I read this the other day and thought it was pretty interesting. What do you think?
Wednesday
Thursday
3 Months
I feel like I've been a bit of a Negative Nancy on this blog. Which is weird because I'm usually very optimistic. I guess this whole breastfeeding thing has just consumed me and I feel this is the best outlet for my thoughts. Although, my family and friends would probably argue they've had to hear all about it too.
So, in honor of Ellis Rose's 3-month birthday, I wanted to do a quick happy update. Here's what she's been in up to in the 3 months since her birth:
1) She's been babbling. The squeeks she made when she was a newborn have long since been replaced by "ooh" and "aargh" and "rawr" and an occasional "yeowya"
2) She rolled over! One day she just rolled from her tummy to her back. Twice. In a row. The next day, she rolled over from her back to her tummy. I'm thinking of attaching Swiffer sheets so she can clean our wood floors.
3) She watches the cats now and she's incredibly interested in them. She'll even lean forward so she can get a better look.
4) She sits! Well, she sits in the Bumbo but is still a step forward.
5) She's obsessed with her hands. She's constantly sucking on them, licking them, biting them, practically gagging herself with them. All of this means she has less fuzz in-between her fingers, which means I have less to pick out when I'm nursing her.
6) She has seen her feet but she still doesn't know they are attached to her body. But she likes to watch them move and seems enthralled by them at times.
All in all, I'm amazed at the changes she's undergone in 3 months. I'll do this again in 3 months when she is 6 months old and writing her memoirs. Until then, I'll leave you with this little video clip.
So, in honor of Ellis Rose's 3-month birthday, I wanted to do a quick happy update. Here's what she's been in up to in the 3 months since her birth:
1) She's been babbling. The squeeks she made when she was a newborn have long since been replaced by "ooh" and "aargh" and "rawr" and an occasional "yeowya"
2) She rolled over! One day she just rolled from her tummy to her back. Twice. In a row. The next day, she rolled over from her back to her tummy. I'm thinking of attaching Swiffer sheets so she can clean our wood floors.
3) She watches the cats now and she's incredibly interested in them. She'll even lean forward so she can get a better look.
4) She sits! Well, she sits in the Bumbo but is still a step forward.
5) She's obsessed with her hands. She's constantly sucking on them, licking them, biting them, practically gagging herself with them. All of this means she has less fuzz in-between her fingers, which means I have less to pick out when I'm nursing her.
6) She has seen her feet but she still doesn't know they are attached to her body. But she likes to watch them move and seems enthralled by them at times.
All in all, I'm amazed at the changes she's undergone in 3 months. I'll do this again in 3 months when she is 6 months old and writing her memoirs. Until then, I'll leave you with this little video clip.
Sunday
I've met God and she's a lactation consultant in Nashville
The lactation consultant figured out our problem in minute one of our consultation. Ellis Rose is holding her tongue up and back when she's nursing. It is supposed to be down and sticking out somewhat.
At first, I honestly felt pretty stupid that I didn't realize this was the problem. I guess I was so focused on making her sure her mouth was wide open and her lips were flared that I didn't notice her tongue was all wonky.
As to how long this has been going on? Who knows. It could've been like this from the beginning or it could be a problem she developed once she had a few bottles. The two main points, however, were that:
1) it makes mama hurt
2) it is an inefficient way to nurse - she doesn't get enough milk this way
The solution to this problem? I have to stick my tongue out at her before she nurses. This little part is, according to my dad, proof that god has a sense of humor. Because I cannot stick out my tongue. My problem is that I have a short frenulum and while Ellis Rose has a shorter frenulum than most, it is long enough for her to stick her tongue out.
However, I can apparently stick mine out far enough for Ellis Rose to get the point. There are some other exercises we can work on too which, all combined, will make me look like an insane woman when I'm nursing her. But whatever works, right?
I continue to revise my nursing goals. Some days, I think I can do it for 1 year. Other days, I think it'll be more like 6 months. Still other days, I think I'll maybe make it another 5 minutes. But, no matter what, I've made a rule for myself. If I ever decide to quit nursing I have to wait 24 hours before I actually quit. I usually change my mind during that time.
When I left the lactation consultant, I told her I would have driven further and paid more for her services. It was well worth a quick trip to Nashville and a measly 80 bucks.
At first, I honestly felt pretty stupid that I didn't realize this was the problem. I guess I was so focused on making her sure her mouth was wide open and her lips were flared that I didn't notice her tongue was all wonky.
As to how long this has been going on? Who knows. It could've been like this from the beginning or it could be a problem she developed once she had a few bottles. The two main points, however, were that:
1) it makes mama hurt
2) it is an inefficient way to nurse - she doesn't get enough milk this way
The solution to this problem? I have to stick my tongue out at her before she nurses. This little part is, according to my dad, proof that god has a sense of humor. Because I cannot stick out my tongue. My problem is that I have a short frenulum and while Ellis Rose has a shorter frenulum than most, it is long enough for her to stick her tongue out.
However, I can apparently stick mine out far enough for Ellis Rose to get the point. There are some other exercises we can work on too which, all combined, will make me look like an insane woman when I'm nursing her. But whatever works, right?
I continue to revise my nursing goals. Some days, I think I can do it for 1 year. Other days, I think it'll be more like 6 months. Still other days, I think I'll maybe make it another 5 minutes. But, no matter what, I've made a rule for myself. If I ever decide to quit nursing I have to wait 24 hours before I actually quit. I usually change my mind during that time.
When I left the lactation consultant, I told her I would have driven further and paid more for her services. It was well worth a quick trip to Nashville and a measly 80 bucks.
Wednesday
Boob Tour 2010
Well, breastfeeding is not any better. Actually, it is worse. So, I'm going off on what Adam has dubbed Boob Tour 2010 to try to get this resolved. After calling Le Leche League here in Little Rock (and receiving no call back) and trying to get a private consultation with a board certified lactation consultant (they can't because they have contracts with hospitals) I am driving to Nashville to see a lactation consultant there.
It isn't as crazy as it seems. My sister lives in Nashville. And the lactation consultation is only $80 but will last roughly 1 1/2 hours.
If this whole breastfeeding thing doesn't work, I just want to know I did everything I could.
It isn't as crazy as it seems. My sister lives in Nashville. And the lactation consultation is only $80 but will last roughly 1 1/2 hours.
If this whole breastfeeding thing doesn't work, I just want to know I did everything I could.
Tuesday
Happy Days are Here Again
I'm a week into my treatment for intraductal yeast and I gave nursing a go for the first time. And guess what?
It wasn't unbearable!
I didn't sweat through the nursing session. I didn't scream at latch-on. I didn't sit have to take Ellis off after 15 minutes. It still isn't quite back to normal but I can tell it is much much better. I think from now on I'll just nurse exclusively.
No more bottles! No more pumping!
Until I go back to work, at least.
I don't know if Ellis has missed nursing (she seems to like the much faster flow of the bottle) but I definitely have so I'm glad to be getting back to it. I was pretty depressed when I thought I might have to give it up for good.
Since we're in this for the long haul now I guess I need to invest in a nursing cover since I haven't quite mastered the blanket over the shoulder routine.
(This concludes what I hope is the very last post about breastfeeding)
It wasn't unbearable!
I didn't sweat through the nursing session. I didn't scream at latch-on. I didn't sit have to take Ellis off after 15 minutes. It still isn't quite back to normal but I can tell it is much much better. I think from now on I'll just nurse exclusively.
No more bottles! No more pumping!
Until I go back to work, at least.
I don't know if Ellis has missed nursing (she seems to like the much faster flow of the bottle) but I definitely have so I'm glad to be getting back to it. I was pretty depressed when I thought I might have to give it up for good.
Since we're in this for the long haul now I guess I need to invest in a nursing cover since I haven't quite mastered the blanket over the shoulder routine.
(This concludes what I hope is the very last post about breastfeeding)
