My Breastfeeding Journey
My journey through breastfeeding was like many others, tough. One of my biggest recommendations is to have an excellent IBCLC and if you are in the Tampa area, Tampa Breastfeeding and Lactation Center is it! I would not have been successful without them!
I’m the first few hours after birth Emma was tired and really didn’t latch much and when she did it was painful, but I figured that was normal. Over the next 2 days I could definitely tell something was wrong and after feeling in her mouth there was definitely tension. I was cracked and bleeding and when she spit up blood I immediately made and appointment with lactation. I quickly got her in the car seat and rushed to the office by myself. Didn’t think about the fact that I shouldn’t have been driving, but I was in so much pain and worried she wasn’t getting enough. I even had my first postpartum recheck from my midwife there as well, right after our appointment.
She was assessed and we were given stretches, positional advice, a triple feeding/pumping regimen (since I needed rest to heal), some topical cream, she was weighed, we did a weighted feed and my fear was correct. She was not getting enough. I was so grateful for their supply of donor milk. I was on a mission to make this work!
The next night was the worst pain I could express as my milk came in. No one tells you about this!! I thought my chest was going to explode and that I had mastitis or sepsis. My chest was so big and hard and I had what I now know as milk fever, I was shaking uncontrollably. I was so grateful to be able to reach out to lactation and get another appointment and was given a new routine of ice, cabbage leaves, massages and assured that it was just my milk coming in and that I would be a good producer. Until then, I was still dependent on donor milk as I was only producing a few oz in 24 hours. She was starting to gain after that, which was great.
Triple feeding was so hard. I lasted one night and then just decided to be very strict every 2 hours during the day. For some of those weeks i didn’t even latch her, as I was still healing, it was still painful and I didn’t want the bleeding to happen again. Luckily, Emma has always been a good sleeper (mama also adjusts her everyday and her first adjustment was when she was 12 hours old. She also had some weekly CST), so she would go about 4 hour stretches during the night.
The next challenge was that my milk was delayed coming in. I got a transvaginal ultrasound (recommended by lactation) and there was nothing in there (placenta or clot) delaying my production, but my uterine lining was thicker than it should have been for 2 weeks postpartum so that could be contributing. My lactation consultants gave me herbs to try and that helped supply a little, but not enough. I then consulted a dentist for a tie release as well.
We did see Dr. Dy and in 2 sessions we had all her buccals, both upper and lower lips and tongue released in combination with CST guiding the procedure. I was grateful for that so that what needed to be done was as minimal as possible. We had done stretches before the procedure which did help her clogged tear ducts, but latch was still painful and she was not transferring well (.01 of an oz) so it had to be done.
After that I hated doing the stretches, but we did and the next step was getting my supply up. Lactation gave me a prescription medication that is typically used for nausea, but it has an off label use for milk supply since it increases prolactin levels. So l, even though I was reluctant to go on a medication, I had tried the herbs first and was still only producing 8oz in 24 hours. There is a time and a place and this was the time! After a week at a full dose and then almost another at a half dose. I was producing 32 oz in 24 hours! And continued to do so even after stopping the meds! Thankfully triple feeding was no longer necessary!!
Next, was the transition from bottle to breast! This lasted a few weeks. I had finally had a routine down and changing it up was my goal before getting back to work. Lactation recommended that I just lay in bed with her for 24 hours and exclusively breastfeed. So since that wasn’t a huge possibility as I am home by myself, I just only offered the breast every 2 hours and we did it! So I stuck with that and pumped once a day when I felt engorged and that has been our routine ever since!
I liked pumping once a day to get a stash and to set aside an oz of fresh milk with some probiotics for her in a bottle in the morning. So I was able to donate back to the milk bank that saved us, I have a stash at home, the office and my mom’s house for when she might watch Emma! I couldn’t be more grateful! I am starting to transition away from the pump and use the Hakka instead to decrease my over supply.
Everyone’s feeding journey is different and I hope that sharing mine helps to educate and encourage you that you can do whatever you set your mind to! Just make sure you have the right team around to support that vision!
