weaning
It's been two weeks and a day since i last pumped milk. Eidan never took the breast for feeding. I guess being in the NICU for 7 weeks took a toll on him. All those poking and tube feeding affected what should have been a natural process for us. =( Also, i wasn't able to produce much to begin with. Perhaps, it's because of the lack of stimulation or maybe i just didnt have a lot of milk producing glands. But i did try everything.. Everything that is known to us and our doctors - Pumping every two hours, taking medicines and supplements, multiple appointments with the lactation consultant... *sigh*
When i was pregnant, i always prayed that i'll produce as much as one of our friends who produces 3oz in 5 minutes. By Eidan's 7th week i was barely getting 80ml after pumping for 30 minutes.
When i can hardly fit sleeping, eating and pumping in our routine for Eidan, we knew we had to give up something =(
Weaning myself off of producing milk was hard both physically and emotionally.
Physically... i got fever a couple of times due to the blocked ducts i get whenever i try to lessen the number of pumps i do in a day. And being sick is something i cant afford. It's hard to take care of your baby when you can hardly get out of bed. I was adviced to take lecithin to prevent blockages thus lesser days with fever.
Emotionally.. I was crying everyday.. Feeling guilty that i would be depriving him of the best food he can have. Moreover i felt like i was grieving, like a part of me was dying. That's the best way i can describe it. The process of weaning was really hard. Good thing i had the support of my loving pangga.
The lactation consultant said that things might have been different if eidan was not a preemie and we were able to take him home with us right away. She said we went through a lot but hopefully we wouldn't give up on the idea of breastfeeding for our second child in the future.
When i was pregnant, i always prayed that i'll produce as much as one of our friends who produces 3oz in 5 minutes. By Eidan's 7th week i was barely getting 80ml after pumping for 30 minutes.
When i can hardly fit sleeping, eating and pumping in our routine for Eidan, we knew we had to give up something =(
Weaning myself off of producing milk was hard both physically and emotionally.
Physically... i got fever a couple of times due to the blocked ducts i get whenever i try to lessen the number of pumps i do in a day. And being sick is something i cant afford. It's hard to take care of your baby when you can hardly get out of bed. I was adviced to take lecithin to prevent blockages thus lesser days with fever.
Emotionally.. I was crying everyday.. Feeling guilty that i would be depriving him of the best food he can have. Moreover i felt like i was grieving, like a part of me was dying. That's the best way i can describe it. The process of weaning was really hard. Good thing i had the support of my loving pangga.
The lactation consultant said that things might have been different if eidan was not a preemie and we were able to take him home with us right away. She said we went through a lot but hopefully we wouldn't give up on the idea of breastfeeding for our second child in the future.
posted by jane @ 10/26/2010 12:24:00 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
awwww. *hugs*
you're doing a great job janey. *pats on the back*
i've seen eidan's latest pics and he looks soooo much healthier now. so look on the brighter side, at least you were able to feed him breast milk even a bit. some don't even get that chance.
eidan will be fine, he's a fighter. ;-)
tight hugs to you dearie... you've been such a great mom supporting eidan and taking care of him.. eidan is doing so great.. i've seen his pictures and he's much bigger now and looking good! ;-)
everything will be fine... I continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.. God is good. :-)
God Bless dear. Tight hugz for you and butterfly kisses for Eidan :-)
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