OK... so I had a little scuffle with the doctor's office this past week... I've made it quite clear that I exclusively breastfeed Hailey. A choice that I am quite proud of myself for sticking to (not that there is anything wrong with those who choose not to, it is very difficult and sometimes a complete pain in the ass and I can totally understand those who go the formula route) and I plan to continue breastfeeding until Hailey can take whole milk...at the very least until she starts solids.
A few weeks ago, I noticed my supply was extremely low. I went from pumping 4-5oz bottles to barely pumping a half ounce. This concerned me, and on top of that Hailey hadn't pooped in 2 days***. I ramped up my H2O intake..maybe I was dehydrated? I made sure to take my vitamin.... but still I seemed to be lacking.
Being a first time mother (see also: nervous wreck over analyzer) I scoured through The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and What to Expect the First Year (the bibles of motherhood) and all of them said that as long as baby is excreting regularly, she was getting enough milk***.... um.... ok not happening... then I also read that should you start a hormonal birth control your milk supply can decrease.... at my postpartum appointment, my doctor had started me on a pill- so I called and asked what kind of pill they had prescribed to me...I had made a point to tell them I was exclusively breastfeeding at the appointment so surely they would have taken that into account...right?..WRONG! They'd given me a pill containing estrogen and 2 weeks after taking it they inform me that it will decrease your milk supply. Long story short- pediatrician said Hailey was just fine and obviously getting the nutrition she needs because at 9 weeks she is almost 12lbs- and my doctor put me on a medication to increase milk supply which now I could pretty much go toe- to- toe with any soda fountain.
ANYWAY... the whole point of this post is that during this whole ordeal... Hailey was FINE... like she knew the whole time everything would work out. One night, terrified that my poor helpless child was starving I prepared a formula bottle and offered it to her. She would NOT take it. She just pushed it away... as if to say " Hey Mom, umm your boob is much more delicious than this tofu-milk that you're trying to give me.... keep trying, YOU CAN DO IT! Don't give it up! If I could clap my hands I'd show you how much I believe in you!! But I can't so i'll just fart!"
And I didn't give up. And now I wish she was only pooping every 2 days because she too could go toe-to-toe with any soda fountain (GROSS...sorry).
*** The Pediatrician said some breastfed babies can go 10 days without pooping, but they are still well nourished. (but man I would be craaaaaaaaannnnkkyy)
*** The books also did say that after an adjustment period your boobs will feel "empty" but they are still very much so in production...
A few weeks ago, I noticed my supply was extremely low. I went from pumping 4-5oz bottles to barely pumping a half ounce. This concerned me, and on top of that Hailey hadn't pooped in 2 days***. I ramped up my H2O intake..maybe I was dehydrated? I made sure to take my vitamin.... but still I seemed to be lacking.
Being a first time mother (see also: nervous wreck over analyzer) I scoured through The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and What to Expect the First Year (the bibles of motherhood) and all of them said that as long as baby is excreting regularly, she was getting enough milk***.... um.... ok not happening... then I also read that should you start a hormonal birth control your milk supply can decrease.... at my postpartum appointment, my doctor had started me on a pill- so I called and asked what kind of pill they had prescribed to me...I had made a point to tell them I was exclusively breastfeeding at the appointment so surely they would have taken that into account...right?..WRONG! They'd given me a pill containing estrogen and 2 weeks after taking it they inform me that it will decrease your milk supply. Long story short- pediatrician said Hailey was just fine and obviously getting the nutrition she needs because at 9 weeks she is almost 12lbs- and my doctor put me on a medication to increase milk supply which now I could pretty much go toe- to- toe with any soda fountain.
ANYWAY... the whole point of this post is that during this whole ordeal... Hailey was FINE... like she knew the whole time everything would work out. One night, terrified that my poor helpless child was starving I prepared a formula bottle and offered it to her. She would NOT take it. She just pushed it away... as if to say " Hey Mom, umm your boob is much more delicious than this tofu-milk that you're trying to give me.... keep trying, YOU CAN DO IT! Don't give it up! If I could clap my hands I'd show you how much I believe in you!! But I can't so i'll just fart!"
And I didn't give up. And now I wish she was only pooping every 2 days because she too could go toe-to-toe with any soda fountain (GROSS...sorry).
*** The Pediatrician said some breastfed babies can go 10 days without pooping, but they are still well nourished. (but man I would be craaaaaaaaannnnkkyy)
*** The books also did say that after an adjustment period your boobs will feel "empty" but they are still very much so in production...
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