So, yesterday, I took James to the LC and we got him on the scale. He weighed in at 10 lbs and 6 oz- a full 10 ounces less than he had weighed 6 weeks prior. I promptly burst into tears, of course. But the LC (with the hospital where James was born) was wonderful, and we figured out pretty quickly that my milk supply had basically plummeted- due in part to James' long stretches of night sleep, and his nursing only every 3 hours, and his short nursings, and the fact that he has a very distracting big brother.
When I first had Nathan, there was a mom in our breastfeeding group with supply issues, and she would pump after every nursing, and I remember thinking, "That is cuckoo. If it came to that, I'd just go to formula." And when the LC prescribed fenugreek capsules, and pumping 6-8 times a day, my first thought was, "That is cuckoo, no way." But I took home a hospital grade pump (and it is amazing compared to the Pump In Style) and got some fenugreek and we are going back Monday for another weight check.
Jeff keeps saying that the boys are different kids, and it doesn't matter if they are fed differently, and I do believe that. But the LC also said something that nailed it- she said, "I can tell exclusive breastfeeding is important to you." And it is. I don't know why- I know plenty of kids who weren't breastfed at all, and they are all wonderful and healthy and have great parents. And Monday, if James is not gaining, I will be going for formula no questions asked. But I feel like I have to give this my best shot. He's been nursing plenty, and gotten several small bottles of expressed milk, and today he has pooped TWICE (and it's only been two days since his last poop). So I'm optimistic. Either way he'll be fine- he rolled over this morning and is the happiest baby on the planet despite all this.
Nathan had no nightmares Friday night but nightmares again last night- Jeff went in with him again, and thinks the Thomas nightlight might be hurting more than it is helping. So we'll try tonight without it. Jeff going in and laying down with him may be an okay solution, since the nightmares happen just before Jeff usually goes to bed.
As for me, I haven't cried since the LC appointment. I'm still going to see my doctor Tuesday, but I feel like we're all on the road back to okay.
(Also, I think the LC totally figured me for sort of dirty hippie mom- when she first saw me I had James in his sling, and she said, "Oooh, I love your sling." Then when we weighed James- "Oh, I love cloth diapers." Then when we were taking his history- "No epidural? Wow!" I guess maybe I am. But the no epidural thing was not by choice. Still, it made me feel a little better than my doctor does- she always reacts to the cloth diapers like I am part Amish.)
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