19 December, 2011 12:01

I thought that I was going to tell the birth story in its entirety, but, there are more pressing things to discuss, so I guess you will get the birth story in small doses when I write about how these other subjects relate to the birth.
I want to tell you that I am pretty emotional about this subject and although I am trying not to let it show, it “will.” Our plan was to exclusively nurse the baby for at least a year. when you are a teen or in your early twenties, many tell you not to nurse. I listened to others with my daughter and did not nurse, although I wanted to. With my first son, second child, he was a preemie and doctors said that he would not be able to nurse. I know differently now, but took their advice. I nursed my third child for a year with no problem. when I say “no problem,” I mean, no lactation consultants, no mastitis, no latching troubles, not even a breast pump. I could hand express 6 to 8 ounces into a bottle within about fifteen minutes, if I had to. But, the fact is that my third child was just a good nurser. And, my milk was coming in strong. with my fourth child, I nursed regularly for three months until he went into the hospital and staff did not give him my breastmilk. (they gave it all back to me when he left). this complication (as well as birth control prescribed by an OB who forgot to tell me that it would dry up my milk) facilitated the end of nursing. With this new baby, I just assumed that my milk would come in strong and I’d be able to nurse.
Although our baby was only born seventeen days early, he has trouble sucking. He just does not want to open his mouth and can’t seem to position his tongue in the right place. I tried nursing when in the hospital, but it seemed that he did not want to eat. when I got home, I nursed exclusively. We have had to go back to the hospital for several blood tests to check on our billyruben (sorry for the incorrect spelling) numbers. Our wonderful little guy was a bit jondice. On thursday of the first week, we met with a pediatrician. His weight had dropped to 5lbs/11oz. She wanted us to go to the hospital for our fourth number reading. she gave us samples of formula which I never wanted to use: yet, that very day, ended up using some because Baby Boy was hungry, he would not take the breast and we had to weight on a taxi to take us to the hospital for no less than two hours. After the blood test, we had to wait another 90minutes for a taxi to take us home. I blame this whole taxi fiasco on DH, if he was a more generous “tip giver,” (forget “more generous” I’d settle for him being just a “tip giver”) we would have a couple of these guys on stand by.
By that next monday, (another Doctor’s visit), his jondice had gone down a bit, but his weight had only increased by two ounces. After consulting two lactation consultants, (I delivered at one hospital and my pediatrician is affiliated with another; so I got the benefit of consultants at two different hospitals), it was concluded and affirmed that my milk was not in. He would nurse for a bit of time, but he was not getting much of my milk. I had to supplement. Now, I hate formula! I thought several times about listing the 100 reasons that I think that nursing is best. that would bore you! but, I got up to thirty-one. I’d be willing to share with anyone who is interested. (smile)
My milk is still not in. I try to nurse at least once a day. I pump about seven to ten times a day. I eat oatmeal, drink pineapple juice, try to consume hot beverages around the time of nursing, etc. the recommendations of Fenugreek tea are inconclusive, but I have tried it