This is World Breastfeeding Week, and I have successfully nursed my son for 11 weeks and two days!
Our older children were formula fed, so I never nursed either of them. I wanted to be sure that I did with our third child. I did lots of reading up on nursing, and found out that my Medicaid covered a nice Medela Pump in Style Advanced Starter Kit, so I was able to pump bottles for night feeding. At first, in the hospital I figured out that he had a tongue tie which was the issue on why he wasn't latching very well. So, I let the nurse know and got the pediatrician on call to clip it for me. He's done great ever since with it and I couldn't be happier.
If we have anymore kids, I am not giving them formula either. I have nothing again formula feeding moms at all, but it's got stuff in it that's not the best for babies to have; and nursing or pumped milk is what's best for baby and I didn't realize that when I had my other two kids, like I do now. It's a blessing knowing that God created moms to feed their babies.
There might be moms who cannot nurse, but if you eat / drink right or the drinks that will help your milk supply, it's possible to keep pumping milk for baby whether you ever nurse or not. Like I have mentioned before, I drink three Gatorades a day to keep my milk supply up for pumping only. I have a good supply for just nursing. I drink the Glacier Cherry, Cool Blue (sometimes), and Fruit Punch Berry flavored ones everyday. I'd recommend drinking one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one before 8pm.
I wake up at 5:15am a lot of times to pump, because I'm engorged and I get 4 - 6 oz! If I am out and about with our family for more than 3 hours, I have to nurse whether he just ate or not, because if not it hurts. He nurses every 2 - 3 hours, and then gets an 11pm bottle of my milk. He sleeps good and sleeps from 11:30pm or so until 5:15 / 6am sometimes.
Good for you! I only did 3 months with my son and 6 months with my twins. I wish I could have gone longer.
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy for you that it's going so well! I didn't even realize it's World Breastfeeding Day, by the way.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! My daughter will be giving birth soon and we are both excited that she will be breastfeeding!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I'm at 18 months with my little guy right now, though he is down to just nursing at night.
ReplyDeleteThanks :) And that is awesome!! What an accomplishment :)
DeleteWay to go! It's such a great thing to do for your baby. He deserves the very best!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the accomplisment! It was tough for me to keep it up. I didn't produce enough for my little ones, but I was proud to make it 3 months with my 2nd!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's going so well for you. You sound like you've got a great routine going.
ReplyDelete"They" say the first couple months is the hardest. I breastfed 2 of my 3 kids and I know how hard it can be.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations mama! You're doing an amazing job. Every week and month is a huge hurdle!
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