Re: blood loss

[Guest guest]

Dee,

Thank you! Yes, she is taking extra iron, fennel tea, and fenugreek did NOT

agree with her. I had already suggested Goat's Rue, Nettle, Shatavari, and

today I added More Milk Plus tincture to the options, along with all the herbs

from this groups' postings.

I felt a normal palate, just slightly curved, not high or bubble at all. She

wasn't actually gagging, really just objecting, and pretty much refused to open

her mouth any wider, and of course, I respected that.

Although I did guide the mom in paced bottle-feeding, using what I've learned

from you in your 2002 article, and the Balancing Breast and Bottle book which I

got in December, BUT dad was out of the room, and when he took over-->

I honestly couldn't tell whether baby began " doing nothing " at breast before

supply completely tanked; so much information was thrown at me all at once with

this couple! My feeling is that you are right, her milk supply just has never

been established.

Yes, I absolutely gave her and dad the scenario of never producing a full

supply, and that the emphasis was on the breastfeeding RELATIONSHIP. I likened

whether her body was able to make up for the lack of stimulation to how some

people grow hair faster and for some it barely grows at all--ever. Dad wanted

to look on the bright side. Mom admitted (before Dad arrived) that she feels

pressured.

I also spoke to them about this all looking like depression, and suggested to

Mom that 2 weeks might be too big a time commitment right now, that she may need

to take it one day at a time. I feel that I tried to convey to her that I was

on her side, and that she would do what worked best for her, and that they had

been through a really traumatic experience. Especially the being thrown a curve

ball like this, when you take it for granted that things will just work. Both

parents are grieving...

When I next talk to her, I will coach her more on your suggestions below re:

making bottle more like breast--this was a big emphasis of my visit, with an eye

towards transitioning, or at least, towards better bonding and enjoyment of each

other, but I didn't know about gently playing with pushing in the bottle nipple

back little by little. I did notice they were using the Dr. Brown's, which has

the too wide and abrupt widening base. Re-reading your post, this sounds like

exactly what has been happening! I also left a Medela Breast Flow bottle for

them to experiment with as another option.

I need to re-emphasize the fact that a full supply may never be achieved with

the faulty start when I speak to her next. I like how you put it about letting

her knowing where she stands so she can make the decision how hard to work at

this.

Ugh I remember those screeching crazy phones from way back then--and no

answering machines! LOL

BTW, I just gave my sister, who lives near KC, KS, your email; she is a retired

LLLL and was visiting a friend's daughter at a Topeka Hospital with a preterm--7

months--baby. Also, we just had another LLLL move here from near St. Louis, and

I asked if she'd ever met you and she said, of course! Now her name escapes

me...

Thank you, again,

Nadja Catano

 

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> forgot to add, Mom had a transfusion. Oral exam of the baby revealed a shallow

latch, wouldn't take my finger deeply into her mouth, not sure if this is

because she has been bottle-fed these past two weeks?

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> ~Nadja Catano

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