geminigirl | (no subject)

Still musing on breastfeeding...

-you're mother to a child, not a breast pump
...a very true statement, and when pumping interferes with my ability to be mother to my child, it is a problem. And sometimes, it does. I need to make sure she's sleeping or that I can put her down long enough to pump during the day when her father isn't home. This is a problem.

And a comment from Dr. Jack Newman somewhere about how sometimes it's better for microsupply mothers to stop focusing on their supply, on the pumping and medications and all that, and to focus on bonding with and loving the babies.

And that's true too.

I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing. That may be the hardest thing about parenthood...there's a distinct lack of feedback from the places it matters most.

We had a reasonably nice weekend otherwise. Friday, Naomi had an appointment and got two vaccinations. She slept for a good part of the afternoon, but then woke up and was really fussy. She ran a low grade fever for a while-nothing worrisome, normal vaccine type stuff. Saturday we went and picked up some more donated milk, I got a few notes written that I needed to finish, and Naomi seemed to be feeling better. Today we went to breakfast, did the grocery shopping, and I took a nap while Naomi and her father went to Home Depot. We're watching Ice Road Truckers, and Miss Cranky Pants is asleep. She looks adorable at the moment though...extra cute for some reason. I think she needs to cause she knows she's wearing her cranky pants.

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your post reminded me of the breakfast club line, "your old man & my old man should get together & go bowling."

paige & naomi sound like birds of a feather today. totally crabby, yet sleeping while we watch ice road truckers. :)

uh oh... the crab stirs. i hope you have a lovely evening!

I have been there momma! I was making a goal for 8 weeks (so you've done MUCH better than me) and finally had to stop at 7. I went back and forth even after I stopped but I just hated the all the time pumping, and really, a lot of why I wanted to breastfeed was to bond with Noah. I still get sad when I think about it. I'll have a much better support system this time though and I'm hoping this one will be better! You're doing an amazing job!!

I so feel for you sweetie. Please remember that especially as she is getting breastmilk the bond and memories are really important. I lost Froggy's first 3 months to a haze of crying and stress.

Is there any way to cuddle with Naomi while pumping? I just figured out how to sit with Bailey cuddled next to me while I pump. My chair allows me to put her laying down between my leg and the arm of the chair....but I have also thought of doing something similar with her on the couch when she gets big enough.

Even if you have a large supply, it is still important to focus on bonding and loving her. My therapist said to me today, "The baby won't thank you for pumping faithfully every 3-4 hours." That really hit home for me.
Be well.

My Mom has said time and time again that the baby will never thank you for -breastfeeding, unmedicated childbirth, etc. She's right.

Are you still pumping?

fwiw, I nursed Nathaniel for 22 months and he doesn't recall a minute of it. Its strange to have him watch me feed the baby with no memory of all of our nursies.

I wish I could make this easier for you.

Right as rain. Sigh.

Yes, I'm still pumping and we aren't supplementing. (No need yet) My new goal is 12 weeks and I'll go from there. Definitely not pumping as often, though. Between 3-5 hours or when I feel I need to @ night. When we do start needing to supplement, she'll need to be on Nutramigen, so I am in the works of having our Ped. try to get our ins. co. to cover it.