Warning - this blog post will be about my breasts and the adventures of my "milk machines".
I am one of the lucky ones. I've never had a problem with milk supply, and my baby has been a great latcher and feeder. I am not trying to gloat, I'm not trying to show off. It is just a fact. I am lucky.
My body started producing colostrum from about 6 1/2 months into my pregnancy, which was a huge shock (imagine seeing a golden yellow fluid seep from your nipples in the shower, wtf!), but this is normal for some, apparently so for me!
My milk came in while I was in the hospital (although i had a longer stay - 5 days). My baby was jaundiced so was in the humidy crib for 2days. During that time they want you to feed every 2 hours and top up with a bottle of expressed milk, at least 20mls. The midwife asked me if I knew how to express manually, I said no, so she offered to show me. She had a little syringe ready to suck up any little drops to milk to give to my baby, and much to her surprise a stream of milk came out (much like milking a cow). She then went and got one of the electronic pumps and said to go for my life. I expresses 60mls then and there. Yep, I was a good supplier.
Ever since that first week I've been fine with supply. The only problems I've had with baby latching, was if my breasts were too full, and I've have to express some first so that she could latch. I think my supply has made her a lazy feeder, as she barely has to look at me and my milk will come shooting out. So much so, that at one of my mothers group meetings, in a cafe, I almost shot one of the other mums with the force of my milk after bub a had unattached herself. If there had been anyone at the table behind us, they would have had some extra milk with their coffee (no word of a lie!).
I don't have the experience of hearing a baby cry and feeling my milk come in, unlike many other mothers. Even my own baby crying doesn't do that for me. But once she gives my nipple one or two good sucks, it come with an almighty gush!
Also a hot shower will make my milk come in. I remember showering and talking to my husband who was holding our baby (the beginning of the end - never again showering on my own) and the look of surprise on his face as I started spontaneously squirting the shower screen with a steady flow of milk. I couldn't help but giggle at how ridiculous it was! I must admit, because of this type of flow, I have done the milk equivalent of "writing your name in the sand" across the shower screen, couldn't help myself, and I kinda get why boys attempt to pee their names.
Needless to say, when my poor husband and I have some "us time" the bra stays on and the "girls" are left alone - by his choice.
I feel so bad for mothers that can't breast feed, either due to no milk supply, or a baby that can't latch. I can't even begin to comprehend the pure frustration when the milk letdown doesn't happen. I understand why bottle feeding is an option, or sometimes the only option. So although I'm a huge advocate for breast feeding, I will never make a mother feel bad for not doing so. It works for me, in fact it was easy from the start, so I never had to struggle with that decision.
Boobie power (and may the milk fairies be kind).
No comments:
Post a Comment