This is what I think of those doctors who think I'm skinny!
Hip, hip, hooray! I'm 10 pounds today!
Today we are so happy to find out that Micah weighs 10 pounds. I've always had trouble nursing with my other children and gave up early on and just put them on formula. This time around, I really wanted to breast feed as long as I could just because of the nutritional benefits for Micah.
I had a feeling he wasn't getting enough at the end of the day and knew that there were herbs that might help me produce more. Micah also had an appointment with a pediatrician that we had never been to before so naturally I brought this up at his 1 month check. After she evaluated his birth weight and how much he had gained since then, she began to say that he was under weight and not thriving (hard words to hear as a Mom)! Her solution? Demand feed!
Demand feeding is so silly in my book because basically the definition is feeding your baby whenever he/she cries. When they demand anything, feed them! Well, the problem is that they don't talk yet! So Mom's have to have a little knowledge about when a baby is hungry and when they are just tired or cranky. Babies will snack all the time if you let them. From what I've learned, you need them to nurse long enough to get the rich, hind milk that comes at the end of the nursing period. That's the really good stuff. The problem with demand feeding is that babies snack and never really take in a full feeding because they aren't really very hungry. They do need to eat a lot when they are little, but not more than every 2 1/2 - 3 hours! I would be nursing all day if I fed Micah more often than that. This is what the doctor was proposing.
I was taken a back that she did not want to talk about my experience with my other children and nursing, nor did she want to know how long I nurse him or how many times a day he eats. She did not suggest any herbal supplements but instead disapproved of schedules and ushered us out because it was her lunch hour! I guess you could say that I did not click with her!
Well, I'm happy to say that I did some research and found that Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle are both natural herbs that help with milk production. I immediately bought both and began taking them and have seen a significant difference. Plus the proof is that Micah weighed in at 10 pounds today! He has gained a pound and a half since the appointment with that silly doctor! He may always be lean like my other babies but he will not fail to thrive!
Rejoicing in God's grace!
Kristin
1 comment:
HOW ADORABLE!!!!!!! I am so happy to see some pics of your sweet little guy!! :) He is very cute and doesn't look skinny to me. Basically, I think that as a mom you'll know what's best for him (esp. since he's your fifth! :)). I found "demand" feeding to work great for Jude, who had a harder time nursing than Elia, and of course once he got the hang of it we were able to regulate a little more. Elia on the other hand was a pro and the only hard part of nursing for him was getting him to stop before he turned two! ;) haha. Anyway, I'm so excited to see you and all your kiddos, especially to meet Micah! Love you all!
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