Thanks for sharing Macha :-) I'm very impressed and I'm sure your experience will be inspirational to others.
By the way, how did the "bottlefeeding fascist mother" take to you relactating??! Hopefully she learnt a thing or two also! Jayne ----- Original Message ----- From: Macha McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ozmidwifery <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 11:48 PM Subject: relactation > Macha's relactation story..... > > Baby Emeleen was born 22nd March, 2001. First day was great. Second night > was a nightmare. She wouldnt stop crying and my nipples were beginning to > hurt. Midwife taught me to use controlled crying...on my 2 DAY old baby (If > I knew then what I know now!). She howled through the night, I after > exhausting and highly interventional labour was exhausted. Nobody would > take my baby to the nursery, I was beginning to become irrational. Next > morning, baby still crying, midwife says "I'm not supposed to say this, but > you need some sleep. Would you like to give Emeleen some formula?". Gladly > agreed, and entered downward spiral at this point. Expressed madly through > the day so I wouldnt have to give her formula again. When I got home, after > 3 days in hospital, (sore nipples gone, technique on the ball) we were doing > alright, feeling a bit stressed and tired, but coping. Day 5, enter > bottlefeeding fascist mother. "Shes hungry, you dont have enough milk, your > boobs look smaller etc etc". Give baby another bottle. Attend hospital b/f > centre, told to feed 3 hourly and express. I still felt incredibly > stressed. Baby began putting on weight and was doing fine, but I was > convinced, under influence of my mother, that it was not enough. She put on > a whole lot, then in 5 days put on 15g, and I panicked. Started giving more > bottles. Contacted ABA and got a supply line. Got a script of maxalon, and > continued to b/f and supplement with supply line until Emeleen was 5 months > old (and a bit). Totally on formula, she was incredibly constipated, so I > decided to relactate, also because I missed breastfeeding, and felt totally > inadequate, and like a failure. I used Goldfarb/Newman protocol (Diane35 > and domperidone) to buil up breast tissue and after a month started > expressing anywhere from 8-12 times a day. Tried every method under the sun > to get Emeleen back to the breast, and the best I could do was get her to > bite them..and then crack up laughing at mummies reaction. I persevered and > am able to express about 140mls per day...not much, but I feel great!!!! > Emeleen, now 14 months is incredibly interested in my boobs. Always looking > down my shirt and squealing with delight when she squeazes milk from my > nipples. It is surprisingly a good feeling...although not a complete > breastfeeding relationship, we have our own way of doing it. The best thing > about it is that I feel satisfied. I feel like I have achieved something, > although it may seem like nothing to others. The very fact that she has > learnt to accept my breasts and play with them is enough....and of course, > she gets the important breastmilk!!! > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
