Hello Kellie-Blogger fans! As you all know, Kellie had her baby!! So, I am going to help her for a while keep the blog posts rolling. Today is a post from Angie on breastfeeding. Stay tuned Monday for a post I am writing on circumcision-- there's some things you to know! Everyone have a safe and Happy 4th!
-- Lindsay
Disclaimer: Please consult your physician on this, we are not giving medical advice in any way on this post.
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I am a working mom; I knew I had 3 months with my baby before I had to go back to work. Being that I'm a nurse on a crazy cardiac floor, I knew my chances of maintaining my milk after I went back to work were slim-to-none... Between the stress, strenuous activity of a 13 hour shift, and little time to relax & pump, I was prepared for the "drying up" that was soon to ensue (granted I gave it a helluva' fight).
So with the help of a good friend who happened to be a lactation consultant & her great ideas, I was 75% successful, and gave my girls a good head start.
1. My hubs got me a deep freeze & breast pump (off Craig's List for cheap; I bought new personal parts).
2. I started pumping colostrum 3 weeks BEFORE I delivered. No, it didn't send me into labor. In theory, it could send someone else to labor. According to my Lactation Consultant, you'll only go into labor if you're ready. I'm no expert though...
***I saved the Antibody-rich goods for sick days later. You can squirt up baby's nose for head colds; it kills virus instantly. Or squirt in ears to soothe ear infections... A million uses fur that Liquid Gold!!
3. Because I was already pumping, milk came few hours after I delivered. No waiting around with a hungry baby. And it came in 4-fold, My boobs went from B-cup to basketballs with in a day... (Ok, maybe not that fast... But it felt like it). And my nipples were already "broke in", so it was painful, but not as bad as it could be. I fed my baby and pumped the rest and froze it. I could've fed the Russian Army if need be ... Point being, I filled that deep freeze in a month.
4. I went back to work... Then dried up in a month. I gave it a good go, my coworkers were supportive. But when you need to relax for let down, it was damn near impossible... BUT, my deep freeze supply held us over till 1year!! We didn't have to buy much formula and my girls are better for it. We saved A LOT of money too.
Good Luck! Power to ya'!! Breast feeding is a wonderfully powerful & nutritious thing. The benefits to mom & baby are endless. Give it a go, as much as you can do is better than nothing.
~Angie
