I read a great book while pregnant - Mother Multiples. In the book it stated that to accomplish something you need to set short-term reachable goals as well as long term goals. They suggested that short-term and long-term goals be set in regard to breastfeeding.
Well- I've made my first short-term goal of breastfeeding for at least 6 weeks. I'm really proud of myself. It has been hard at times and a lot of the time I don't enjoy it, but I've stuck it out. I'm now going to set a goal of nursing for another 6 weeks. My long-term goal is 1 year.
While learning to breastfeed, we've encountered the following:
• low milk supply (while waiting for milk to come in) which necessitated the introduction of formula
• finger feeding
• SNS feeding at the breast
• gavage tube (while in the NICU)
• nipple shield use
• supplemental bottles of formula
• supplemental bottles of formula/expressed breast milk
• supplemental bottles of expressed breast milk
• too fast of let-down/choking episodes
• tandem nursing
• fenugreek supplements (for mom)
I am really lucky that at this point both boys are being exclusively nursed. I am still pumping at night after feeds and sometimes during the day with the hospital pump that we rented. I use this milk in a "top off" bottle that we give them after they nurse at bedtime. I am also freezing a lot of this milk. I'm hoping that when the rental period is done this time (in March) that I will feel comfortable returning the pump. The kiddos seem to have mastered nursing and are usually done with a feeding session between 10-25 minutes. They are both gaining appropriately, and the pediatrician is happy with their current weights.
Breastfeeding is not what I thought it would be. In the beginning it was tough. Really, really tough. The mechanics of it have gotten better, but I still don't have a lot of "cuddly" moments while nursing. For the most part our nursing sessions are just feeding sessions. I'm hoping as we all get more accustomed to tandem nursing that it will become more enjoyable and feel less like a chore. I am committed to giving my babies breast milk as I know it is the best for them. I'm glad they can get it at the breast now as it makes my life a lot easier.
