[Fawn]

Originally Posted by MoniqueD

Oh Em, is there no end for you at all?? You poor Momma!! I hear that mastitis is something just horrible to get, a few friends of mind have had the experience and yes, they too were told to nurse despite the infection. I can only imagine the discomfort. It makes me feel better to know you have great friends you can depend on As for you having PPD, you are not a failure, not at all. It happens, all the time in fact, don't beat yourself up over it. I actually read an article once since I have started my journey with infertility. It talked about women who experienced infertility and how likely it is for them to get PPD. We wait so long Em and have this notion of how everything is going to be perfect once we get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have our babies. As we have all discovered, this is not the case. We do get tired, we are frustrated, our babies are normal babies who cry and get sick and we are married to men, and no matter how supportive they are, sometimes that is just not enough for us. Just look back on everything you have been through leading up to this point??? The stress, the joys, the heartache, the hormones, the medications, the watching-everyone-around-you either pregnant or with their babies...IT'S TOUGH!!!! We have been through so much. Hang in there and just remember, you are doing nothing wrong. xoxo

Em-I agree 100%, it happens. DOnt let it get you down. You already feel blue enough. Go meet those other ladies & chat.There is nothing wrong with meeting new people & you never know you may hit it off very well. THen you will have a super great support network, not just us. A real person that can hug you .

Monique-fenugreek increases milk? Its safe to use? Do you pump whileyou nurse, after or in between? wow 4+ oz, I am lucky if I get 1/2 an oz with pumping. Thats on the breast Nate didnt feed on. I know I am producing milk because the lactation cx weighs him after nursing. She said our bodies give the baby more than most of us can pump. It has to do with letting down with the baby comes naturally and with the pump it takes time. I only have 4oz frozen so far. I get about a total of 1oz per day pumping to freeze.

Hope everyone else is doing well. I wish this bleeding would go away. I soooooooo want to just get in my pool and lounge. I keep getting haunted by the words "nothing in the vaginal for 6 weeks". SO I am waiting for this bleeding to stop. We also are not using any protection. Dr said with my uterus & issues we shouldnt try for a least a year. We arent actively trying, but we are not preventing either. That is unless my endometriosis gets really bad again. Unfortunately the 2 best things for that is pregnancy, & BCP.

[CNYCPL]

I am with you all on the DH being away. Mine is away for 9 days this stretch. Not sure if it's harder on him being away from Josh or on me.
Josh now had reflux and was put on Axid. However he is now constipated does it ever end for the poor thing.
I bled for 6 weeks exactly and was so ready for it to end. Now my AF is really heavy and but did I not miss that crap. We are not using any birth control. My dr said to wait 18 months in between pregnancies but and we figured since we had such a hard time before why bother using anything.

[MoniqueD]

Fawn, I guess that fenugreek is beneficial in more ways than one Personally, I have never heard of it before until I was reading up on breastfeeding and I find it quite intersting. I found this on homeremediesweb.com....
Remedy to Aid Milk Production in Lactating Women

Since ancient times, Fenugreek has been known to increase milk production in lactating women. Research has even shown that milk production can increase by over 500 percent within 24 to 72 hours after consuming fenugreek. Although it is not known why this happens, researchers speculate that the oil contained in fenugreek seeds plays a role. Therefore, a recommended remedy to increase milk flow is to consume one capsule of fenugreek seed (at least 500mg) three times a day.

There are many other benefits as well...aids in balancing cholesteral,lowers blood sugar, helps with bronchitis and sore throats, natural cure for acid reflux and heartburn...the list goes on I figure its worth a shot. I did read in another article that fenugreek : Some believe it is possible because breasts are modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production...this was found on breastfeeding.com

Fawn, I do not pump while I nurse as Garrett nurses on both breasts and tends to drain them. However I will pump (sometimes) an hour or two after nursing and will get an ounce or two then. I find the best time is an hour or two after his first feeding of the day as I am better rested and milk seems to be increased at that time I hope this helps...

[historyteach]

ditto on what monique said, i don't think that anyone could say it better or point out everything that we have been thru to this point, Em, don't beat yourself up just take it one day and if necessary one minute at a time and it will get better. and i am sure that we all can wrestle up some money and head out to IL if necessary - you are in my prayers!!!

i am going to try to remember what everyone wrote, i started reading the new posts at 7 am and now it is after 2, Lyla was rather demanding today!!

as for bleeding, i am down to pantyliners, i stopped really bleeding about 4 days ago and now i am just being careful. i too am not looking forward to AF, i have been warned that it is the worse AF you will experience, so that sounds like a lot of fun

as for pumping, my first pump already broke and i am glad that i bought the replacement plan, i now bought a medela and i am shocked by how much better it works. i am getting about 2 oz for one breast after she is done with one, does that sound about right? also how are you keeping the milk, i have been putting it in bags and only putting one serving in at a time - how much are you putting together to freeze. Dh thinks that i should put a full day's amount in one bag... i just am not sure what to do

birth control - not going to use any. we went three years of unexplained fertility and couldn't get pregnant so i figured i am going to roll the dice and pray that it works and i get pregnant on my own. also, from what i have researched breast feeding really diminishes your chances of getting pregnant, but i guess i will find out. i really don't want to go thru IVF again, but if we have to that is what we are planning on doing in 2011

i hope that i answered all the questions out there and please know ladies that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. we are going to get thru this stage and remember it fondly and wish our little bundles were that small again.

[historyteach]

just wondering - do your munchkins look at you in the eye - it doesnt' seem lyla can focus and i was wondering if it she is just not able and my expectations are too high? just curious. thanks

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by historyteach

just wondering - do your munchkins look at you in the eye - it doesnt' seem lyla can focus and i was wondering if it she is just not able and my expectations are too high? just curious. thanks

Mine does, but its brief and not often. I think its a bit early for them to be able to focus and really know what they are looking at, to be honest. Not real sure though. Who did you see for your IVF? Just curious since we dont live that far from each other. I went to Advanced Center for infertility & reproductive medicine(ACIRM) in Harrisburg.

Nate likes to look around at everything. He is a nosey little man. He loves lights and things that move. I think I hear him whimpering for mommy now, since Daddy still isnt home 14.5hrs later...Errrrr.. Nite ladies hope you all get a great nights sleep.

[Anavaz]

Hello Ladies,

It has been long since I last posted, but with Iker and school I hardly have any time.

Em - I am soooo sorry you have mastitis and also PPD. I told you guys that about 3 weeks ago I was suffering from what I thought was PPD. I am much better now because somehow I reconciled with the notion that this is what it is and I have to deal with it. Iker is not a difficult baby. He doesn't have colics so I don't know how much harder this is for you. But I am soooo sleep deprived. Iker sleeps well from 9pm til around 3AM so he sleeps for 5-6 hours give or take. Problem is I can't go to bed when he does because I have school. So I end up going to bed around 11PM hence that gives me 3-4 hours of sleep. And after he feeds @ 3AM he usually goes to sleep again but the grunting begins and he is loud and it wakes him up. So he usually doesn't sleep well from 4AM until about 7AM again. This means after 3AM I don't get to sleep again. So I'm running on 3-4 hours of sleep all day long. I look like a zombie. I just pray he gets over this grunting thing. If he does he'll be a great sleeper and therfore mommy will too.

Em, it is hard PPD is, I just want to tell you don't feel guilty, you are going through a lot and we are humans. Don't blame yourself, that was my problem I felt guilty because I felt only frustration most of the time and I thought I was a bad mother because I didn't have a smile on my face all day. But then I realized I am a mother but I'm still human and this is really hard, harder than anyone can say. I pray Payton colics goes away for good and that your health issues also go away. If you need someone to talk to at any time let me know, I'm here for you and I understand.

AFM -
Iker is now 11lbs!!! I have stopped nursing almost entirely because I have very little left and he looses interest in them and only gets mad when nothing comes out. So I figured 1/4 ounce of breast milk is not worth a grumpy baby. I feel sad and dissapointed because I wasn't able to feed my baby with my body. But I am content in thinking I tried everything I could do to help and it still didn't work, I gave it my 150%, therefore no need to beat myself. Plus he is healthy and growing well, even if it is with formula.

Okay I hear him waking up, time to feed a very impatient hungry little man.

[RosieB]

Em, I am so sorry you are going through such a rough time. I echo the otherr ladies....I feel the same way sometimes, that we waited so long for this, and that I am not very good at being a mother. I seriously doubt my abilities just about every day. I think that most women do not admit how hard it is...and tell everyone how wonderful it is being a new mom, which makes us think something is wrong with us....which is not true.

I hope that your friends come in and help and pick up your spirits. That women's group sounds great, I would love to do something like that.

As for Birth Control...I am not planning on using anything. Our issue is sperm...and I figure that if we happen to get pregnant, by some miracle...then great. If not, I doubt we will do IVF again...but that is just my state of mind now. That could change in a year or so.

Olivia doesn't look me in the eye...more like just at my head in general...and she is starting to follow me with her eyes but just holds that briefly so far.

So last night Olivia was sneezing alot and became really congested in her nose. We used the aspirator to get some of the mucous out...but she was hacing trouble breathing. Anyone else have this?

I got nervous and called the pediatrician at 11 pm...and thank goodness they have a nurse on call and she told me it was normal for newborns, and to use saline drops and a humidifier. So we did that and brought the swing upstairs for her to sleep in b/c it can be put on an incline instead of her sleeping flat on her back. Well guess what ladies....she slept from 11:30 to 4am...4 1/2 hours...her longest stretch ever. It was amazing.

But she is still congested. We go to the Dr Friday, but I am still concerned.

Also, my right breast is giving her some trouble nursing. I pumped from it yesterday and found that the milk just squirts out uncontollably just on the right breast. It is causing her to choke, so now I am trying to pump before feeding her so it is not so uncomfortable for her. Does anyone know if there is a way to control this?

Thanks.

[Roxy]

Originally Posted by RosieB

Em, I am so sorry you are going through such a rough time. I echo the otherr ladies....I feel the same way sometimes, that we waited so long for this, and that I am not very good at being a mother. I seriously doubt my abilities just about every day. I think that most women do not admit how hard it is...and tell everyone how wonderful it is being a new mom, which makes us think something is wrong with us....which is not true.

I hope that your friends come in and help and pick up your spirits. That women's group sounds great, I would love to do something like that.

As for Birth Control...I am not planning on using anything. Our issue is sperm...and I figure that if we happen to get pregnant, by some miracle...then great. If not, I doubt we will do IVF again...but that is just my state of mind now. That could change in a year or so.

Olivia doesn't look me in the eye...more like just at my head in general...and she is starting to follow me with her eyes but just holds that briefly so far.

So last night Olivia was sneezing alot and became really congested in her nose. We used the aspirator to get some of the mucous out...but she was hacing trouble breathing. Anyone else have this?

I got nervous and called the pediatrician at 11 pm...and thank goodness they have a nurse on call and she told me it was normal for newborns, and to use saline drops and a humidifier. So we did that and brought the swing upstairs for her to sleep in b/c it can be put on an incline instead of her sleeping flat on her back. Well guess what ladies....she slept from 11:30 to 4am...4 1/2 hours...her longest stretch ever. It was amazing.

But she is still congested. We go to the Dr Friday, but I am still concerned.

Also, my right breast is giving her some trouble nursing. I pumped from it yesterday and found that the milk just squirts out uncontollably just on the right breast. It is causing her to choke, so now I am trying to pump before feeding her so it is not so uncomfortable for her. Does anyone know if there is a way to control this?

Thanks.

I have a very fast let down on both breasts and my poor baby gets squirted in the face often from it. After she latches on I position myself so she is more on top of my breast so that gravity will slow down my milk flow. We also have used a nipple shield (for a giant cut I have) and that does slow things down as well. Pumping will slow things down but it also will make you produce more milk so you have to be careful with that. i do pump in the morning after her first feeding and I find that it does help with the milk flow for the next few feeds but by the night time it is flowing like crazy again.

[historyteach]

fawn - thanks for ur reply, i am just not sure what to expect and how early things will happen. as for ivf - we went to the fertility center in york, they have a shared risk program, we also went to hershey and a place in reading before that but I LOVED the fertility center, the nurse, michelle was a god sent!!!

rosie - glad that there was someone to answer your call and it is amazing how quickly they can get us nervous. she does get congested but it seems that she can sneeze things out

i have a fast let down as well and she does choke but it does seem to get easier throughout the day. good luck and just keep trying to get things to work perfectly, it will get easier!

hope you are all enjoying your hump day and hoping that ur angels are acting like angels

[praying4peanut]

Thanks for the kind words ladies. Unfortunately after pjs dr appt today, I feel I have lost all control. They've instructed me to feed him only soy formula as of noon today, no breastmilk. They think he may have a milk allergy-either to mine or in the dairy I eat since I'm a vegetarian and can't eat most of the veggies because they cause gas. So pj had formula today and I've cried everytime. And since I still have the breast infection, I have to sit here and pump and dump anyways ( I'm still on heavy duty meds, no use in storing.) if the soy formula doesn't work, dr said we'd try a few other things but if nothing works and he's just colicky for no reason, we are back to breast with an unhappy baby. She also said I can keep pumping and try to feed at 3 months when a lot of babies grow out of allergies. I am actually considering it. He's been pretty peaceful so far on this formula but we'll see how the next few days go...and I hear him now. I'll check in again soon ladies. Sorry to be such a debbie downer, I'm feeling pretty deperessed lately. I just wanted things to go on my terms, he's such a good feeder and I make enough milk, I felt it was the last thing I had control of in my life. Hugs to all of you super moms.

[MoniqueD]

Em, you are a great mom and you are doing whats best for PJ...I know you would not give him breast milk if you knew it was hurting him. Don't beat yourself up over it. Kudos to you if you keep pumping and freezing for future ues As for you hugging us Super Moms....I think you are the Super Mom!!

[Anavaz]

Em - I'm sorry you are having all this trouble. Iker is also on soy milk formula (Similac Isomil Advance) and it has been a blessing for him. He is a much happier baby, the gassiness is pretty much gone. Only difference is he burps bigger but other than that he sleeps well and feeds well. I know how frustrating it is not being able to feed your child with your own body. Believe me when I had to give Iker formula I also cried, but then it was either that or a hungry baby and there was no question about it, I wasn't going to leave him to go hungry. I have also been on the pump-n-dump when I had the chicken pox and was on the heavy medication.

I just want to let you know that you are a great mother because you are doing what is best for your child. Payton is healthy and growing and that is all that matters whether it is with breast milk or formula. I really got over it by thinking that way and also my dad kept telling me I was raised with formula and look how well I turned out, lol. Maybe you were too. In the end Emilie I know your goal is to have a happy healthy baby boy and if feeding him formula is the way then you are doing the absolutely right thing, keep telling that to yourself, because that is what makes a great Mom and believe me you are one!

[Hopefulmommy09]

Hello all. It has been a while since I have posted. Sorry some of you are having breastfeeding and colic issues. I only produce milk from one side and it has caused brea to get tortacolis in her neck, which is causing her to get a flat spot on the side of her head.....with my other daughter the same thing happened and she ended up with a helmet from 4-7 months so I Brea's head shape rounds out......my boobs are 4oz to 1oz.

Emily: PPD is really common and don't feel like a faliure. Some babies are difficulty and your little PJ is really not letting up...in a year from now you will look back and want to do all over again!

I have not had AF and it has been almost 10 weeks....I have heard that when breast feeding you don't get it??? Anyone else? I can't be on birth control because of my lupus and blood clotting issues so we are using the old method and will switch to family planning once I can regulate my cycles which were long anyway......I really have to plan a pregnancy now with my issues because i WILL need to be on a blood thinner before getting pregnant......I see the genetic counselor in a few weeks and I decided not to get my lupus checked out untill I have symptoms....I really don't want a pre-existing condition for insurance purposes and I will be switiching in the next year so I am leaving it un diagnosed for now!

[AdaRuts]

TODAY SUCKS!!!!

I feel like a failure. We have just gotten back from the doctor's office and Austin has gained less then a pound in the past month. So tomorrow I have to start supplementing with formula and I feel HORRIBLE!!!!!! I have been crying since I got in the car and I feel like I have let my little guy down. I can't believe how inadequate I feel right now. I am already taking 3,300 mg of Fenugreek a day to try to get my milk production up, but clearly it is not enough. If anyone has any additional suggestions to help increase milk flow please let me know.

Also, please don't flame me or go on about how great formula is. I have no issues with anyone who decides on formula for whatever reason.

Lots of love. - Ada