Breast is best

Hello, I started this blog because I think the best way of feeding babies is through breastfeeding. It takes a STRONG woman to stay committed to breastfeeding, and I want this blog to be a resource to breastfeeding women, and I want women to feel free to ask me about any breastfeeding problem and If I do not know the answer, I WILL FIND THE ANSWER.

My Story

Here's my story. When I was 14 I had back problems, it was because my breasts were heavy and too large for my frame . Of course when I had decided to have the surgery, I didn't care about breastfeeding. It wasn't until I found out I was pregnant at the age of 20 did I start to care about how I was going to feed my child. I read many books about how breastfeeding is best for babies. Breast milk contains thousands of active substances that formula does not!
I was determined to try to breastfeed my baby. Lucky for me, after my 25th week of pregnancy I was able to squeeze out some colostrum, which is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the few days after giving birth. I was ecstatic! I met with a lactation consultant who told me she did not know if I could breastfeed, but it was a good sign. I read hours upon hours of stories of women who breastfed after a breast reduction. BFAR is a great resource for women after surgery!

When I had my son on September 15th, 2010, I had a c-section, and did not put him to the breast immediately, I put him on maybe an hour and half after birth, because I was sooo worn out, and groggy. Lucky for me my son was a sucklin' machine! My son had a slight tongue tie, which caused me very painful cracked nipples. Kai was born weighing 10lbs 1oz, and the doctors were concerned about his loss of weight, and were telling me to supplement. I wasn't ready to do this, nor did I want to cause any nipple confusion. I asked the hospital lactation consultant, what she thought. She told me the doctors were full of malarkey, and that I should keep the baby at my breast constantly. She said if I didn't my milk supply could be compromised. I had a feeling my son was getting plenty of nutrition so I went with the Lactation consultants advice. Kai lost a little over 10 % of his birth weight so when we brought him home he was a little over 9lbs. I took him to the pediatrician two days after we left the hospital, and to my amazement ,he had gained 3 or 4 oz! I highly recommend you listen to your Lactation consultant, instead of your Doctor, if you decide you need to supplement your baby.

I brought Kai home, and things got progressively better, my son learned how to suckle without cracking my nipples, my nipples healed (THANK GOD). I nursed him on an on demand schedule, and things were going great for us. At Kai's 1 month checkup he weighed 11lbs 3oz! He had gained his birth weight back plus another pound! He gained 2 lbs! I was so happy things were going so well, I hadn't even had to give him any supplementation. Although I had a hospital grade pump that I was using, to supplement if I had to go somewhere.

At around a month and a half he seemed fussy, like he wasn't getting enough to eat, so I started supplementing with formula every now and then. I was so upset I felt like a bad mother. I researched how to increase milk supply, and I decided to start taking fenugreek, I feel like it gave me an extra 1/2 oz or so at each feeding.


My milk supply started getting progressively worse after I had the flu, and had an IUD inserted. I also had to give back my hospital grade pump in November 2010. I did get an Ameda purely yours which is a great pump, but its not the same as a Medela Symphony. It was really rough and tough to keep up with my hefty son! I would pump after feedings, and if we had to supplement. We used a bottle because Kai did not have nipple confusion. If you are concerned about your baby becoming nipple confused. I would recommend using a SNS which is short for a supplemental nursing system. I would pump 10-15 minutes. I'd say we supplemented 2 4oz bottles a day at most. My original goal was to breastfeed for 3 months, because after the 3 month mark was when I was going to return going to school full time, and working 2 days a week. I hit that mark and I was like I CAN do this, so my next goal is 6 months, and then my big goal of a YEAR! I want to do self led weaning though, we will see how that plays out.

I finally was able to cut down on the supplements in January of 2011. I started taking Blessed Thistle in Feb 2011, and can usually pump out a good 4-5 oz every 4 hours or so. I also started school and work in January, but things are going great! I'm happy that I am still breastfeeding my son, and I started solids so far he has had Brown rice cereal, carrots, and sweet potatoes, he makes such a mess and it is so fun! The University of Louisville has provided me a room to pump in which is wonderful! At work I have to pump in the restroom, which is no fun, but it is a big private bathroom. I look forward to sharing breastfeeding insights, secrets, news, and my personal experience with new mothers out there!

If you have read my story, and love breastfeeding, I would love to have you comment on my post with your story of breastfeeding your baby.