I had a c-section because my baby was way too big. with a c- section it takes longer for your milk to come in, (like 4 days after having a c-section is normal) i kept putting the baby on to feed even when there was nothing for him to eat, trying to coax my milk to come it..... by day 4 i did finally have some milk start coming out, but not enough to feed the baby.
It really makes you think, "why cant my body do this? its suppose to be natural. women have done this for years." i was lucky and took the advice of a friend to look into a lactation consultant. let me tell you, they are not all the same. The ones at the hospital, knew nothing compared to the wonderful consultant at my baby's peds office. she was sooo knowledgeable. she helped with positioning of the baby, foods to eat, vitamins to take and the most important thing, which really helped me, pumping. i was using the the pump my insurance gave me. for some women who have an abundance of milk, that would work fine. People like me who have little milk and its hard to get out you need something stronger and more efficient. At that time every drop counted. i was spending hour sometimes pumping and massaging trying to get the milk out with insurance pump and would only get like 2 oz...so discouraging. i switched to the hospital grade pump and it was such a difference. i was getting more out and it was taking less time.
(free pump from my insurance) im sure its great for some people but not for me
(hospital grade pump) works sooo much better
Even with the hospital pump, i still wasnt making enough milk to feed my child. it was like i was doing everything yet still just wasnt enough. so the lactation consultant told me to start pumping every 2 hour all day, so i did. i had a little notepad that i kept up with the times and amount i got every pumping. Around the clock i was pumping. it was like a full time job and then letting the baby eat in between. i felt like a milking cow and really wanted to give up. i would pray "Please Lord help me to make milk for this child" all the time. i didnt feel like i was seeing the results i wanted and i was really stressing over the whole thing, tired of not really being able to do anything because i would have to pump soon. finally i got to a point where i was like im just gotta stop worry and feed the baby formula after i breast feed that way he is at least getting some breast milk and i am not so worn out for the lack of sleep.
The baby started having acid reflux issue and would want to suckle just to sooth his little tummy so he would be on me all the time. well i started to see a larger increase in my milk. so i just started to let him suckle whenever and i went from making only 2 oz every 3 hours to 4 oz every 2 in a half hours. i believe him breastfeeding like that really kicked my hormones into gear. now i still have to pump, but its because i have more milk than he can drink at one time. i truly, at the beginning, would have never thought i would every have enough to say that. what a blessing. Now i thank God all the time for every drop my body makes. Truly an answered prayer.
Breastfeeding was such a hard road, but it is so rewarding to know that even after birth you can still nourish you child with your own body.
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