Re: [ozmidwifery] was formula, now HELP for b/f

[Denise Hynd]

Dear Rita, I concur with what Belinda has said particuarly about find an LC who will discuss not only all your options (scuh as a supply line) but one or another midwife counsellor  who can help you look at and understand what has happened in the past and ways you can minimise the risk of re-occurence for example informative support through this birth and pregnancy in the event that you are going to another Ob who like the last does not listen and acknowledge your conerns. For adrenaline due to fear, anxiety can also inhibit your milk let down and production, plus retained placenta........   I think from the little you have told us you like many women are amazing to have produced any milk in the circumstances! Which is another thing I strongly say to women give youself acknowledgement for what you have done in the face of poor to no support and all the obstacles you have encountered.   Some or any milk is to be appreciated and celebrated particuarly under the circumstances!!.     Denise Hynd   "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.  For, indeed, they are the only ones who ever have."  Margaret Mead ----- Original Message ----- From: Belinda Maier To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 7:22 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] was formula, now HELP for b/f as the placenta is throwing off hormones to stop your milk coming in in pregnancy, when third stage is complete the hormones disappear quickly, prolactin rises and your milk comes in. A bit of placenta left can certainly still inhibit your milk coming in properly and establishing. Anemia can also affect your supply - how was/is that. Domperidol is far better drug than maxalon, find a gp/lc there are some great ones around. Did your breasts grow in puberty, it is another possibility that something in puberty inhibited growth of adequate functioning  breast tissue. There are a myriad or possibilities for your supply baby growth issues. Certainly filling the baby up with abm can cause major problems but it seems in spite of this you tried many things that should have helped. Did you see a lc at the time? Also remember if it doesn't work hasn't worked mothering is a compex thing and the emotional growth of your children is paramount (as well as their nutritional wellbeing). A friend of mine supplemented her fourth child after three screaming poor weight gaining babies who lived at the breast for a year or cried, no in-between. After much heartache she decided to comp her fourth (she would have paid dearly for bm if she could have got a hold of some) and her baby thrived and was a happy baby immensely  enjoyed by her mother. I believe she had limited functioning breast tissue and there is nothing you can do about that. I think we get lost in the af vs bf debate and forget to help mothers enjoy their babies and gain confidence in themselves as mothers women. I have helped many women as a lc in private practice but I have also counseled women who for reasons such as the drugs they need to survive day to day (depression or migraine issues that do not respond to drugs that are okay to use with bf) poor breast tissue, significant breast refusal (as a lc If they ask to see me and the baby is over 6weeks old it can be very difficult to get tham back onto the breast so they often end up expressing and bottling)  It is so important to acknowledge the importance of breastfeeding and breastmilk but it doesn't mean that those who cannot bf for whatever reason  love and nurture their babies any less than those who bf. Many women I know also juggle the despair of not giving their baby the 'best' the worry that causes and the shame they feel bottling in front of bf women as well as their constant sense of failure or inadequacy as mothers. This is a terrible thing and we should be supporting these women and providing them with our nurturing skills to enhance their sense of selves. bf success doesnt not mean a 'better' mother. We should also be fighting the unethical marketing of infant baby milk, doctors who give out free samples or who minimise the benefits of breastfeeding, poor hospital practices, the lack of a breast milk banks etc etc... Good luck Rita, find a lc to help you identify where the problems are coming from so you can work out a plan of action. Belinda ----- Original Message ----- From: Deliverywoman To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 9:25 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] was formula, now HELP for b/f Colleen, May I please ask how the 'Eglonyl' helped, how long you remained on this medication and what side effects if any that you experienced. As I have previous difficulties as some have been previously described, I have been given maxalon for one of them to no avail.  It was also suggested for me to use motilium but did not get to that point. I also have a question for you wonderful wise women. With some information and background first.  With babe No. 4, throughout the pregnancy as with any pregnancy being different, this one was as well and more noiticable was the different way in which my breasts responded to the pregnancy.  I felt confident and secure that finally this time I would be successful in breastfeeding my babe.  But alas, it again was not to be.  I have a theory and would love some feedback.  With this babe, I was prescribed the maxalon at a higher than normal dose for lactation assistance (4 q.i.d) - or so I was 'told'. Babe started experiencing extremely low blood sugar levels and despite my refusal, they supplemented him with would you believe 50MLS EVERY THREE HOURS, when gastric tube placed in gut for the next feed, there was formula coming back up,  HE WASN'T HUNGRY, but I know that 50mls is certainly excessive.  The question relates to the fact that post birth I felt extremely boggy in the uterus and felt as if I had retained products......... I even passed what I still to this day KNOW was placental tissue (as a student midwife, you certainly see a lot of clots etc. on pads post-partum.......)  I kept it and a 'midwife' looked at it, flushed it and said 'no that is nothing, just a blood clot'.  The one thing I did NOT experience with this breastfeeding experience was that of my milk 'coming in'.  For 6 weeks I argued with M&CHN and doctor that I had retained products and that I still had not experienced my milk coming in and was 'ignored'.  Three months later with babe on formula, me still spotting bright PV loss, I saw my gyno whom performed a D & C and lo and behold - PATH RESULT - RETAINED PRODUCTS OF CONCEPTION......... (No way this could have been a 'miscarriage' or 'blighted ovum') as no sexual intercourse had occurred post-natally.  What degree of impact do you wonderful women believe the retained placental bits and pieces would have actually had on my breastfeeding experience.  Just to add to this, I had reason to see my gyno for unrelated issue and asked him regarding the possiblity of retaining this time around and explained the reason behind my question and his reply was 'Totally nonsense, that would not have had any impact on your breastfeeding what-so-ever??????????????????????????????'  This comment came from a very well known AND respected Obsetrician whom many are aware......................... I must say that I am still in  shock from his comment. Looking forward to your replies. Thanx for putting up with my many posts regarding this issue. Yours in Childbirth Rita Van Onselen Family <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I couldnt feed my 2nd child on day 10 and was offered formula or diluted cows milk.I remember saying to the doctor that since I was going to damage the child in the long run I might as well get it over and done with now and "euthinase her" to say he was shocked and all were appalled is not an understatement but these tactics helped and I was given Eglonyl and fed 2 babies for 2 years each with a boost on this psychiatric drug .   Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies.