I can’t get over how supported I feel by all of you. Your response to my post yesterday was amazing and leaves me feeling like I have a team of Moms rallying behind me and that is a good feeling. Thank you!
My appointment with my lactation consultant yesterday was so enlightening – we may have an answer to what is going on with Elijah.
He’s hungry. Very hungry. And my milk supply seems to be a little low, even though he’s gaining and filling his diapers properly, he’s still just a hungry boy, which also equals an angry boy.
So, the plan? Increase my supply by taking supplements (fenugreek and blessed thistle), pump after each nursing session for ten minutes during the next 48 hours, give a supplement to Elijah of breastmilk or formula, when we feel it’s necessary and perform breast compressions while nursing.
What does this mean? All boobs, all the time.
But what does this really mean?
We are starting to see a boy who doesn’t cry whenever he’s awake. It’s a beautiful thing, we like what we see.
I know this may not be THE ANSWER, but it’s a great start.
And all of you amazing people who left me a comment, e-mailed me, tweeted me, etc, I wish I could respond, I wish I had the time to respond but I just don’t. But I swear to you, I have read EVERY SINGLE WORD that’s been sent my way. I appreciate your love and your support way more than you will ever, ever imagine.
You make me sleep better at night, knowing you are behind me. And Elijah helped me sleep better last night when he slept the longest stretch he has slept so far.
So far today? IT IS GOOD.
Yah! Glad to hear that it is something fixable! Good luck and I hope you get more long stretches of sleep. Beware though, I think you will have an eater on your hands for the reast of your life. Better start stocking the pantry now.
I am so glad that your appointment went well and that you have a starting point!!
Ha! The equation of hungry boy=angry boy doesn’t change much through the years. My teen boys are much more cooperative when fed.
I’m glad you are seeing some hope!
I’m so glad something good came out of your meeting yesterday!
My son (who is now 5) nursed every 90 minutes until he was 10 months old. It was indeed, all boobs, all the time.
I learned quicker with my twins to supplement with formula if I ever wanted to remove my arse from the couch again.
I hope today is a better day for you!
glad to hear that
gosh, I am so happy to hear you have a starting point. And also, that today is good!
As I sit at my desk, pumping, I’m so glad you’ve gotten some answers for your very hungry boy. I hope it works. And obviously yours will be the popular house in the neighborhood, what with all the exposed boob.
I’m so glad. Happy days.
Love.
Steph
I am so pleased that things are changing. Will keep you all in prayers
beth, I had the SAME problem with my milk…I had a pump-in-style advance and it didn’t pull out the milk like we hoped…so I rented a Medela Symphony, which I don’t know if that is what you are already using, but let me tell you, it is an amazing machine. I also did the fenugreek, get ready to smell like syrup in your arm pits….I think I sweated like you as well. I wish I would have used the Symphony and fenugreek through engorgment, but it really did increase my milk supply. I am still renting and using it (Mason is 6 1/2 months old now). It is worth every penny. I know you have a million people giving you advice right now, I also know you are an awesome Mom and you will rock this! Good luck. Feel free to contact me with questions about the symphony. I feel like a freaking expert now. agcg05@gmail.com
I’m so glad today is better for you. I read your post from yesterday and today, and I instantly remembered the hard first days with my first son. I thought he was nursing fine, but he also screamed all the time. My mom was over and I was nursing him, it took over an hour and he still couldn’t settle. She gently said that she didn’t think it should be like that. I was a mess, made my husband refuse visitors and I cried all the time. I finally saw the lactation consultant, and my sweet boy was hungry. He wasn’t able to latch on correctly, but as a new mom, I just didn’t know. I had to pump and feed him through a tube, until the consultant kindly said he is just never going to be able to nurse and get enough to be full. I pumped and bottle fed him for over a year. It was such a relief to see him fill his tummy and not cry all the time. But until then, I thought I was a bad mom, and that I was losing my mind because it wasn’t like everyone said it should be.
Your baby is beautiful, and I hope that now things continue to get better every day. Take care.
I try the mother’s tea (supplement for increasing milk supply) and loved it!!! http://www.lunareclipse-babies.com/page7/nursingtea.html
Their is nothing better then to have a content full belly baby!!! Praying that your milk supply increase to his demand and that you 2 will have fun and enjoyed that time of closeness
Other think that might help is warm compresses before nursing (to help bring milk out faster) Drinking lots of water and eating iron rich food and eating lots of snack during the day! the more fueled up you are the better you will produced! If your iron is a bit low that might explain the low supply.
Praying for you
Sherry!!! I am pumping too!!!! Too funny.
sounds like better (easier) days are around the corner. So glad for you, for him. xoxox
~emily
so happy to hear that you received alot of answers yesterday. i hope things go alot smoother with elijah. sounds like he has a big appetite. and, by the way…we listen because we care.
I am so glad things are better today.
I read your post from yesterday and instantly remember the hard first few weeks with my first son. He screamed constantly, and wanted to nurse constantly. My mom was over once and after watching me nurse him for over an hour and him still not able to settle down, she gently said that she didn’t think this was how it was supposed to be. I was a wreck, having my husband refuse visitors and crying all the time myself. I finally saw a lactation consultant and found out that he was not able to latch on correctly. My baby was never getting full. I fed him pumped breast milk through a tube for awhile, to see if he could learn to latch on. Finally the consultant said that he would never be able to get full nursing, so I pumped for over a year and bottle fed him. It was such a relief to see him fill his tummy and not cry all the time. I was ready for it with my second baby, but that one had no problems.
I hope things continue to get better for you, take care.
yay! today stay good!! and if it doesn’t….we’re here. i loved seeing that sweet face in person last night. i adore him.
Yay! So glad for you, you can hear the relief in your words. I had an eater too, and he hasn’t stopped since…my wallet shudders at the thought of how he and his brother are going to decimate my pantry in a few years from now!
Hope this upswing continues, and you get to see more and more of your happy baby!
Arent LC’s a Godsend?? I adored mine so so so much. I still call her for advise (16 months later) It’s amazing how many “ah ha” moments you have while they inform you.
I am glad you guys are doing better… Dont forget to relax! It helps your milk more than you’ll know…
As creepy as it sounds.. I wish I was closer so I could share some breast milk with you. But you are surrounded by lots of beautiful lactating women that I bet will offer the same!
Love you.. Chin up.. you’re such a great mommy. This time goes by so so fast..
Hi Beth!
I love to read your writing. I just wanted to say that I am rejoicing with you today. I would love to hear about how big brother and big sister are handling their new roles (individually). Be Blessed!
HOO-ray for lactation consultants! They are such an amazing group of helpful women! MWAH! Big kisses to all of them!
I am so glad you are finding answers. We had similar things happen when I tried to nurse my oldest. I just wasn’t making enough milk to keep the little guy happy. I had no idea why he would just scream all the time . . . You’re doing great!
Doesn’t even the hope of having some relief bring you some calm? I’m so glad things are headed in the right direction for you.
So glad that’s what it was!! When I told my midwife what I was going through with my little guy she didn’t even hint that I might not be making enough milk. I would pump for a half hour and MAYBE get an ounce. =( Although I wanted my son to be breastmilk exclusive, the formula made for a different baby, like you said. He was a voracious eater. Now he’s the pickiest kid I know…go figure. I totally know the relief you’re feeling now. I hope you can just enjoy him now that a little piece of the puzzle has been solved
I’m so glad you are closer to something that will work. I read your post yesterday and it brought back so many memories for me. It’s interesting how isolated we feel when stressed/tired/overwhelmed, and then we we share we realize we aren’t alone. And that’s a very comforting feeling. He’s adorable in the picture above, heck, all his pictures are adorable! Glad his tummy is fuller – makes for a happier baby!!
OH… a possible solution! A love a good solution. I hope this is it and that hungry boy can fill up so that he settles a bit and can be more enjoyed than he already is.
My daughter was like that. She was actually happier sometimes eating pumped breastmilk from a bottle. Because she ate it faster it seemed to help her feel full and be happier longer. Good luck!
Oh I’m so glad you have found some relief! That sure has to help everyone’s disposition!
This makes me so happy, especially knowing that you have an answer–that you’re not doing anything wrong, it’s just that you gave birth to a very hungry baby. You’re going to get through this, with your sanity (and nipples) still intact, I promise.
So glda things are going better today! Been thinking about you alot!
I hope that everyday is better then the previous.
hi beth – congrats on baby eli! he’s beautiful. i just wanted to let you know that although it’s been a few years, i remember those difficult difficult newborn days. i had two babies just like eli – so hungry and so grouchy (because of the hunger). pumping definitely helped.
just know that you have many empathizers. and you are allowed to feel tired and frustrated.
fenugreek REALLY helps boost my supply. just be prepared for smelling a little like maple syrup.
seriously.
worth it? yes.
at least it’s not a foul smell.
So glad you’re finding some relief, Beth. The internet support is a wonderful thing, yes? Just please make sure you give yourself some credit…You are the one who thought there might be a problem, You are the one who contacted the lc, You are the one solving the problem, YOU are an amazing mom to three beautiful children!!!!
I went through the exact same routine. It did get better!
Total happy dance for you!! So fantastic that the fix for his crankiness could be so “simple”.
And I’ll five hundredth the sentiment. You are awesome.
What a handsome little man! I hope things keep getting better for you.
Boobies always fix things! Glad the lactation specialist could help you! Hope to see more smiling pictures of your little prince soon! Take care!
Woo hoo! I’m glad you have a starting point! Those lactation consultants are wonderful, aren’t they? When I had my son, I joined a breastfeeding support group through the hospital I delivered, and there were always at least 2 LCs there. They are so helpful and I even started asking them my non-boob questions! I’ve heard fenugreek works wonders.
I also wanted to add that you just did all new moms a world of service with your last post. I had similar experiences with my son, and I always felt that I couldn’t say anything because I had a wonderful healthy boy, and who was I to complain? It made for a very lonely time. I think that if more people had your courage, more and more people would step forward and ask for helping hands or just listening ears. Thank you so much!
ahh, glad to see he’s settling down more and you found a reason for all that crying. He is gorgeous!
Oh yea for some possible answers! Good luck keeping up with the new routine.
He is such a precious baby, I could look at his pictures all day.
Wishing you the best success! Fenugreek and mother’s milk tea really increased my supply when my daughter was born!! ps. Elijah is such a cutie pie:)
What awesome news! But what’s most awesome to me is the amazing response from yesterday. First of all that so many moms “have been there” and most of all that so many were willing to share their stories and the outcomes. That was truly heartwarming.
Now I believe that, with the help of your massive support group and your lactation consultant, the corner has been turned. I suppose there will still be rough spots but not rough nonstop. I’m so happy.
Glad that you got some answers! Praying that you and Elijah have turned a corner!
Oh I am so so glad you figured some things out and that it’s such a simple solution! Well, simple in the sense that there’s no crazy allergy or other problem. Not simple in the sense of…oh poor boobs! I hope this works out and Eli begins to feel much better!
I am so glad! Hopefully this will be the ticket and you end Elijah are on your way to many more sleep-FILLED nights! My 4th (and my baby) was a hungry baby at first, too. I nursed but didn’t feel like she was getting enough. So I did something I’d never done with my older 3 kids…I SUPPLEMENTED! Only had to do it for a little while…but what a relief for both of us. She was much happier for longer stretches and I was a lot less sore and a little more rested. I’m saying a prayer that your hungry baby’s belly is filled and he is content and that you can get a chance to just breathe in the peace, quiet and enjoy your happy baby!!!
HOORAY!!!!
Okay, I had a good laugh at the boob comment.
I’m glad that you were able to have a good visit with the lactation consultant. I would have never thought to do that. I live overseas, and it is common here to drink a special tea for breastfeeding. I do that, and during my time in the States last year (when I was b/f there with son #1), I found some b/f tea at Whole Foods Market. It has special herbs…and works wonderfully. It’s not cheap, but definitely worth the price.
I feel bad for blog-stalking and not commenting yesterday, but I was right there pulling for you with everyone else! You are a dedicated momma, to be admired!
Thanks for sharing your ups & downs with all of us. It makes the vast world of parenting seem a little smaller and makes the universe of moms seem much bigger.
That is the best news. I had a problem breastfeeding my now 6yr old and eventually had to put her on formula which made her a happy baby.
I am praying that this time around my body will do better and I can give it a second try.
So glad to hear that one day and some tweaking has made such a difference. My youngest was SO ravenous and I was a really good milk producer, but that kid LOVED to eat….and eat…and EAT! Made him happy and he grew into a mini-sumo baby.
Our nursing sessions would go about 30-40 minutes and then he’d take a little break and come back for more. Sounds crazy, but the doc said some kids like to eat and that his weight was ok. So yes, boobs, all the time. Topless, most of the time. Good luck…he’s just so darned cute!