So last night I came to the conclusion that I CANNOT get sick! I just can't. Aside from the fact that I am numero uno source of nutrition for two babies, I also have to rock them to sleep when they are cranky (I think there is something about the smell of their milk nearby that soothes them when they are fussy) because my wife can do it all day, but at night when they are tired and fussy it HAS to be me, and this requires both patience and energy. *sigh* both of which I lack when I am under the weather.
At first it was flattering that they wanted me, but now, not so much. Its hard enough to get one baby down (while the other one is making tons of noise) and then to get up and do it again, exhausting. Add to that the fact that as soon as they are asleep I have to pump, and as soon as I am pumping the big guy realizes I'm no longer there and coaxes my wife to bring him out to the living room where I am pumping so he can give me his sad face and get me to disconnect, put my milk making on hold and lay with him again. Then, once he is asleep I try again.
Now the point of this long rant:
I had a really bad toothache the other day (pregnancy made my gums really sensitive) and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep. Of course, the big guy needed to be nursed and then the little guy was giving my wife a hard time, so I had to get back up and help put him to sleep (because who can sleep when there is a baby yelling at us). When I was done, I had to pump. I was in so much pain, my milk took forever to "let down" so I was there for an hour and a half when it usually only takes 30-40 minutes to get what I need (About 10 ounces).
I usually have a very high tolerance for pain, so much so, that I didn't need any pain meds after my c-section. We filled the prescriptions anyway, just in case, but I refused to take them. I just hate taking medicine, I don't have the stomach for it and I don't want to pass it to the babies through their breastmilk.
That night, I contemplated taking the per.co.cet I got after my c-section, that is when my wife realized how much pain I was in because she knows I never take anything. I didn't take it, but I did take one 800mg ibu.profen that I also got when I came home. I figured it was better than the per.co.cet (which is tecnically a narcotic). My wife said maybe I had an infection and I should see the dentist the next day. I was fine in the morning but it did get me thinking.
I had just dumped all my milk (about 200 bags of 4 ounces of milk) that I had frozen because it was hitting the 3 month mark, and nobody was using it because I was pumping fresh milk everyday or nursing the big guy, and I needed to put FOOD in there. So of course then I panicked because I thought if I get sick, and have to take antibiotics, that milk would have kept us afloat until I was done with the meds and got my milk supply back up.
So now I've resumed pumping like a maniac, and luckily I can now manipulate my milk supply to as little or as much as I need. I had only been pumping 2-3 times a day (just enough for the little guys bottles) and have now increased it to 5-6 times a day so I can still give the little guy what he needs and still work on building up my frozen stock. I know I always say how much I hate pumping but I have to admit, I love my pump. It is a hospital grade one I got as a rental when the boys were in the NICU.
*Side note: When you have babies that are not able to go home for a while they prescribe you a hospital grade pump so you can stimulate and maintain your milk supply because a regular pump isn't strong enough. I was able to keep mine for 5 months, and I liked it so much I bought my own on e.b.ay.
I really think my pump can make anyone lactate. So far I am able to produce enough milk for the babies and the freezer and I will continue to do so as long as I am able. I hope that one day (probably when I go back to work), if I can no longer keep up with their needs, we can resort to supplementing with our frozen stock until its all gone. and then, and only then, we will be done with this breastfeeding saga.
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What brand of pump is it? Got your comment and I got the shelves at Target, although I have had one for a few years and got the long one over the crib last year on clearance...but it's worth a look to see if they have somethng similar.
ReplyDeleteThe hospital grade pump I have is the Medela Lactina. I also have the Medela Pump In Style that I use when we go places, it works pretty well and I could probably use it to maintain my milk supply, but when I need to increase my milk supply I use the Lactina.
ReplyDeleteMy supply seems to be on the uptick now that I've finished my antibiotic for the mastitis. Miles is still not happy about breastfeeding unless it's first thing in the morning, though. We have been slowly adding my frozen stash into the feeding circulation so that we won't ever have to throw any away. I'd rather have a "fresh" bag sit in the fridge an extra day. Of course, I'm still not producing as much as he needs, so he's getting formula at least once a day.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried having your wife wear one of your unwashed shirts at night while calming the babies? If it smells like you perhaps they might be comforted enough to get back to sleep.
Tomorrow Im going to try that shirt trick. Of course it requires me to actually wear a shirt all day! Which is hard since I am feeding or pumping all day, I just stay in my bra!
ReplyDeleteYou can donate breast milk to milk banks if you have excess. Some moms don't produce enough at all to even breastfeed briefly.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was told that when I was in the NICU and bringing in our milk by the gallons. I wanted to donate then, since there were babies who were smaller than ours and needed it, but their moms either couldn't breastfeed or chose not to. The hospital had its own bank that they actually purchased the milk from for those babies. I haven't had time to look into it but heard it requires extensive testing. Right now, I barely have time to shower, but I would like to donate, maybe when the boys are bigger I can look into it.
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