Man! MORE on the left is an understatement. I wonder if it's because of being right-handed...so we can still manage to do things while nursing, and often choose that side. But my left is always twice the size of my right.

Mikey finally sprouted a tooth Thursday (top). Discovered it coming through after we spent the day at the fair:
http://www.techtrek.com/Hold/JVMF/Mi...%208-17-06.jpg

Hey!

My daughter is now 12 weeks (fastest 12 weeks of my life!!!) and has (according to the LC) weaned herself due to my VERY low supply (I hemorrhaged at birth and was so anemic that supply has been a huge issue the whole time) but I'm still trying to pump 5 times a day or so to have her get some breast milk - going on the premise that some is better than none. Unfortunately, I only get about 4 oz per day so I will certinly try the oatmeal trick you guys mentioned! Any other tricks would be great to hear! (I'm already on domperidone (motillium) and started fenugreek on Friday)

Other than that, I have about 100lbs to lose (YIKES!!!) and have decided to get back on the weight watcher's band wagon (I lost 85 lbs on it about 5 years ago and find it to be a pretty easy program to follow.) Any one else uding ww??

moya's mommy, I exclusively pumped for my son's first 4 mos because of latch issues (they gave him bottles at the hospital without my permission). Anyway, I found I had to pump 8-10 times per day for a full supply. It is time consuming, but it was worth it and he was able to nurse at the breast after a while. I totally agree that some breast milk is better than none. I had an overage issue because of pumping and a tight sports bra once...don't know if that helps. The LC said the sports bra was causing too much nipple stimulation because it was tight. I think Sabra mentioned Brewer's yeast supplements to boost supply. Good luck. It is great to nurse, but when a mother like you faces hurdles and still plugs away at it, it is even more admirable.

moya's mommy- I agree with Dairy Fairy totally that some breastmilk is better than none. I can totally see how some women who have to go back to work have issues where pumping is simply not "doable" or there are issues with supply, pain, and other things. So many people think that it has to be "all or nothing" and that is not the case at all.

With my son I had supply issues when he got really sick and ended up in the NICU at 5 weeks old. I was so stressed out, and he was unable to nurse for a couple of days and was existing on IV fluids. My body simply "dried up" even though I brought my pump and was "pumping & dumping" for those few days to try and keep my supply going. I tried fenugreek tea and capsules for about a week-and they DID help some. If you are producing milk, just a lower supply than you would like-then they should provide some help to you. Other than that-you simply need to pump more often to try to stimulate your supply more. If you pump a certain amount, a certain amount of times per day-that is what your body will produce. If you try to do it more...then in a few days or a week-your body will start producing a little more than that, just like when the baby has a growth spurt and starts taking more at each feeding.

In my case with my son-my milk had almost dried up completely-so after talking to a really good lactation consultant and my doctor-they put me on a prescription for Reglan, and it worked wonders in a matter of about 24-48 hours. I took it until my supply was back to normal for at least a week or two...and then slowly weaned off of it. If the fenugreek and the other things don't help...that is another option that is out there. Some women have slight side effects...but I had none.

I know what you mean as well about having anemia and bleeding/hemhorrage at birth-I go through the same thing. I have had to take iron supplements for months after each birth...and with my daughter I had to have an emergency D&C to stop it...and with my latest baby I had to have shots of "crack cocaine" (as I jokingly call it... ) shot into my IV fluids numerous times during labor/delivery/postpartum due to sudden voilent drops in my blood pressure. ( I don't remember them all or what all of the bp readings were because I would go so "out of it" when it happened...but I do remember a couple of the readings being in the 60s over 30s.)

On the note of formula supplementing...I always sign up for all of the free baby magazines, samples, etc. and I just got free formula samples and coupon checks in the mail the past two weeks. I am keeping the samples in case I want to use them for a supplement later on in the year if I don't have extra pumped...but I just put the coupon checks on Ebay ($60.00 worth of them!) and they just sold for $40.00!!!!! If any of you get them in the mail...put them up there. You might make a few extra dollars.

I exercised for the first time yesterday since Saber was born. (He is 11 days old today-Tuesday.) I did two 10 minutes sessions of a postnatal workout. I normally use a LOT heavier weights-but I did it with light 3 pounds hand weights to start (since I am not actually supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds just yet) and I took it easy. If felt really good, though, to do SOMETHING. I am going to try to do some *light* dancing today...or maybe take a short walk. I want to do something to get back into the swing of things...but I don't want to do too much before I am cleared by the doctor in a few weeks. So...for now I am just doing light exercise.

I am trying to get my eating back on track this week as well, so I can start losing some of this baby weight. I am aiming for 2100-2200 calories a day to start out with-so about 500 for nursing, and 1600-1700 for "me". I will try to stay at that level until my weight loss stalls-and then I will adjust it slightly at that time.

Hope everyone is doing well,
Amy

Aphil, I have been shocked by selling formula coupons on ebay. I sold some similac ones last week...$20 worth for $17!!! OH MY GOSH. I hope that lady gets those doubled or something. I can't imagine the effort of bidding to save $3 on 4 cans.

Geez...I put my "Buy It Now" for the $60 lot at $40...if I had not used Buy It Now...I might have gotten $50+ out of them! And I thought my $40 was great!

Hey ladies, just wanted to stop in, I'm usually on the 20-somethings, but lurk here . I'm the mother of an almost 13 month old and in the process of weaning! When I first had my son my goal nursing was 6 months, but we ended up moving a few times and ugh!

So "Hi" - and I'll look forward to getting to know you!

Do any of you veteran Moms have any weaning advice?

Just thought I'd add in for you new nursing Mom's - I was up to 196 at the end of my pregnancy and 156 pre-pregnancy. So nursing got me back to pre-preg weight, I just needed to lose 30 pounds before I got pregnant - lol

Aint that the truth!! lol

Hi ladies! I just found this forum yesterday. I love it! It says it all about me. I am Angela Mommy to Brantley 3 1/2 and Jonathan 3 months. BF has been wonderful for my weight loss this time. I gained 33 while preggo and have lost 43. I still want to lose 20 more pounds though. I just got a double stroller so we are hitting the streets in hopes up shedding more pounds. I went back to work at 12 weeks and have been pumping three times a day and usually get 5 oz each time I pump. My son is only taking 1 bottle sometimes two while with the sitter so I have over 200oz frozen in the freezer. Last time I ended up supplementing at 3 months because my son got pnemonia and my supply suffered cause I didn't know enough about pumping. I bf him for 9 months this time plan to go 12 month or more. I am so happy to meet other mommies who are bf and trying to lose weight. You totally understand what I am going through.

I understand the thing about the pneumonia. My 5 year old (who was 4 weeks early, like my current baby) got severe pneumonia when he was 5 weeks old-and I lived at the hospital for a full week, and ended up doing steroids and nebulizer treatments on him for a couple of months before he was 100% again. (It was a REALLY close call-with his lungs over half full of fluid...) I had to pump and dump for that week in the NICU, but ended up having to supplement anyhow for the rest of the time that I nursed. My supply (due to the STRESS, not the pumping or lack of) just diminished. It was almost as if mother nature, because of the baby not stimulating me, and my stress level, "thought" the worst had happened. Just like how I can let down milk everywhere if Saber cries halfway through the house-no stimulation at all.

I ended up not nursing Raiden (my 5 year old) for the entire year, simply because it was too much to deal with the breastfeeding AND supplementing with formula. I needed to have everything for BOTH feedings...and it was stressful to pack all of the nursing pads/cover/lanolin AND the formula items as well. (I leak/let down at the drop of a hat...and I have issues with soreness-so NOT bringing nursing supplies in the diaper bag isn't an option.)

I am currently having nursing issues as well with Saber. I spent the entire first month battling the nipple soreness, and he is now 7 weeks old. That has improved-but Saber is SOOOOO very cranky and colicky acting. I have thought that he was just extremely "needy" compared to my others...but I am beginning to wonder otherwise. I am pretty sure that he has some food sensitivities, and is getting cranky/gassy/irritable from something in my milk. It is like the light bulb went off as I started to think about the way that he has been acting. His pediatrician noticed he was very gassy at his 1 month checkup...there have been a couple occasions where he has suddenly gotten a little "wheezy" sounding for a few hours (not severe...I just notice it, no one else does...), there have been a few instances over the past 7 weeks where he has gotten what looks like baby acne/milk bumps that come and go suddenly...and he has pulled away from me while getting upset during feedings now and then. That, combined with the general colickyness and the NO SLEEPING (which has not improved ONE BIT since birth) I am beginning to suspect my diet as the cause. He has even been spitting up more than my other two babies did.
So...now I am trying to fuigure out the cause(s) and what to do. If it is something simple to cut out like chocolate, or broccoli, nuts, eggs, or what have you...then fine-but I actually suspect that it might be dairy...which I am currently cutting out for a week now to check. If it IS dairy...I don't know how long I can continue to nurse...because dairy is in freaking EVERYTHING. It seems so obvious to cut out milk/yogurt/cheese...but half of the protein bars contain whey...I would pretty much have to eat nothing but lean meat, fruit, veggies, and oatmeal. It might even be more than one food, I don't know. I DO know that I am extremely tired of having a baby who fusses and cries every waking minute-and who is awake MOST of the time-he won't even sleep/nap through the day like most little babies-which makes him even fussier. Added up, I bet he only sleeps/naps/dozes altogether about 7-8 hours a day, and this includes the 10 minute doze in the car, etc.

I told my DH that is Saber would have been first, we would have had 1 child, not three.

I just get really upset when there are nursing mothers around me who have this beautiful, utopian experience with it-like a friend of mine-and all I have is trouble-all three times. I know it is awful to admit-but I was so much less "stressed" when I went to formula after battling nursing for the first few months with the other two. It's like breastfeeding feels more like a "quest" rather than a good, loving experience.

Sorry to rant...I just have been going on about 2-3 hours of sleep total per day and dealing with a cranky baby plus my other two (meaning I can't nap during the day-I have to take care of them.) for almost 2 months. I have no family around, or a babysitter I trust, to give me a little break.

Aphil, I feel you on the food sensitive baby. My son had a sensitivity to milk and soy and I felt like such an idiot when I realized he shouldn't cry that much. Actually, I was just TOLD. I felt like a total failure! Anyway, I did have to cut out milk and milkshakes but found that I could still eat cheese...so maybe it was just the lactose for mine. If you want a protein bar that doesn't have whey you know the Lunas are soy crisp bars and I like them a lot. If your guy is dairy sensitive then he has a 60 percent chance of being soy sensitive from what I read when I was looking all this stuff up wtih my son. If your son is food sensitive, just remember you are saving yourself LOTS of money breastfeeding. My friend's son could only use similac alimentum ready to feed b/c it is the only formula with no corn in it. It was $9/day. She felt extra bad because they thought it was a milk problem for the longest time and the doctor kept telling her to give him corn syrup in every bottle.

I'm finally checking in over here. We've made it 5 weeks so far. Since I'm already back at work I pump 2-3x while here and because Nate was so sleepy and took FOREVER to nurse, I also pump while he eats and then feed him what I've pumped afterward. I wish my eating were better. I keep telling myself I need to at least eat healthier but those stupid sweets keep calling me. I don't know if it's because I couldn't really eat much of it while pregnant because of the gest. diabetes or what. My 6 week post partum checkup is Friday. I originally told myself I would get back at it by Oct. 15 so I haven't quite reached my goal day. In the meantime, I am trying to take small steps and correct minor things here and there.

Aphil—this is so me. Lilly was horrible horrible in the first few weeks. Add to that, she didn't gain weight very quickly and I was so determined to make it work. We ended up 6 months exclusively BF with the exception of one day on soy formula and then 2 more months supplementing before she weaned. William I only made it 6 weeks but he had reflux so bad that when I gave him a bit of formula and he was actually a happy baby for a few minutes, I caved and switched to formula. Of course that only lasted about 3 days before he was projecting that across the room. If I would've done a bit more research and had a better ped (we were in the process of switching) I probably would've kept him on the breast. Once we made the switch to formula, I know what you mean about it being so much easier though.
Nate has been no exception to BF being a PITA right now. I ended up pumping with him also because I just couldn't take care of Lilly and William with Nate attached to my boob for two hours. I tried slings with William and my boobs are just too big and aimed the wrong way to keep a baby attached to them. I wanted to quit daily those first three weeks and now I still have to remind myself why it's such a good thing as I'm tucked away in the supply closet at work pumping when I know I could just as easily tell daycare to just feed him formula (they supply it). I remember it eventually getting easier and faster with Lilly when she was about 3 months old so I'm holding out for that.

I don't know of anyone who has a truly utopian experience with breastfeeding. Even those of us who don't have huge problems tend to have issues. It's not something I do because it is easy (though that's part of the reason; I simpy lift my shirt to feed the baby) but because it's the right thing to do. Even when I was getting kicked at my incision site by my eldest DD, or going through those monstrous constantly-nursing sessions with all three of my kids (it's like they latch on when they're 12 hours old and don't let go for a month and a half), I honestly never considered switching over.

My Linda was sensitive to wheat; she'd projectile vomit every time I ate bread. Thankfully, though, she outgrew that issue by about six months. So even if you do have to cut out a food group, it may only be for a little while.

I've been really lucky with Esther; aside from the limpet interlude she's been hardly any trouble at all. She does teethe on me, though. I don't think she's broken skin yet. Bobbie did that back when. I figure if I don't stop when blood is drawn...

Aphil, have you checked the fora at Mothering.com? They have a forum dedicated to breastfeeding difficulties & are usually pretty helpful.

Esther is now cutting two teeth on the top, so she's cranky. We just pulled a road trip out to Port Arthur (which is quite nearly in Louisiana) and back for a job interview for Robert. So she was in the car for most of that, and is quite happy to be back home where she can crawl around. It wasn't that bad a trip; I'd have hated to take it when she was younger & in the nurse hourly stage. She's at about every 3 or 4 hours now. And we're a little under a month away from hitting a year.

I was going to get started back more concertedly on eating well on Monday, but the trip played havoc with that. I'm doing well today, though I'm a little low on my calories so far (I'm under 400 for the day). Esther's napping, & when she wakes up we'll be going to HEB for more fruit.

Somebody asked me if I was excited about nursing twins. I guess they remember me nursing Eli for what is a pretty long time by U.S. standards (10.5 mos). I was like "are you NUTS!" I did get a twin nursing pilow from a fellow mom yesterday so I was pumped to have that before I took my nursing multiples class.

I didn't really enjoy breastfeeding until WELL into it (when I had gotten the hang of it). I think the best thing about breastfeeding is that it gave me confidence in my mothering. Eli had to be in the NICU for meconium and didn't eat the formula they gave him well (though they weren't SUPPOSED to give him any). I felt such guilt that he had a rough start that I nursed. It made up for those feelings of being a bad mother because I was sacrificing for my child like I thought a good mom should. It has given me so much confidence, esp. after we learned that he had milk/soy sensitivity and I had to cut that out of my diet. I really felt like a hero then since we couldn't afford the hydrolyzed formulas. It was REALLY REALLY hard and I pumped for the first 4 mos, but ya know, that helped the confidence even more in the end...feeling like I stuck with something that sucked for my child. When a mom lacks confidence, it translates into bad things like spoiling and letting kids walk over you down the road...so I am glad I got my issues cleared up before he was old enough to take advantage of them

My friends say I am a nursing **** now (I hate that term) but if I can successfully nurse twins they better WATCH OUT. I will be downright cocky

Mary