Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Feeding issues Take 2

I often look at moms who breastfeed and wonder how did you get so lucky?  When I hear stories of moms who pump so much milk they have to give it away or their babies gain weight from the start, I am in awe.
Apparently, Abby wanted to follow in her sister's footsteps.
This time, however, we were on top it from the start.
Weight gain is something I don't mess around with.
After you've had a child who doesn't get to birth weight until after she's a month old, you're willing to do almost anything to see the numbers go up on the scale.
Abby weighed 5 lbs 12 oz at birth and at our doctor's appointment on Monday, she was 5 lbs 1 oz.  That's a 12% weight loss and most likely would have ended her up in the hospital but because we were meeting with the lactation consultant that day, the doctor let us have another 24 hours to get her weight up at least an ounce.
Of course, after that doctor appointment, and with my raging hormones, I was in tears.  The old fears of what Mady went through took over.
We met with the lactation lady (as Jeremy calls her) and she was someone that God placed in our lives at the right moment.  She was so encouraging!  We explained everything we went through with Mady.  The hour long process is took to feed her breast milk before ultimately switching to formula.  
She replied, "You don't have time for that.  I am more pro-family than I am pro-breastfeeding and you need to find something that works for your family."  
So we figured out a plan which included bottle feeding formula and whatever breastmilk I could pump.
The next day we took Miss Abby back to the doctor and she had gained 5.5 ounces!!  So we know we're on the right track.
Ultimately I would love to be able to breastfeed my kiddos but that doesn't look like its going to be possible with this chick again.  The formula road is not a bad road and Abby's older sister is a perfectly healthy little girl.  
Who would've thought my football playing husband would have 2 little girls struggle with weight gain?

1 comment:

  1. Do not feel guilty! I loved the consultant's encouraging words to you!! Glad to se Abby is growing! And Meddy's happy face in the last picture is just dear!

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