6 months ago, I felt like I had an endless supply of milk. My over-supply was honestly the hardest thing I had to deal with being a new mom. And boy did I take it for granted. If I had known that by going back to work and pumping 3 times a day, that my supply would slowly diminish, I would have pumped and saved a TON more.
When I first started back at work, just over 3 months ago, I wouldn't leave the office with less than 15 ounces. Now, I am lucky to leave with 12 ounces. Plus, now that Mason is older and is eating oatmeal in the morning, I need 16 ounces everyday to keep up with his bottle needs and have the extra ounce for the oatmeal. I am down to 3 frozen bottles for emergency. I recently started taking Fenugreek, an herbal supplement known to increase milk supply. I am hoping it will start really working soon. I've read it can take up to two weeks to kick in. I am not opposed to supplementing with formula but I really want to continue nursing, so why add in extra work? I already have to deal with pumping, washing pump parts, and bottles. Why add formula, formula dispensers and bottled water to my diaper bag? I'm thinking it's going to be the all or nothing kind of deal, for my sanity, at least.
However, I now have a new challenge. Teeth. Mason now has two lower teeth. Since he regularly takes a bottle and a paci, he is used to biting at the nipples as part of relieving his teething discomfort. But now I face the issue of him not discerning the bottle and paci nipple from my nipple. He's been biting a lot lately and it really hurts. I've let out some pretty loud screams from the shock of his bites. He will then pull off, look up at me and laugh. Sometimes I give him a stern NO and still he laughs. It's going to be a slow process to teach a 7 1/2 month old not to bite. It's going to take a lot of NO's, taking the boob away and waiting and maybe taking it away entirely. Last night it was so bad that I had to take an all day break today from nursing so I can heal. I am literally swollen and in a lot of pain. Again I don't want to give up but exclusively pumping will only diminish my supply further unless I pump every 2 hours and I'm not sure I can mentally and physically do it right now.
Carter and I have talked and we are both okay if we have to switch to formula. I was really hoping to make it all the way until regular milk was acceptable, but now I'm thinking my plans may have to change. Any tips from moms out there are greatly appreciated. Hopefully I will be healed enough in the morning to nurse. There is nothing worse than having to fix a bottle at 5 AM. The best benefit to nursing is the ability to bring your baby to bed with you, nurse and you both fall back asleep in the wee hours of the morning. That is the ultimate snuggle time.
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