[tri-med] Re: Breast Feeding - Irene

Irene wrote:
> >One of my big "WHAT IFs" in regards to Caroline's feedings was
> >breastfeeding...I WISH like CRAZY that I tried breastfeeding more
> >...but I didn't try hard enough with Caroline.

Fawna wrote:
> I tried, really tried with Philina, but she couldn't suck well enough
> (high arched palate).  I tried for 3 wks, but she was losing weight,
> so we had to switch to a bottle.

Wendi wrote:
>We tried really hard too for about 5 weeks.  Jackson's lower jaw was just
too small to latch >on.  I tried pumping, but lost my supply fairly quickly.
I felt guilty for so long, because I really >wanted to breastfeed, but with
his weight loss, we had no other option than to formula feed.

I had the same experience.
Alex was in the hosp for 7 days and I paid a daily fee to 'room in' as I was
discharged at 24 hrs. That got me a bed and use of the communal shower
only--something offered to breast feeding Mom's. But if you left the
hospital grounds you had to give up your guest Mom status.

Even with support from the breastfeeding instructors Alex just couldn't do
it. He had no rooting reflex and he had no suck. So then I'd use the
electric pump, then we'd dribble it into Alex.

We came home with no outside support.
I had a manual/hand pump.
The cycle was I'd try to induce Alex to breastfeed for nearly an hour.
Then I'd pump...taking 30-40 min to get an ounce or so.
Then it took 1-1.5 hrs to get it into Alex.
Then I had to clean and disinfect/boil the pump for the next go round.
And start all over in 2 hours!
24/7

I never could get more than a few ounces pumping for over 30 min. It was
miserable and my hand/arms got so tired. :0)  I tried to score an electric
pump but we couldn't afford the $100 per week rental from LaLeche league.
And they offered me no suggestions or support either.

We got a little more than 3 weeks out and the exhaustion, emotional distress
of our undiagnosed infant with many issues with the sleep deprivation thrown
in cause me to finally say "I give". I cried the whole time Jim worked with
Alex to get an ounce of formula in him.

GUILT. Yep, been there done that on breastfeeding. I do try to console
myself that he got 3 weeks of what nature intended/the best food.

I breastfed Molly for a year, even while working part time. Using the same
pump I could get 6-8 ounces in 15-20 min. Jim called me Elsie while watching
me pump. lol
I'm thinking my milk never did come in with Alex.

I cried when Molly quit at 12 months. It was a fab experience.

Michelle mom to Alex (18, partial trisomy 14 mosaic) and Molly (15)
MichiganUSA

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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