Milking Matters…

After nursing Barrett, I often stated that while everyone said that breastfeeding was natural, it really wasn’t … because it was work. For the time being, I am changing the tune I am singing a bit to say, breastfeeding is natural. But it isn’t easy.

Babies, whether pre or full-term, have to eat. This is no shock. How you feed them, is up to you. I choo choo choose breastfeeding. My choice is partially because I believe the breast is the best thing I can offer and partially for financial reasons {Sources estimate that formula costs, on average, $100 a month … and that’s if you use the basic kind. That’s a big chunk o change for our fam.}. The process of plumping up your newborn {no matter the method} takes an unimaginable amount of time in the first few weeks and months. If a newborn gets 8 or more feedings a day … that’s a huge commitment that you didn’t have before your babe. That reality was a slap in the face with Baby B and is much less of an adjustment with Jonah.

With Barrett’s early arrival, we encountered obstacles with the breastfeeding process. While my mammary memories may be a little fuzzy due to lack of sleep and emotional duress {the reason I have no blogging record from the first few weeks of Barrett’s visits to the Boobfet}, I know that there were certain stressors that made me want to say the breast is history. First of all, the hospital “issued” me a shield. This is not like some sort of badge of honor you get for popping a child out of your princess penelope, it’s a silicone sucker for pre-term infants or any kiddo who cannot latch. Being a first-time feeder, I had no idea what the ramifications of relying on a shield could be. I tried to wean B from the shield on my own … but no luck {he would scream. I would cry. I would need a drink. I couldn’t have a drink because I was breastfeeding. Just a bad sitch for all parties}. I also met with a lactation consultant in Omaha {who was awful, btw} and she offered no assistance. So, for seven months, I hauled the shield with me to and fro, every which where. It was just a pain. And a milky mess. And it diminished supply. So this time around, I was determined … no shield! Second, we did syringe supplemental feedings for about a month. While this is a necessary time sucker, it also is a sleep sucker. Additionally, much like many milking mamas, I dealt with the whole engorgement business {I was a walking sideshow … think Real Housewives of Orange County implant city}. I also had a short bout with mastitis. And, of course, if you’ve been following BOTB forevs, you may have heard me make mention of my modified diet because of his fussing and fuming and spitting and screaming {something I rarely even spoke of … okay … just kidding}. We went without soy for 6 months and dairy for 7. So, breastfeeding and I were not fast friends the first go-round.

So, this time would be different, I decided. First thing: No shield. Well … nice thought but when your child’s mouth is small and your milkers get massive … you have to make modifications. So, once again, I left the hospital with a shield. Second: I would not let myself get engorged. Again, awesome idea in theory … but when you are pumping for milk every 2-3 hours, your milkers morph into mountains {of note, I acquired an abrasion from the pumping flange (size fail) and was prescribed a cream called Triple Nipple to apply post every feeding. I have been watching very carefully and have yet to identify a third nipple on my person. I will let you know if anything pops up in the near future}. Third: I wouldn’t change my diet this time. Well … although I haven’t made a huge adjustment, I am currently cutting drinking cow’s milk and taking cheese off of anything that is made better with cheese {we will meet again, cheese, I promise. Please wait for me.}. While Jonah seems like a completely content babe {knock on any piece of wood you can find} he does have mucousy stools, which is a sign a GI sensitivity so we are treading lightly in that territory. So, all in all, the plan isn’t exactly going as I had hoped.

Never fear though, MilkWorks is here. After trying to locate a great resource for those who lactate in Omaha and failing miserably, I have been working with a milk savvy maven named Ann at MilkWorks in Lincoln. On my first visit there, I was so engorged {It was ridic. I could only sleep on my back at night and it felt as if my boobs had been the losers in an HBO fight night} that she first noted I needed to pump to empty. Pump to empty, I did … and I left the session with 14 and a half ounces of milk madness {After a 20 minute feed for mr. J. Did you know that some momma’s milk doesn’t come in for a month?!}. No joke. She said I set some new sort of record {I’m pretty sure I will be getting a trophy any day now} and that while some peeps can feed their peanuts, I could easily nurse the whole neighborhood. She also assisted in weaning big baby J off the shield which is awesome sauce but for now, he can only latch on one side … so ms. lefty is likely feeling a little left out. Another mahvelous outcome from MilkWorks … we are supplementing with a bottle instead of syringe. This means that instead of it taking two to tango, either Adam or I can have slumber during a feeding session.

Our current schedule looks like this:

– If it’s a right side session, I feed for 20ish minutes. I pump. I feed the pumped liquid gold via bottle {this, sadly, is currently taking anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour … but the time will be cut as Jonah gets more ounces and more days}

-If it’s a left side session, I pump and fill the bottle. At night, Adam feeds the bottle {again, it’s time-consuming but it works} and during the day, I do the bottle.

We are up to 3 hour increments during the day {little Jonah bug sleeps… and sleeps… and sleeps} and 4 hours {max} at night. And… best news of all … Jonah is gaining! Which means OPERATION:Milktastic is working. At last weight check {we’ve also had less than with B. I think because this is not our first rodeo and we’ve got street cred now, people are hovering a little less} Jonah tipped the scales at 4 pounds 14 ounces. Woo hoo!

In other news, Barrett may have found his future calling as a boob man. He can identify all the parts of the breast pump and he is quite inquisitive regarding the entire pumping process. I’m hoping he can get a job some day as an engineer for Medela. The price you pay for their “premium” pumps is absolutely astronomical. There’s got to be money in that part of the boob biz.

For those moms-to-be who expect to birth a babe, throw them on the boob and go on about their business, that could be your fate … but if it isn’t, you don’t need say bye bye booby goodbye right off the bat. Because breastfeeding isn’t easy. Not everyone produces milk like they want to. Not everyone can get a great latch. Not everyone is into the whole process. But specifically for our pre-prime peanuts, we have chosen to have our babes on the boob {did you know: If you have a full-term babe, your body produces 20 calorie breastmilk. If you have a premie, your body produces 24 calorie breastmilk. Total craziness if you ask me.}. The skin-to-skin time and of course, the nutrients derived from bellying up to the boob are 100% unique to breastfeeding {and selfishly, the weight peeling power, is too}. So, while my breastfeeding journey with J dog has started out similarly to that with big brother B, I have a very different view having been here and done that. And I highly doubt that you will find me soon saying the breast is history…