While I was pregnant there was no doubt in my mind that I would breast feed. It is simply the natural course to take. It was what my mother had done with both my sister and I, and her mother before her. I am huge advocate of being as natural and organic as possible and this was a no brainer. So I thought...

I had my daughter with some minor complications and ended up in the hospital longer than I had planned (I had planned on leaving right after she was born). I tried to get her to feed as soon as they handed her to me but she wasn't all that interested. She did latch within an hour but it was slow and lazy. My milk did come in quickly enough but I never had that engorged feeling that everyone described. So I fed my baby as often as she wanted to be fed - which was every couple of hours. I thought I was doing fine until my midwives told me that she was not gaining the weight she needed and that she was hungry. That's when my personal drama started.

I tried all the techniques described and suggested to me by everyone. I researched endless online to see what I could find that may help. I tried eating certain foods, bathing certain ways, resting and napping, to no avail. Whatever was out there I tried. Then I was put on Domperidone - the drug that is used for people with acid reflux but has the fortunate side effect of increasing your milk; this works for some people - not all. I have also started to go see a Chinese Medical doctor and receive acupuncture for this condition. The medical practioner has me on some herbs that help with lactation. The whole time I was trying to increase my milk supply, I had resigned to supplementing with baby formula and feeding it to my baby through a feeding tube that was fed into her mouth while breast feeding. Does this sound complicated or what?! I also have to admit that I was so upset about having to supplement with formula because I couldn't pronouce half of the ingredients in baby formula and it meant (to me) that I was insufficient as a mom.  To this day, I am still taking a very high dose of the Domperidone and taking Chinese herbs as well as recieving acupuncture treatment. So it has been an uphill battle.

All this being said, I am determined to feed her at my breast as long as possible. At the breast feeding clinic where I have been going - the Dr. Jack Newman Breast Feeding Clininc, they suggested that I start my daughter on liquified solids as a supplement. So at three months, we gave our baby a banana liquifieid with some formula - which was very entertaining. 

 I just want to say, if you're reading this and can relate. Don't give up hope, try to keep your baby at your breast as long as possible. I didn't know this until recently, but the act of suckling, even if it isn't your breast milk, helps your baby's brain develop and it helps with palette form. It helps prevent sleep apnia later on in life. There are so many benefits to the skin to skin contact. It is extra work and trust me sometimes a pain in the butt, but in the end it is good for your baby and helps give you some peace of mind.

If anyone out there is interested in contacting my Chinese doctor - he is excellent and can help with all sorts of issues, feel free to email at jeanette@mamapapa.ca