Miss Connie

I was inspired to write this post as sat here, attached to my breast pump. It’s like being a cow, truly. Attaching my poor boobs to a sucking, pinching, noisy machine and hoping to collect a few ounces of milk is not at all glamorous. I really didn’t know my nipple could stretch so far. It, like so many other parts of my post-pregnancy, post-birth, and post-breastfeeding body, will never be the same. :-))

When I was pregnant my greatest hope behind a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby was the ability to breastfeed. I really wanted to nurse my baby. I also wanted a vaginal birth, which I had, but would have opted for C-section if I had to choose between that and not nursing.

Within her first hour of life outside the womb, she initiated feeding. The moment she latched was as amazing as the moment she was placed in my arms for the first time. I was so grateful that she knew exactly what to do and that she latched perfectly. I was nourishing my baby and it was an awesome feeling. And that feeling and the ease of breastfeeding has continued. My sister couldn’t believe that I did not suffer with sore, cracked, or chapped nipples. Miss Connie was a god latcher. Never any pain, it was easy.

My goal is to nurse through her first year, providing her with valuable vitamins, building her immunity, and strengthening her mind and body. We are nearly half way through that first year.

During my conference in July, I pumped and fed as I was able, but work commitments limited the amount of time I had for both. I was away from her in August for three days and had to pump exclusively during that time. I collected 70 ounces during those three days and since I have felt as though she may not be getting enough from me.

We started introducing solid foods over the past month consistently. She usually has organic baby cereal, banana and/or avocado for lunch and sometimes again at dinner time. We also supplement with a bottle at night before bed to ensure she has a satisfied tummy. She’s putting on weight and is pretty content, so I know she is getting enough.

She continues to sleep well for us and I feel that in large part my supply may feel “less” due to the fact that overnight she may sleep for 4-7 hours and during that time, there is no demand for milk, thus reducing production.

I haven’t pumped consistently since July and other than my trip to Chicago, haven’t been able to add to our frozen milk supply (the supply that I had built up was nearly wiped out to cover my days away from her). I currently sit with a frozen milk account balance of approximately 68 ounces. I want more!

I have been taking a Fenugreek supplement and drinking Mother’s Milk tea to help with production—also enjoying a beer or two here and there as that is another lactation helper. I’ve decided however, if I am going to build my stash, or at least just keep up with my daughter I need to focus on lactation!

I found a recipe for lactation cookies and went out and bought brewer’s yeast. I read various reviews about the benefits and successes of lactation cookies and found an article that said they are more potent in the raw dough form than when baked. So with the supportive help of my husband, we whipped up a batch of lactation dough!
I’m going to be more on-purpose about the Fenugreek supplements. One per day won’t make much of an impact, I need up to 4 per day.
While at the co-op, I found another herbal aid and will be trying that too.
I need more water. Hydration is so important. After I finish my 2-4 cups of tea per day, I am weak at getting water in my system. Drink up, Lori!
I need to pump! Even if I just nursed her, even if I don’t think there is anything in there…pump! The more I demand, the more I produce…. at least that is the logic of breastfeeding. Pumping in the middle of the night, too. That one will be tough…. I’ll have to give up sleep, sleep my sweet daughter spoils me with.

Any current or former nursing mamas out there have any tips for me?

I am already familiar with the “lactation-friendly” foods such as oatmeal, salmon, brown rice, seeds, almonds, etc. I have a list of these foods and try to incorporate them into meal planning. I also get good fat intake with avocados and coconut oil.

In the time it took my to write this, I managed to collect one ounce of milk. Now I did just nurse not too long ago, and I do feel that this pump is nowhere as effective as my daughter at expelling… but still…ugh. Put this cow back to pasture, she’s been milked!

Here’s to a healthy flow!

Photo credit: Rachel Manzke Photography. Nursing my babe during our family photo shoot.

Shortly after her 4-month mark, Miss Connie outgrew her bassinet. We replaced the bassinet with the pack and play, keeping her in our room, but giving her more room. She tends to roll and wrestle around a bit in her sleep. In the past week or so, I’ve been putting her down in her crib at night. She takes her daytime naps in the crib, but this was the first attempt with our night-time routine. The first night she was wonderful and did a four-hour stretch before waking to nurse. She went right back down for another four! The muggy conditions and hot temps last week made it hard for her to stay sleeping comfortably for long stretches, so we have been balancing nursery and in our room—where there is an A/C unit. We have a pretty good routine at night and she does really well with that. Daytime naps are still sporadic, but just recently have been getting much longer! In the past, she would nap up to several times a day, averaging 15-30 minutes—some shorter! This past week we have enjoyed a few 2-hour naps and most are at least an hour.

Other graduations this past month include:

Bigger diapers. We finally had to move to the next tabs on her diaper shells to increase their size. We use adjustable cloth diapers by Best Bottom and bumGenius brands. A great investment as they grow with her.
Introducing solids. A couple of months ago, we dabbled with adding organic cereal to her milk to provide more calories, but now she is a big girl. We typically give her a small portion of organic rice cereal once per day and she is getting pretty good at eating from a spoon, though some attempts are messier than others. She also has banana on occasion. Of course, when she is with Papa, she gets introduced to much more! Tisk, tisk, Papa! He has shared yogurt, ice cream, whipped cream, and key lime pie with her (and this is just what I know about!). Everything a growing girl needs, right? I always thought we would wait until she was six months old before we initiated solids, but she is advancing pretty well, doubled her birth weight, and seems to need more calories than breastfeeding alone during the day when I am working or when others are watching her and I am unable to feed on demand. Breastfeeding is still her primary source of food and that continues to go well. Next month I do intend to introduce avocado and sweet potato–foods that are good for growing baby bodies and minds!
New wardrobe. Our dear nanny helped me tremendously by purging all the newborn to 3-month clothing that filled Connie’s dresser. Those were replaced with the “next box” in her wardrobe. The drawers are now filled with 6-9 month clothing and a few 3-month options that prove to still fit.
Other interests. She gets distracted during feedings sometimes. She’ll want to look at the computer screen, the dog, turn toward daddy, or just pop off the boob to get a closer look at me. Innocent enough but she often forgets to let go before turning her head!

Eyes: I’ll call them hazel this month. The color is still not clear but they are cool.

Hair: Getting a bit longer and staying brunette

Weight: 16 lbs

Length: 26″ ….so, she shrunk three-quarters of an inch in the past month?!? Probably not. My guess is the tissue paper that covers the patient table got crinkled up under her and caused a misreading during last month’s check-up. This morning I stretched her out on the butcher block island top to get this month’s reading. She’s still a long one, with or without that 0.75″!

Yesterday, Cody and I celebrated our 1-year anniversary. A low-key day which included taking Miss Connie’s 5-month photos, watching the Packer game (thus the Packer’s cheerleading outfit which is a tad too big on her yet), a trip to Oakwood Fruit Farm, and a hike up the hill to reflect on our wedding day.