She came, she saw, she helped Critter to latch better. She is the Boob Whisperer.
I am officially diagnosed as having "over-supply." Yeah, that would explain my forever engorged boobs and the critter's weight gain of almost ONE POUND in a week. Yes, you read that right - she went from 8lbs 1oz last Monday to 8lbs, 15.5 oz yesterday. She was over 9lbs today when the Boob Whisperer weighed her. I told you she is an eating machine.
The lactation consultant was pretty helpful. She showed me some new latch techniques and positioning ideas that the critter seemed to take well to. One issue is the critter latches well initially, but then pulls back and nurses on nipple only. Which hurts. Turns out this is her way of controlling the flow of milk, which in my case is squirting out of my boobs without the critter needing to suck. She has even choked on milk a few times. Over-supply, clearly!
So we are letting the critter direct some of the latching, and using gravity to her advantage. I nursed her once since the Boob Whisperer left, and she did really well, with no pain for me. This might actually work!
We also talked about pumping, which for me is a double-edged sword. On one hand, I've got tons of milk to pump, but on the other, if I begin pumping too much, my boobs will produce even more. More is not good for me, with already over-engorged boobages. So we will start pumping a bit next week, and maybe start with some bottle feedings too. We'll see, I would like to get Mr. P involved in feeding her again, even just once a day.
So I'd say worth the money to have her come out, I did learn a few new skills. And it makes me feel more normal to know my boobs are doing what they should, just in an over zealous way.
Now you know more about my boobs than most people. Aaah, the internet, such a funny place where discussing one's boobs is normal. :)
Repeat: Cold Peace
1 day ago
I'm jealous!!! I guess over-supply is better than under-supply. Since you plan to try for #2 at 6 months, maybe you can pump and freeze enough to be able to give her frozen breastmilk until 1 year. I read that the engorgement will go away in a few weeks as your body recalibrates, at least I hope it does for your boob sake!
ReplyDeleteThose sound like some overachieving boobs! I've never heard of over supply, so that is really interesting. I'm glad the LC helped!
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear the lactation consultant worked out so well!!! Boob whisperer... I love it.
ReplyDeleteHi, long time lurker delurking.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations!
Now, I went through the same thing. Only my son had jaundice and did not have the strength to suckle in the beginning and had to give him formula a couple of times. And the over-mo-fo-supply did not help much. Especially since I thought I was not producing enough and started taking things for producing more. Yeah, fun times.
What I did was learn to bf lying in bed - it really helped. The milk flow was not that forceful, I could position the baby other head-to-head with me or upside down, in order to get the lumps in the breast going - expect some lumps at a certain point, but don't get scared, light massage and warm compresses work wonders.
You will not believe it, but also very good and very helpful for oversupplying sore breasts are curd cheese compresses. In Germany it is called quark, but I think it is actually cottage cheese in creamy form. After breastfeeding, I would put some of this quark on my breasts (not nipples) and put a towel on and leave it be for an hour or so. I already smelled of cheese, so smell wise there was no difference. After a couple of times, the lumps and sore feeling were almost gone. Out of the things I would have done for feeling better, this was the sanest, really. ;-)
I would pump a bit before bf, to ease up the flow and reduce the foremilk, which is high in lactose and in too much quantity may be irritating and give the little one rather nasty spitting up and green poops. I would also pump between feedings, when I was too full. Funny thing is that I used the milk I pumped in the beginning and it immediately made my baby spit up again! Too much foremilk, again. I am still conflicted in what to do with the rest of my supply, after all I worked hard for it and lost sleep to pump it, darn it...
And to wrap up this huge comment before the nap is over and I am called back to my duties, if you do not have time to pump before feeding, try to keep your boob between your index and middle finger, scissor style - it eases up the flow and the baby chokes less. Don't squeeze too hard, just, you know, light pressure.
I hope your baby girl keeps on thriving and packing on the pounds, as she should. And I also hope that she learns to master the sleeping thing early on. Because sleep deprivation is rough. So rough later on, that I consider the first two months a bliss now. But God willing, you won't have to deal with it.
Best wishes,
Mina
Oh that is awesome.. Nice to know that your body is doing an awesome job. I guess over supply is a good problem to have. Hope it rectifies soon enough.
ReplyDeletePie, I've been AWOl for too long and missed the arrival of Miss Critter. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so proud of you. Of course I have no advice to give about boobs and milk but you're in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSuch WONDERFUL news!!