever face? With out knowing the actual reason of my no to low milk production he just blamed it on my surgery.
Now my advice to all soon to be bfing moms.....................Do not buy all those expensive supplies until you know it is gonna work for you. Most bfing supplies are non returnable. The hospital will send you home with everything that you need to get started.
motherhood is great! My husband and I are falling in love all over again, this time it is with our baby.
Good luck to all trying to conceive and to all the new moms. We all need it!!
Mary
Sorry it is so late but here is the story:
Devin Robert Eden was born on 10/13/09 at 1:13 pm 7 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long
I was induced on 10/11 and sure did not expect to be in labor for that many hours. Once progression started it actually went fast, but getting there was hell! I did learn a lesson for me...Never again will I be induced for a non medical reason. 12 hours of cervadil, and 20 hours of pitocin later ( the results worth it) but was more than anyone should go through.
Giving birth was actually the easy part.
Devin is a good baby. He does seem to have his days and nights mixed up. During the day he does not want to eat, I literally have to wake him (which is hard to do) to eat every 4 hours. At night he likes to graze every 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs. Being awake from 11 pm to 2 am. I am working on keeping him up during the day more to utilize night for "sleeping". This morning he did not wake up until 1:40 am so maybe I am making progress.
Breast feeding issues.........................
In the hospital I was convinced that he was not getting any thing from me. I finally demanded a bottle after 3 feeding attempts, 12 hrs later, no wet or poopy diapers. The hospital staff looked at me as though I was from mars.......who is this lady to give up on feeding her child only 12 hrs after birth? Well I won and he was started on a bottle.
When I got home, I pumped to see if there was anything..........NOTHING...not one drop of colostrum.
I pumped everyday trying to force the milk......................................NOTHING
Saturday night I started to feel engorged but I already decided not to pump anymore.
Sunday after talking to a lactation consultant I was encouraged to continue to pump. The milk could come in up to 2 weeks later. So I went home and pumped. I got 1 oz.........HAPPY
well after giving the "special treat" to my little one he became so fussy. He screamed better part of the day. As I continue to pump small amounts, Sunday 1 oz, Monday 2 oz, and Tuesday 1 oz I decided not to give it to him to see if that was making him fussy. This being decided because I will not be able to just put him on breast milk so I do not want to make a good thing bad. He has adjusted well to formula......no spit up, no puke, no excessive crying.......he is good.
I just pumped before getting on the computer....................NOTHING.
Now why is it that once you have gastric bypass that will be the cause of every problem you will ever face? With out knowing the actual reason of my no to low milk production he just blamed it on my surgery.
Now my advice to all soon to be bfing moms.....................Do not buy all those expensive supplies until you know it is gonna work for you. Most bfing supplies are non returnable. The hospital will send you home with everything that you need to get started.
motherhood is great! My husband and I are falling in love all over again, this time it is with our baby.
Good luck to all trying to conceive and to all the new moms. We all need it!!
Mary
Welcome, Devin !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish I had good advice on the breastfeeding.... my milk came in but not as much as I would have liked... probably it would have done more if I had pumped every 2 hours for 15 minutes on both sides like the lactation consultant told me....
For me I had a different problem. My milk didn't agree with my baby so by about 4 weeks I switched to full formula.
Kudos to you for trying - I'm sure you'll get some great advice here !!
Enjoy your little one !!!
Cindy
I wish I had good advice on the breastfeeding.... my milk came in but not as much as I would have liked... probably it would have done more if I had pumped every 2 hours for 15 minutes on both sides like the lactation consultant told me....
For me I had a different problem. My milk didn't agree with my baby so by about 4 weeks I switched to full formula.
Kudos to you for trying - I'm sure you'll get some great advice here !!
Enjoy your little one !!!
Cindy
Surgery on 4/25/05 , Dr. Alverdy in Chicago. God Bless the DS !!!
Highest Weight = 412lbs, Surgery Weight = 359lbs, Current Weight = 155lbs (5'7" tall)http://www.picturetrail.com/gid8138761
Congrats to you and DH...and welcome Devin! I'm glad that he arrived safe and sound, even if the delivery was way longer than it should have been.
I have no information re what's up w/your breast milk...but am glad that you're OK w/the bottle and formula. Too many women feel like a failure for not being able to bf...when bf'ing is not what makes them a mother. Kudos for doing what you felt best for your baby.
I had to laugh when you said the dr chalked the lack of breast milk up to the WLS. Seems like even after losing weight, you'll never get away from some drs blaming everything on your weight in one manner or another. I'm sure we've all found at least one of those drs who have blamed any problem you have - from a hang nail to a broken arm - on our weight.
I have no information re what's up w/your breast milk...but am glad that you're OK w/the bottle and formula. Too many women feel like a failure for not being able to bf...when bf'ing is not what makes them a mother. Kudos for doing what you felt best for your baby.
I had to laugh when you said the dr chalked the lack of breast milk up to the WLS. Seems like even after losing weight, you'll never get away from some drs blaming everything on your weight in one manner or another. I'm sure we've all found at least one of those drs who have blamed any problem you have - from a hang nail to a broken arm - on our weight.
Holly
January 2008,
July 2008
December 2008
July 2009
September 2010
July 2011
Mom to Khaled
My milk did not come in with my daughter either and being a first time mom, I felt bad about it. I wanted to breastfeed so badly, but I couldn't produce. All the nurses would push breastfeeding cause its so much healthier, so I felt guilty. I hope that you do not feel that way, I never told anyone how I felt about it and wish I had at the time. I was like you and barely got anything. I never even got enough for 1 full oz. This was before my lap band surgery, but they blamed it on an infection that I had in my C section incision. My daughter did great on formula though, so I hope your son will also continue to do great. Congratulations on your new baby!!
Tami "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!" Philippians 4:13
there's a wonderful item out there from Medela called a SNS pump that a nurse introduced to me in the hospital after I had my 2nd baby. I wasn't able to b/f my first baby and really wanted it to work this second time. I never knew about this wonderful product and I'm sure a lot of new Moms don't know about it either.
The way it works is you put a teeny bottle of formula in this pump (see the pic on the link I have above) and then there is a little tube that comes from the formula that you can tape right next to your nipple. You clip the part where the bottle is to the top of your shirt so it stays in place. So you are still having the baby nurse off of you, but this teeny tube goes into their mouth and they are getting formula at the same time. So you get that sucking action and they are getting food- it's GREAT! I would let my daughter nurse off me for 10-15 mins each side and then would pump with a hospital pump (they let me borrow it while in the hospital) right away for 10 minutes. The baby at this age doesn't have much of a suck reflex and you really need that to get your milk to come in, and to get it to come in SOON!
My milk came two days after I had her while I was still in the hospital and I was shocked. It took like 4-5 days when I had my son for it to fully come in. Honestly, first time mothers don't know what they are doing most the time when it comes to b/f and don't have a lot of help, knowledge about b/f, and end up being really frustrated. I knew better the 2nd time what to expect and what to do and am glad it worked for me! I'm glad my daughter was a lot better nurser than my son and was a natural at it, that helped a ton! I'm sure next time (if there is one) that you will know what to expect and it might work out for you better. It did for me! I am pretty sure I'll be fine this next time too cuz I'm already leaking a little colostrum right now while pg (and have even squirted a little milk out too!).
I've never heard of milk coming in 2 weeks later, that is a bunch of crap. The longest it can take is a week to FULLY come in, mother nature didn't make our bodies to have milk come in that late and have a starving baby with no milk! And as for the WLS affecting your ability to make milk or b/f that is crap. My cousin had the RNY back in 2001 and went on to have and nurse 2 babies successfully for a year!! And I've seen a lot of women on this board go on to successfully nurse their babies too! I just think some women's bodies are milk factories to begin with, some produce just enough, some need help to get that milk going, and some can't produce enough for the life of them!
If it didn't work out for you, it doesn't mean you are a bad Mom or aren't giving your baby the best. You tried the best you could and it didn't work out. Your baby will be fine and so will you! Congratulations on your new baby.
The way it works is you put a teeny bottle of formula in this pump (see the pic on the link I have above) and then there is a little tube that comes from the formula that you can tape right next to your nipple. You clip the part where the bottle is to the top of your shirt so it stays in place. So you are still having the baby nurse off of you, but this teeny tube goes into their mouth and they are getting formula at the same time. So you get that sucking action and they are getting food- it's GREAT! I would let my daughter nurse off me for 10-15 mins each side and then would pump with a hospital pump (they let me borrow it while in the hospital) right away for 10 minutes. The baby at this age doesn't have much of a suck reflex and you really need that to get your milk to come in, and to get it to come in SOON!
My milk came two days after I had her while I was still in the hospital and I was shocked. It took like 4-5 days when I had my son for it to fully come in. Honestly, first time mothers don't know what they are doing most the time when it comes to b/f and don't have a lot of help, knowledge about b/f, and end up being really frustrated. I knew better the 2nd time what to expect and what to do and am glad it worked for me! I'm glad my daughter was a lot better nurser than my son and was a natural at it, that helped a ton! I'm sure next time (if there is one) that you will know what to expect and it might work out for you better. It did for me! I am pretty sure I'll be fine this next time too cuz I'm already leaking a little colostrum right now while pg (and have even squirted a little milk out too!).
I've never heard of milk coming in 2 weeks later, that is a bunch of crap. The longest it can take is a week to FULLY come in, mother nature didn't make our bodies to have milk come in that late and have a starving baby with no milk! And as for the WLS affecting your ability to make milk or b/f that is crap. My cousin had the RNY back in 2001 and went on to have and nurse 2 babies successfully for a year!! And I've seen a lot of women on this board go on to successfully nurse their babies too! I just think some women's bodies are milk factories to begin with, some produce just enough, some need help to get that milk going, and some can't produce enough for the life of them!
If it didn't work out for you, it doesn't mean you are a bad Mom or aren't giving your baby the best. You tried the best you could and it didn't work out. Your baby will be fine and so will you! Congratulations on your new baby.
Hit goal weight of 140 at 13 months out from RNY!! 130 pounds GONE! 
Hi Mary--
Congrats on Devin's arrival. I love that name, but we can't use it for our little one since he already has a cousin named Devon.
Sorry to hear that things didn't work out the way you had hoped with breastfeeding, but I'm glad you have a baby who is happy and content with formula.
Glad you and your husband are enjoying this special time with your baby!
--Paula
Congrats on Devin's arrival. I love that name, but we can't use it for our little one since he already has a cousin named Devon.
Sorry to hear that things didn't work out the way you had hoped with breastfeeding, but I'm glad you have a baby who is happy and content with formula.
Glad you and your husband are enjoying this special time with your baby!
--Paula
Congrats Mary! Welcome to the Mommy club!
With my first, i got some milk in, a lot like you were describing, but after a few days when it really came in, I had excessive water retention from being pregnant which filled my breasts and clogged my milk ducts. Luckily my Mom is a nurse in labor and delivery and I spent a lot of time with a lactation consultant. We tried everything. Unfortunately, by the time I was able to pee off the extra fluid, my milk was dried up. Halfway through that incredibly painful process I decided to go with formula. My daughter is doing great- She's in preschool now and testing above average, so if breast milk is healthier, I don't think it makes as huge a difference as everyone claims. I also liked having more flexibility than I have seen a lot of moms who breast feed don't have, as they have to keep baby close or pump. This pregnancy, we have already decided on using formula again- our schedules are just not conducive to pumping. Good luck though!!
Carrie
With my first, i got some milk in, a lot like you were describing, but after a few days when it really came in, I had excessive water retention from being pregnant which filled my breasts and clogged my milk ducts. Luckily my Mom is a nurse in labor and delivery and I spent a lot of time with a lactation consultant. We tried everything. Unfortunately, by the time I was able to pee off the extra fluid, my milk was dried up. Halfway through that incredibly painful process I decided to go with formula. My daughter is doing great- She's in preschool now and testing above average, so if breast milk is healthier, I don't think it makes as huge a difference as everyone claims. I also liked having more flexibility than I have seen a lot of moms who breast feed don't have, as they have to keep baby close or pump. This pregnancy, we have already decided on using formula again- our schedules are just not conducive to pumping. Good luck though!!
Carrie
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