Posted by Leyna Butcher on August 24, 2010

Breastfeeding Month 4

As second time “new mom” I am seeing some frustrating yet familiar problems I had with my first born. Getting started the second time, with Garrett, now four months, wasn’t nearly as hard as the first time around. I’m a well rehearsed veteran at this point, right?

Nolan, who is now 23 months and breastfed for 14 months, was extremely difficult to breastfeed. Flat nipples, tongue tied, and engorgement made the first three months painful and horribly difficult. No one is ready to be on the phone with you at 2:38 am to walk you through another painful latch and waiting for a let down. But just as I started to get the hang of it, it seemed that my milk supply tanked. I’d feel a let down and hear that little clicking swallow for a few minutes, then nothing. No swallow, just a cry and numerous attempts to re-latch to no avail. So frustrating!!!

The most useful information I got was from a LLL leader. With access to a pump I was able to do something called “Power Pumping.” This is where you spend an hour with your pump doing 12 minute intervals of on and off pumping. So while watching Grey’s Anatomy or a whole hour of The Office, I’d pump for twelve minutes then rest for twelve minutes, then jump back on. This is only three rounds of pumping. I did this at night as soon as the little guy went down.

Well, Nolan got through it. Now I’m working on Garrett. Here we are at four months and spending some “quality time” with my pump on the living room floor.

The difference between the first and second child is that Garrett has already been losing weight. This started before the supply problem. Right now, they’ve chalked it up to being an “active baby.” The only thing keeping me from getting excessively worried is the wet and poopy diapers I change all day, and the fact that Garrett seems to be a happy and healthy baby. The big picture looks good. As a mom, it’s my job to worry. I am confident I’ll get through this adjustment period again.

But until then, pump, drink dark beer, take fenugreek, and nurse all the time!

2 Comments »

1. I know how you feel! My son was tongue tied, too and never got what he needed. He didn’t get back up to his birth weight till he was at least 2 months old. My milk supply got so low that I finally switched to formula and now only breastfeed at night. I still feel a wonderful sense of completeness when he feeds at night now. I wish now I hadn’t stopped, but i had to go back to work part time and his weight issue was really scary, so I probably would have done the same thing all over again.

   Comment by mary — August 24, 2010 @ 10:36 am

2. Good times, Leyna! lol… I remember those first days of you nursing Nolan — it was a four-handed task! Glad you’re going strong with Garrett. You’re so lucky to have such beautiful sons!

   Comment by Stacey — August 25, 2010 @ 3:26 am

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