Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Would you nurse him in a car?

Lately I've been hearing Dr. Seuss in my head every time I nurse Oliver in a different place.  Before going further though to explain what I mean, I should fill you in on our breastfeeding journey.  The quick version is that Oliver was born a little early.  I knew I was going to breastfeed him, I've been exposed to nursing my whole life and breastfed all my babydolls.  My milk came in and everything seemed great and he was gaining for the first 2 weeks really well.  It turns out he wasn't transferring much milk and my supply really diminished because of it.  We did everything under the sun to get my supply increased and nothing has really worked.  At 7 weeks we started supplementing Oliver with formula using the Medela Supplemental Nursing System.  We had done our research and knew that was what we wanted to use when our pediatrician suggested supplementing with a bottle.  Breastfeeding is so important to me and I had big hopes the SNS would increase my supply.  It really hasn't increased my supply but it has kept my supply steady.  I am able to nurse Oliver by using the SNS.  He gets breast milk from me as well as his formula.  At first I was embarassed by the SNS.  It is not used very commonly and a lot of people do not know what it is.  I stayed in with Oliver nursing him to gain weight for a few months while he got stronger and I gained confidence in my mothering and the way I was feeding him.  Now, I feel like it is something people should know about.  It allows me to nurse my baby anywhere, (with a little planning).  I have been so grateful for the SNS because I am not sure my milk would still be here if I had given him a bottle at 7 weeks.

Now that you are filled in on what we're doing...let me explain the mention of Dr. Seuss.  Because I have worked so hard to keep the small supply that I have I am not comfortable giving Oliver a bottle, even in public, unless I really need to for some reason.  He's a bottle only a handful of times.  We use the SNS everywhere.
Would you nurse him...
in the car?
at the pool?
at your in-laws?
Nursing w/ the SNS at Cafe 4 after Graduation
at church
on the patio?
at a restaurant?
at friends houses?
at JoAnn fabrics?
That's all I can think of right now, but I am proud to say that I've nursed my baby in all those places with the help of the SNS.  It has been good for my heart with all the burden of supply issues.  I love the connection of breastfeeding and the sweet looks of thanks I receive from my sweet boy.  It makes it all totally worth it.

3 comments:

  1. Wonderful!!!!!! I'm so thrilled with your success brought on by research and sheer determination. Good for you on being open and letting the world know that nursing is natural and wonderful in and of itself along with supplemental systems that still allow that wonderful bond to be experienced by both baby and mom. You're doing awesome! :)

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  2. This was really interesting. Thanks for sharing! Love, Jenna

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  3. I am proud of you! Proud that you have taken the steps to accomplish what you wanted to do (breastfeed).

    And I am glad that you don't let a little thing like the SNS stop you from feeding Oliver in public.

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