My nursing Story for Adopt a Mom
I have four nursing stories I could tell. In the stories a couple had latch issues, a couple had blocked ducts, one had reflux, a NICU stay, a couple had jaundice issues. And one common theme was lack of support from the professionals. One thing always present though, was my determination to succeed. That said, I'll tell my most recent story, James.
James was born 11/19/05 at 9 pounds-6 ounces after 24 hours in intense labor. He came out looking up and eyes wide open. He still views life this way. James had a great latch from the beginning. I was worried as with both my girls my nipples bled and were raw those early weeks and I had continued pain for weeks there after. However with James, I never got all that sore but I did stay on top of his latch. James had to be on antibiotics due to a fever I had in labor. While we stayed in the hospital I felt my milk come in as I became severely engorged. James also became jaundiced, more so each day.
Finally the 3rd day they released James and home we went. However I became concerned when James would not stop crying and he had red spots (turns out they were normal newborn skin stuff) and I continued to have engorgement issues that I thought were blocked ducts. I went to his pediatrician who instructed me to begin supplements because he had urate crystals and was down nearly a pound. I countered with the fact that I felt he would be fine and that all three of my kids had some crystals before my milk came in. As well both my girls had lost that much plus. She said, "If you just continue to breastfeed without formula, he'll probably be fine. But we're not a third world country."
I walked out stunned and freaked out. I got home and told Keith what she said. He called a Lactation Consultant and got us an appointment for the following day (Thanksgiving Day). He told James' ped that we would not be in the next day for the weight check she wanted. We met with the LC and she determined that I did not have blocked ducts but new mammary tissue that swelled during engorgement when my milk came in.
She instructed me in how to pump (I never could let down for them before) but this time I did. All this milk came out and I knew my milk was in fully. I just breastfed him round the clock. If he even looked in my direction, I latched him. He quickly regained the pound lost (by 2 weeks), his jaundice improved slowly but surely.
He's a happy, nursing 8 month old who occasional receives pumped breastmilk when I have appointments or for the rare but occasional night out.
James was born 11/19/05 at 9 pounds-6 ounces after 24 hours in intense labor. He came out looking up and eyes wide open. He still views life this way. James had a great latch from the beginning. I was worried as with both my girls my nipples bled and were raw those early weeks and I had continued pain for weeks there after. However with James, I never got all that sore but I did stay on top of his latch. James had to be on antibiotics due to a fever I had in labor. While we stayed in the hospital I felt my milk come in as I became severely engorged. James also became jaundiced, more so each day.
Finally the 3rd day they released James and home we went. However I became concerned when James would not stop crying and he had red spots (turns out they were normal newborn skin stuff) and I continued to have engorgement issues that I thought were blocked ducts. I went to his pediatrician who instructed me to begin supplements because he had urate crystals and was down nearly a pound. I countered with the fact that I felt he would be fine and that all three of my kids had some crystals before my milk came in. As well both my girls had lost that much plus. She said, "If you just continue to breastfeed without formula, he'll probably be fine. But we're not a third world country."
I walked out stunned and freaked out. I got home and told Keith what she said. He called a Lactation Consultant and got us an appointment for the following day (Thanksgiving Day). He told James' ped that we would not be in the next day for the weight check she wanted. We met with the LC and she determined that I did not have blocked ducts but new mammary tissue that swelled during engorgement when my milk came in.
She instructed me in how to pump (I never could let down for them before) but this time I did. All this milk came out and I knew my milk was in fully. I just breastfed him round the clock. If he even looked in my direction, I latched him. He quickly regained the pound lost (by 2 weeks), his jaundice improved slowly but surely.
He's a happy, nursing 8 month old who occasional receives pumped breastmilk when I have appointments or for the rare but occasional night out.