Thursday, May 24, 2007
Breathing Room
D: I have officially broken my golden rule of raising twins… Don't freak out.
This morning, as I sit with my plastic funnel attached to my boob in my left hand, my right hand is wiping away my tears of defeat. There is a measly 1 oz. pumped when I was expecting at least 4. This race to keep up with the Deuce’s daily requirements has taken a hold of me and, as Walker so poignantly put it this morning, is messing with my mind.
It’s a catch 22, really. The more they need, the more I pump. The more I pump, the more stressed I get about not pumping enough. The more I stress, the less I produce…resulting in a morning filled with tears and only 1 oz of milk.
Today I am forced to accept my own advice that I've given so many times on this blog… Be flexible. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
I have decided to remove the 10-ton burden off my shoulders and allow some room to breathe. Breathe in motherhood, my children, and all that I love about caring for them. (Including breastfeeding!) I’ve sent them to daycare today with a few oz. of formula to supplement their breast milk supply. Already I feel more relaxed about my expectations for myself today. My hope is that as I ease the pressure off, my body with thank me with an over abundance of milk for the Deuce for the future. Cross your fingers!!
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Don't Freak out!!
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i'm so glad you gave yourself this room, dana. i went through the same thing, where i felt desperate to only have them with breast milk. about a month ago i finally let go of the pressure to do this and now give them formula when i need to (or even to just give myself a break). we found a great organic formula that i feel even better about giving them. and after a month of doing this i can honestly say that i feel great about the balance we've struck - about 3/4 breast and 1/4 formula. and just think, in less than two months you'll probably be starting them on solids and then the fun will really begin!
Hi - I've got 6 yr old twins, but I can still remember this feeling you're describing. Two things helped me:
- I drank Oat Milk (found in the Soy Milk section of Whole Foods or other natural foods type stores) which was recommended to me by a nurse/midwife/women's health expert. She said it encouraged the production of breastmilk, and it really did seem to help.
- We ended up giving them about 70% breastmilk and 30% formula, much like the parents in the comment above. It was fine. What matters is that you have given them SO MUCH breastmilk already!
I had to switch to formula with Coco at about four months due to similar issues. He is now a very healthy, happy almost-four year old who excels at calculus, can lift extraordinarily heavy objects such as cars and fallen tree trunks, and has quite a way with the ladies. Coincidence?
Those Deuces will be fine; they've got the main thing they need which is love aplenty.
You are so lucky that you were able to BF twins this long. I wasn't even able to BF my one daughter.Well, I did BF her for 3 months but that whole time we had to supplement quite a bit with formula. And at 3 mos, she lost patience with nursing.
But now, she's 6 mos old, healthy and happy and strong, and I can barely remember the hell I was put thru. I wanted SO BADLY to breastfeed that I tortured myself over it--took Rx, all sorts of herbs, did it all. And in the end, all that matters is that my daughter is fed and loved. You're doing great already!
I am a lactation consultant. First off, the babies look wonderful, and it is evident that you are an amazing mama. For increasing your milk supply, I have two suggestions (other than pumping more often, which doesn't sound feasable for you). First, have a beer a day. The brewer's yeast can help. Also, there is a pill at the health food store called Fenugreek. It works very well for many. Good luck, and know that the boys will continue to thrive even if you have to keep increasing formula. Some moms go back to work and completely give up breast feeding...Hats off to you.