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BR: Introducing Kailani Grace.....I'm a Mommy
I have to try and make this quick....our bundle of joy is here!!! She's beautiful and perfect. Kailani was born on May 8th and weighed 7 lbs 8oz and measured 21 inches long!!!
I went into labor at 2 am on May 8th and delivered at 11:13 am. Very short but VERY painful labor. She was sunny side up so kept hitting my rectum tail bone and the epidural only releived a little of the main. I wen from 1 cm to 4 cm in 2 hours and this is WITHOUT any medication. I provide more details later.
The transition home has not been easy. Kailani latched on great at the hosptial but when we got home she would not latch or eat. Her last feeding at hospital was 11:30 am or so and when we got home she was hesterical and would not latch or eat. She would scream herself to silence. We finally got her to eat around 2:30 am and 4:30 am but in the morning she was hesterical again and the not eating cycle started once agian. SHe peeing or pooping and her lips chapped. It was horrible...we were starving our baby just to get her to breastfeed.
Our pediatrician recommended us to give her a formula feed and from that point on its been downhill with getting her to nurse. I'm pumping but its not enough. Now she won't take my boob at all. In fact she doesn't want nurse from my boob at all. I'm discouraged but happy that my baby is getting enough to eat. I go to see a lactation specialist on Tuesday but I have a feeling its too late for nursing but hoping to pump to at least 50-75% of what she needs.
Like Lisa I feel even more like a LOSER since I have a singleton and failed an breast feeding at day 3. Anyway this isn;t supposed to be a venting post.
Heather and Mark | Lanikuhonua 8-14-08
Re: BR: Introducing Kailani Grace.....I'm a Mommy
Congrats on having a beautiful daughter!
Don't beat yourself up over something you can't control. Many women, throughout history, have struggled with breast feeding - that's why there were wet nurses! It doesn't make you a bad parent at all.
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! Can't wait to see pictures of Kailani. Also, sounds like you are a MAJOR trooper for having a sunny side up baby and laboring with no epidural.
Please, please, please don't beat yourself up for not bf your little one. If you read the BF post awhile back, not many of us were breastfed, and we're happy, smart and healthy. I am in favor of breastfeeding, however I am also in favor of formula feeding. We should all just be in favor of feeding our babies. You are doing a great job mama! Don't doubt yourself.
Congratulations again!
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I love Hawaii!
Tara & Ian . 4/24/2008 . The Kahala Planning . Married
| Olowalu, Maui ~ August 6, 2008 |
| Family of 4 ~ April 2, 2011 |
| Family of 5 - October 24, 2012 |
Congratulations! Can't wait to see pics!
Don't think that it's too late for BF and don't feel like a loser! It's only been a few days...don't give up! And if she doesn't latch, you can always pump and give her EBM. There's a lot of people on The Bump BF board who exclusively pump. I hope the LC can help you figure out why she's not latching. Good luck!
Congratulations on your new addition! Lovely name.
I'm sorry to hear about your BF experience. Most important thing is that she gets food. A good friend was having horrible trouble with BFing and the LCs at the hospital kept beating it into her head not to bottle feed. Then her son LOST weight and weighed less than he was born. They were frightened and her doctor told them immediately to bottle feed formula. From there, she pumped and did both. Don't ever beat yourself up on not BFing. There is too much pressure on us to BF. Yes, it's natural. But when baby isn't taking food - that's when I draw the line. There is a reason formula was invented. We are not all natural at BFing.
It makes me so sad to see how much pressure emotionally and physically is placed on us. Do what is best for her survival. Sometimes LC are so skewed in their thinking. Almost reminds me of a cult. I had a big fight with one before we left the hospital. My boobs were chapped and both bleeding. I told her "BLOOD woman, I'm not feeding my son with BLOOD in his mouth!" On top of arguing, she was threating that she wouldn't let the nurse discharge us unless she saw me make a phone call to rent a pump. This was after 4 days of being there. I didn't want to pump and did both BF and bottle feed. It was the BEST thing for both of us. I am an amazing mommy and provided the best for my guy. He is so happy and healthy now and got best of both worlds.
Do what's best to get your little one fed. Big hugs to all the mommies who are BFing. I wish more education and support was made available about the decision to do both were available.
Like what the pp said, you are NOT a loser so please don't feel like you are. Just delivering the baby is already a feat itself!! A lot of moms go through the same BF struggle. I'm hoping things get better.
hawaii 10.2008 plan ;P married bio ???
Congratulations Heather!
What an absolutely wonderful Mother's Day gift
Congratulations, Heather!
Ditto what Lori said.
Congratulations Heather! So glad to hear you & Kailani are doing great!
And I agree with all of the other posts. Of course, BFing is natural but at some point you can't cause you & baby to suffer just for the sake of trying to BF. Meet with the LC & if they can help great & if they can't, so be it. You will have an amazingly healthy little baby girl regardless of how you nourish her!
Congrats!
Don't beat yourself up, keep pumping as often as you can and good look with the LC next week. Maybe she will be offer you some alternatives IF you really do want to breastfeed (if not, no worries - the stress isn't worth it).
My milk came in REALLY late - like 5 days after he was born - it sucked to not see much accumulate in the pump bottles. He lost weight - most babies do. No one seemed really concerned but they were going to to have me finger feed formula with a tiny tube taped to my finger if he didn't have a certain number of wet diapers per 24 hours. You can also use the tube system (SNS is what it's called) taped to your breast just to use at first to get the baby interested in the breast (so that there is immediate flow, or use it for the entire feed to help baby eat while working on your latch and getting nipple stimulation) - maybe you could ask for more information about that. again, only if you are comfortable/want to try more alternatives.
Congratulations! Kailani Grace is such a beautiful name. I can't wait to see pics too!
Like pp's mentioned, please don't beat yourself up over bf-ing. It doesn't make you a loser and what's most important is that your LO is getting fed--whether it be bf or formula. Don't give up hope either--I hope your lactation consultation goes well. Lots of hugs and vibes your way...
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
Yay! Congratulations, what a beautiful name! I can't wait to see pictures!
Like everyone has said, please do not beat yourself up about BFing. You are a great momma and you are doing your best! What is good for you and works for you both is the best, so don't feel pressured. As the momma tha now makes you the boss! So what you say re BFing goes!
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
Congrats Heather! I love her name...
I am sorry breastfeeding has not been going as planned. Hang in there mama and know that no matter how you feed your baby she is loved! Has your milk come in yet? Mine didn't come in until Day 5, so I am wondering if the challenges you had at Day 3 were because your milk wasn't in yet and she was frustrated? I hope the lactation consultant can help you...you might be able to exclusively pump if Kailani just never latches on again. Until you can meet with the LC just keep putting her to breast (before bottle) and encourage her as much as you can.
P.S. I've added Kailani Grace to the Hawaii Mamas Roster
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Love the name! Congratulations!
Pumping and supplementing with formula is totally OK! You're still benefiting her in a HUGE way and don't let anyone tell you any different.
First, CONGRATULATIONS! I looooove the name, it's beautiful!
Second, all of this:
I totally, completely agree. And trust me, I know how you feel. I know I've posted about it before, but you don't know how many times I've cried my heart out in the hospital and here at home over BFing. Especially in the hospital, since my milk didn't come in until the end of day 5 and even then it wasn't much at all - I felt like SUCH a failure for needing to supplement, even though I knew it was the best thing for my boys. But here were these two perfect, wonderful little beings and I couldn't even feed them! Talk about feeling like a loser!
It didn't help that all the other mothers in the maternity ward seemed to be feeding their child just fine, or that the LCs wouldn't acknowledge my struggles. I don't mean that they were heartless, but they were all a little on the dismissive side: "Oh it will happen and breastfeeding is best. So just keep going, you just have to keep nursing." Now that's absolutely true, nursing/pumping IS the only way to increase supply, but I really could have used more individual encouragement than that - for someone to say, "I see that this is really hard for you, and I understand. It's OK to be frustrated and upset." It would have been nice if someone acknowledged that it wasn't so simple and easy for everyone, you know?
Anyway, all of this is to say...please don't feel bad if you can't BF, or feel guilty. Meet with an LC and give it another try but only if you want to. Formula is NOT bad or evil. It's helped my sons survive until this point, and likely will into the future as well. I'm grateful that it exists and that I have the option of using it!
(((big hugs)))
Congratulations!!!! I too had my baby sunny side up and know just what you mean about the epidural not doing anything to help, it helps pain but not pressure and OMG the pressure! My LO has recently rejected the boob. I know it makes you sad but pumping will give her some milk. It takes a lot more time to EP but so worth it, way better than formula! Also go see a LC if you can, I've went twice now and it really helped.
Again Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER!!!!!
I have tried to distance myself a bit from the Nest, but I certainly care about you from way back which is why I'm posting. I am SO happy for you - what a gorgeous name, and I'm certain she's exquisite.
Please, please, please don't fall into felling bad because you have ONE child (and, for the love of God, please don't fall into the trap of calling her a 'singleton'). You are doing what you need to do and you will figure it out. Love you big! xoxo