What is Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the process of a woman feeding an infant or young child with milk from her breasts. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. Also i...
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***DON'T GIVE UP BF***
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Unless you are 110% sure with your decision to do so. I was weak and gave up when my DS was just about 4wks. I didn't really regret my decision much at first, but for the past month I have been wishing I could go back and do it all over again. I feel so guilty for failing my little guy. I had 3 different LC's helping us in the hospital, but none of us could get him to latch and I ended up relying on a nipple shield. I was so proud of DS and myself when (after lots of work and patience for the both of us) I got him to latch w/o the nipple shield after being home for about 2wks. There was really no good reason for me to quit BF, I guess I just felt that with everything going on that it would be easier, but it really wasn't overall. We of course had the latching problem for a bit, and I felt like he was literally attached to my boob. LOL.. He would eat for 20-30min and would sometimes be ready to eat again 30min to an hour later. I realize now that this would have only gotten better with time, and his constant eating definitely brought my milk in quick and I feel started me off with a really good supply. The first time I pumped (2wks old) I got 5oz, which from what I hear is pretty darn good.
To add to the constant eating, problems latching, depression and no real family support for BF, my world turned upside down on our third day in the hospital. While doing a check up on Elijah they heard a heart murmur and decided to run several tests. The pedi came back a couple hours later with the horrible news. Elijah's bilirubin levels were shooting up quick and he needed to start phototherapy right away. We ended up doing the light therapy for 24+ hrs in our room, but this wasn't really what scared us. When doing the ECHO and EKG, then sending them to a pedi cardiologist at a Children's hospital, they found out that our precious baby had two holes in his heart, a small ASD and a moderate sized VSD. At his first cardiologist visit they told us he very well may need open heart surgery. I won't go into detail now b/c this is already getting long. He's doing well, but still may need surgery. Not really sure why I just went into all of that, probaby just to try and make myself feel better for giving up. Those are all just excuses though and really more of a reason to BF and give my baby the best. I'm not against FF in anyway, I'm just trying to say, that if you had your heart set on BF your child, to give it all you've got and stick with it. Sorry this was so long, I've just been really upset w/myself and needed to get this off my chest. Posted on 11/05/09, 11:11 am |
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It sounds like a difficult time all things considered. I hope Elijah's heart is recovering. We had PDA which cleared up on its own and phototherapy for a couple of nights and I remember it well.
I am scared by the idea that once you stop breastfeeding you can't change your mind and go back to it. I've been told that all the sterilising bottles and buying formula etc is harder work than bf but the upside is that you can have a night off and let your partner do the feeds or go out without the baby if you need to. My partner really thought he was helping by suggesting he give a bottle so I could sleep early on but I really wanted to bf too and had to resist despite being exhausted. My boy is 5 months and I haven't had 8h sleep in one block since he was born. I hope you've taken advantage of the bottle feeding by getting some sleep. I was formula fed and don't think there's anything wrong with it. We also gave our boy top up bottles in hospital when he was jaundiced and formula through his naso-gastric tube. You're a good Mum! If he has to be in and out of hospital, formula feeding may well be better anyway - I think it's less effortful for the baby. Good luck with everything. 
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You know you CAN go back to bf. There are ways to relactate and if you really want this talk to your doc about it. I personally know someone who stopped nursing and two months later during sex her milk started dripping. Your body is primed to bf now and if adoptive moms can do it from scratch you can do it after having given birth.
Now if you don't think you can go through all this to go back that's fine. Many babies have formula and are healthy and you definitely had a lot of difficulties at the start that made you quit. Don't feel guilty about it - you are doing all you can and you're only human. But if you seriously want to go back it's possible. Heck in old time when a mom died at birth the baby would go to suckle at grandma's breast and she would relactate after some time. You can do it!
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First of all, so sorry about all of your problems! You are a good mom....I would suggest you post your experience in the preggo group, since many there may wish to bf,and may also give up prematurely..
However, if you gave up and have regrets now,as KAja writes, you can go back..it will be hard, but not impossible. Here are some links: http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/B... http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/B...—Starting%20Out%20Right.asp http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/W... http://www.drjacknewman.com/help/W... http://www.asklenore.info/breastfe...#adoptive_breastfeeding If women who adopt or have babis via surrogacy can bf, so can you, since you have actually gone thru the lactation process int he first place! If you need any more help, jsut ask!
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