Mamabirdie Perch Here...

[gypsymom]

I know you're in SnT, but I was just thinking it would be nice to have a thread for you to answer questions and dispense your words of advice, experience, encouragement, and inspiration here in Milk Makers. :thumbsup

I guess I'll start...:lol

How long do you think you'll bf?

Around what ages did you experience major transitions in how they bf (such as length of time, teething, etc.)?

Have you had thrush/mastitis/other problems?

How did you deal with them?

Did you immediately decide not to consume dairy or was it a result of a reaction in the girls?

Did you try different exclusion diets?

What has that been like for you?

How has the experience of bfing changed for you from when you had your son?

I hope this isn't too much...

[SnowBirdie]

thanks for asking, gypsymom! i am now comfortably perched...lol :)


How long do you think you'll bf?
i will bf until the girls are ready to stop. some days that seems as if it may be college, but in reality i see them very slowly working toward the day they will be finished. i know it is the best thing for them, and i actually feel sorry for moms who don't have that source of comfort and nutrition to offer through the toddler heartbreaks, pains, and milestones. i know this is something i can do now that will substantially cut their risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, behavior problems, breast cancer, and other diseases, and the longer they bf the lower their risks of all of them. to me that is the best gift i can give them, so why not? i will gently guide them to less bf sessions a day over time as they get busier with being big girls, and we will all know when they are ready to be finished.


Around what ages did you experience major transitions in how they bf (such as length of time, teething, etc.)?
oh, several times. it is such a fluid process that by now i know if they are more insistent there must be an illness or milestone coming, so i go along as best i can and it passes. at about 6 weeks, 3 months, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months, and a few other ages they wanted to nurse a lot to build my supply and it worked, and with major tooth eruption, and illnesses they nursed a lot too. as they sat, rolled, pulled up, walked, and generally became more aware of their surroundings i could see a distracted time period where they would nurse a minute and look around, which easily becomes snacking. i learned to get them in as quiet a place as possible and look them straight in the eyes, make funny faces and sing to them, wiggle my fingers to them, and generally entertain them to keep them interesting, and they have passed through each phase, usually wanting to "catch up" it seemed to the lost time..lol.

we had some biting issues we dealt with with cold washrags and teethers for them to use right before nursing, and with me being vigilant for the "bored baby biter syndrome", and lots of reminders to "love nanny, not hurt nanny. be gentle." they got removed if they kept biting, and it took only once ot twice for them to get the point at each biting phase.

they went from amanda needing 45 minutes to finish for a few months (breathing issues) and annie nursing for 10 minutes, to amanda done in 5 and annie taking 15...as with everything else, it is fluid and changes as they grow. they go through wiggly phases where it makes me nuts with them all over each other and taking my nipples with them, but then they settle and are sweet and snuggly for awhile, so it evens out. the biggest things i have learned are to trust my body to take care of these girls as long as i take care of it by drinking and eating enough and getting what rest i can, and that things usually pass if i give it time, so not to get discouraged if a phase is rough. it always works out and things are better than before

Have you had thrush/mastitis/other problems?
i have had some milk blisters, which are my fault for not getting one off who is latching poorly. i learned it is better to disturb a sleepy baby then have sore nipples. i used a lot of lansinoh for that and it is wonderful. i have had early symptoms of thrush at times, but the minute i feel sore nipples or any discomfort, i start back on my acidophilus. i swear by that stuff, and it has truly made a difference in my nursing experience.

How did you deal with them?
as i said above, acidophilus for thrush starting and cutting sugar out somewhat too, and for sore nipples plenty of lansinoh. also, i only wear a sleep bra instead of my regular nursing bra. that is one quick way to get plugged ducts and mastitis...tight bra/underwire bra. for the beginnings of a plugged duct i massage in a hot shower and let them hang, and i will out a hot wet cloth on it and nurse all they will nurse.

Did you immediately decide not to consume dairy or was it a result of a reaction in the girls?
oh, it was a painful process...they had reflux and screamed a lot, and when meds helped but their stools were vinegary and slightly blood-streaked i knew dairy had to go..sigh. it takes about 2-3 weeks to really get dairy out of all systems involved, but after a few days they started becoming the sweet, smiling babies i knew were in there somewhere. every time i really want dairy i think of them being so miserable and i don't eat it. we tried yogurt with them once and amanda got hives and had to have benadryl, and annie whined for two days and had vinegar poops. ugh! i just hope they outgrow it.

Did you try different exclusion diets?
i did have to avoid broccoli for the longest because annie would wake up screaming in pain from gas every time i ate it :roll and tamato sauce because poor little butts would be red adn blistered from teh acid, but they can tolerate all but the dairy now.

What has that been like for you?
oh, honestly sometimes i feel a little resentful..not at them, but at having to limit what i eat. i can't tolerate aspartame(my ears ring horribly), so that means no diet soda, no dairy at all for them, and at times it is hard. i know it is best for them, though, and we eat lots of good foods, so it isn't as if i starve or anything (obviously...lol), but i really do miss my skim milk and ice cream and ...well, the list goes on..lol.

How has the experience of bfing changed for you from when you had your son?
he was term and nursed right away, so no nicu time like the girls had, and he went on a nursing strike when i started colleg when he was about 7 months old. at the time i thought he was finished and didnt' encourage him to continue, while i would know how now to get him past the strike and back to nursing. he got very sick and almost died after he stopped and he food allergies for awhile, and i wish i had known better and kept him going. i loved it, though, and am glad i did nurse him.

i am happy to answer anything anyone wants to ask, and thanks for asking! :pinkheart

[Wasabañero]

WOW! you are amazing! I was so frustrated and mad after just one month of not getting the help i begged for over here i truly gave up... I'm resentful at the staff here for not being there to help me.. I really feel i missed out.. and so did the girls... :(

[Mingle Bells]

:luv Ruth
You are truely an inspiration!

[SnowBirdie]

WOW! you are amazing! I was so frustrated and mad after just one month of not getting the help i begged for over here i truly gave up... I'm resentful at the staff here for not being there to help me.. I really feel i missed out.. and so did the girls... :(

i am so sorry you didn't get help. that is just sad, and no wonder you are angry. where is "here"? i am sure i missed something again...? you have done a great job with your girls, and you did the best you could.:hugs

[SnowBirdie]

thanks, min! i appreciate you saying that :)

[Wasabañero]

i am so sorry you didn't get help. that is just sad, and no wonder you are angry. where is "here"? i am sure i missed something again...? you have done a great job with your girls, and you did the best you could.:hugs

RA,
The girls were born at 858 & 9am on a Friday.. they went to the NICU for a few hours (around 5hrs) and then finally came to my room... i asked for the BF nurse, and they told me she had already gone home for the weekend... so i tried fumbling with everything.. i never got to take the BF classes...
I went all weekend not knowing if i was doing anything correctly.. and they kept giving me formula saying not to worry about it... they had already given them formula in the NICU... without even asking me what i had planned to do...
Anyway... the following week was hell.. i cried... i called around to every hospital, BF supply store etc.. and begged for help... finally i got a hold of the LN at the hospital i delivered. She told me that the nurses had told her that I said i didn't need help.. that i was OK.... I was OK????? WHAT THE F EVER!!!!
Anyway... by this time.. i was frustrated... i wasn't producing squat... well.. definitely not enough... they had me rent a pump, and pump every 2 hours.. i got no sleep... esp after feeding the girls... i didn't increase any supply.. it was a nightmare...
I should add that in 2000 I had a breast redux done... and the dr told me i wouldn't be able to BF... when i started lactating... i was in heaven... i was so excited... i wanted nothing more than to BF my girls...
I was told i produced enough to possibly feed one baby.. but twins.. no... i could alternate.. then pump & pray.. and formula feed the other... but there was just no way... so after a month, i pretty much gave up.. i gave in to formula.. i cried.. i felt like such a failure.. i was angry.. DH thought i had gone mad... He tried and tried to console me and tell me i did the best i could...

Anyway... The moral of the story.. for anyone who wants to BF, but is put in any similar situation... FIGHT! Don't take no for an answer.. i think if i would have gotten help that first day, and not let it go 4 days in the hospital without any help.. things may have been different...

Sorry this was such a long response.. i just felt like maybe someone would learn from my mistake..

[Bella~*]

Ra is an inspriation she's been my good source of help for my breastfeeding woes.. and my lovely Lorien, when I can catch her online :)

you ROCK!

[SnowBirdie]

oh, monica! i just saw your reply! i am soooo sorry you didnt' get more help...that burns my ass that they wouldnt' help you do a wonderful thing for your kids! arghhh!!! your post would make a wonderful addidtion to our bf resources thread. :hugs

[Wasabañero]

ok.. i'll add it