I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on breast milk, formula and expressing milk, as these things are usually at the forefront of my mind each day. Let me know if you have any questions!
Ever since I learned about the benefits of breast milk, I’ve always wanted to breastfeed my children. I took several nutrition classes in University, and there I learned the nutrients it contained and how it helps provide the baby with the best start possible. When I found out that our baby would be born with a cleft lip, I did a ton of research to see if breastfeeding would still be a possibility. As far as I could tell, just a cleft lip wouldn’t affect the process, and I was relieved that I would still be able to breastfeed. However, Levi was born with both a cleft lip and palate, which changes the situation entirely. As I mentioned in a previous post, due to his cleft palate, Levi is unable to generate the suction needed to breast feed. Initially, when I found this out, I was devastated. I thought that I was going to be missing out on providing him with colostrum and all the living properties of my milk.
This didn’t turn out the be the case! We sat down with our feeding consultant (a speech language pathologist) shortly after Levi was born, and she explained that giving Levi breast milk was still an option. She explained that expressing breast milk was something I could look into if I wanted, and went into the logistics of what I would have to do. First of all, I would have to start pumping regularly right away to signal my body to start making milk. I did this, and at first I was so frustrated that I wasn’t getting anything. Literally nothing. I remembered a nurse telling me that this would happen, but I didn’t believe her and assumed I would at least get something! I was discouraged at first, but kept trying. It took a little while, but eventually I started to get a few drops of colostrum. I was so excited! Levi was still in the NICU at this point, and the first time I brought my milk down to him, it was a measly 4 or 5 drops. I was excited that I had something, but afraid they would laugh at me for bringing such a small amount. Was I ever wrong! The nurses congratulated me, and treated this tiny amount like gold. That was very encouraging, and I continued trying harder to increase my supply. Two days after Levi was born, I was producing more and more milk, and I was getting more comfortable with the process of pumping.
I have discovered that exclusively pumping is an art. It requires patience on the part of both parents, as well as dedication and commitment. Levi is now almost 6 months old, and I have been able to give him breast milk continually since our time in the hospital. I am happy that I’ve been able to do this, but it has definitely been an adventure! I have pumped everywhere from my car to a bathroom stall. At first, when I wasn’t as comfortable with pumping, I had to feed Levi, then pump afterward. Each feed took twice as much time, and it was like I had twins! Since then, I have discovered a way to pump while feeding Levi, so I can do both at once. This has saved me so much time, and I have been so thankful for the hands free kit that came with my pump!
I have also discovered that the amount of milk that I produce can vary incredibly depending on several factors. Being stressed out, not drinking enough water, not eating a healthy diet, or not pumping often enough are all things that seem to decrease my supply. During my research, I have learned that a pump is not nearly as effective as a baby at getting milk out of the breast, so these factors affect the milk supply even more so than a breastfeeding mother. Also, if Levi has a growth spurt, it’s sometimes a bit more challenging to keep up with him!
A few weeks ago, I found it incredibly hard to keep up with him. He seemed to be eating more than normal, and I seemed to be producing less than normal! As you can probably guess, this math does not add up. Usually, I had just barely enough for each of his feeds and I often had to take some out of the freezer. This was quite stressful. It also posed a problem, as Ryan and I are going on a short anniversary trip in May and I would like to have enough in the freezer for him to have while we are away. Our solution to this problem is to add a little bit of formula to a few of his bottles throughout the day. At first, I was disappointed that I had to give him formula, however I came to the realization that it’s ok! I had become so stressed out over the fact that I was struggling to keep up with Levi, and that there wasn’t any extra in the freezer. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, being stressed out does not help milk production! This system has allowed me to be much more relaxed about feeding Levi, and I know that he is still getting the majority of his nutrients from breast milk. Also, since starting this system, I've been able to produce more milk than I was before. I believe it is a combination of becoming less stressed, as well as consciously thinking about how often I am pumping and my diet throughout the day. I try to pump every three hours (except at night), I try to eat a healthy diet and drink more water throughout the day. I also found a recipe for "lactation cookies"! They are made with a couple ingredients that supposedly help increase milk production. I'm not sure how effective they are, but I'd happily eat a couple cookies each day if there's a slight chance it could help with my supply! I am happy that I am able to continue to provide breast milk for him and that he is getting the benefits of this. I realize that many mothers are unable to breast feed or choose to provide their children only with formula and that is ok, too.
Having to express breast milk is definitely not what I had pictured when I visualized feeding my baby, but I’m glad that I’ve been able to continue to do this for him. I’m also very thankful for my double electric pump and hands free kit… I can’t imagine doing this with anything less! If anyone out there is considering expressing milk, I just want to encourage you and tell you that it is possible! It’s a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding. Good luck!
Thanks for reading!
