Supplementing

[nekooflove]

Ok, here's what is going on. I'm dead tired. Even with Deric taking over one feeding a night via pumping I still am not getting the quality of sleep I need and I'm starting to get sick. I have to be back at work in 1.5 weeks, so I need to get this together.

I'm pretty much a hippie when it comes to parenting a baby, following the idea of newborns

Comments

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[ainobethie]

Feeding in public is something that I had to get over and it really is a psychological battle, in a way. The primary function of breasts is the production of baby food. They've been horribly oversexualized to the point that it's embarrassing. To help me, I made a joke out of it. I wanted to get onesies that said "Breastfed. Stick around for the show" and stuff like that. But really, this is what it is: You make baby food. That is a SUPER POWER. Only you can make the perfect food for your infant. Until I overcame my shyness, I made my own shawl. It was an utter piece of crap but it went all around me and went down to my knees. Only a fly with a tiny spy camera could see what was going on under there. If you want me to make you one, I will be glad to!

When I needed to increase my supply for Rachel, I got a supplement from an herbal store. I don't remember what it was called but I just went in and said, "I need a pill that will make more breastmilk." It worked wonders. There's also a tea but I'm not a fan of tea, so that was a no-go. I've also heard from others that beer of all things will make you HUGE. Now, for that I would think that it would be a pump-and-dump deal for a while but if you keep that pattern up, your supply will naturally increase.

I am not against formula supplementation or anything. (I'm only truly against formula when it's the mother who says "Yeah, my boobs work but I just don't want to." All. My. Rage. You can still share them with your husband!) It's the choice of the mother and kudos to you for the boob juice! If pumping is physically uncomfortable for you, consider getting a larger shield. It may be too small and restrictive for your nipple. That would not only cause pain, but restrict milk flow as well.

Also, I would recommend getting a hospital-grade pump if you're going to be doing this at school. They work better than manuals and any electric thing you get from a store. Pumping both sides at the same time will help you maximize output. Also, if you're capable, pump while you nurse. For example, doing a football hold on one side while pumping the other yields more milk on both sides. Then when she's done, you can get whatever is left out of the side she used.

And above all, consult a lactation specialist. They're called specialists for a reason. :)

Remember: you will absolutely not run out of milk unless you go at least 12 hours, but that really depends on the individual. I stopped nursing Rachel after 13 months and I seriously still had some milk production going on THREE YEARS LATER. Probably tasted like old cheese, but it was there. *shrugg*