Miles and I made it to One Year!
That's right! I'm happy to report that Miles and I made to one year of breastfeeding! I feel like it's a big accomplishment for me. I have Loved nursing my baby boy, but I have also been wanting my body back to myself. So I've transitioned him into drinking 2% cow's milk almost exclusively now. Honestly, I'm pretty sad to stop nursing. If you read my last entry on our breastfeeding story, you know that I wasn't even sure I wanted to go past 3 months. But I did it, and for the most part it was amazing!! I loved all the precious moments that are mine and Miles' and which now live in my memory.
Our transition to cow's milk went very seamlessly. My milk supply was quite low the last couple of months and I was basically nursed Miles 2 to 3 times a day, but he wasn't always satisfied, so I had to supplement with formula. Two weeks before Miles' first birthday I stopped pumping altogether because honestly, I was sick of it! I pumped religiously during the whole year, especially at night. But when my supply diminished I would never get more than 2 ounces no matter how long and hard I tried. So the last couple of weeks before Miles' birthday, he finished the freezer stash and I continued to nurse him as much as I could without pumping.
One week after his birthday I thought, okay, I'm ready to move forward. Our pediatrician recommended that we start him off by mixing a bottle with half formula and half 2% cow's milk, and do that for every bottle for a full day. The next day, add a little more milk and less formula and so on until by the end of the week, he would get a bottle of all milk. By the end of last week Miles started drinking 2% cow's milk in every bottle and he seems to love it! He chugs it and will drink more ounces of cow's milk than he ever did of formula or even my breast milk! (sniff, sniff)
I am still nursing him every now and then when I'm feeling a need to cuddle or when he seems to really need some mami time. Though there's not much there, it's just enough to make us both happy.
I feel so fortunate to have had such a bountiful and fulfiling journey with breastfeeding. I loved nourishing my baby boy into a little toddler and I look forward to doing it again in the future with my next baby. But as with Miles, I will start small, take baby steps, and go from there. The beginning of the journey was very intense and if I thought about how long we had to go, I would have never done it. Instead, I took it one day at a time. And hear we are, a year later and it feels like it flew by!
Miles and Loreni: Our Breastfeeding Story
I've been very lucky with breastfeeding. You see, about 50% of children with down syndrome are unable to breastfeed. Due to their low muscle tone, including in the mouth, many of them are unable to properly latch and suck. Not Miles. Within an hour of being born, he latched on and was suckling away!
Besides one breastfeeding class, my only other real preparation for breastfeeding was to have a flexible attitude about it. I had to have a cesarean and had heard many accounts from other women who had C-sections that it was very difficult for them to breastfeed due to lack of milk production. Although I didn't think I'd have this problem, I told myself to be flexible if I did. I mean, what if my milk came in but I got an infection? What if I couldn't get my baby to latch on? Would I struggle through it or give up?
You see, up until about three years ago, I never even thought I'd breastfeed. I was a bottle fed baby as were my siblings and most of my cousins. In 1970's Panama (and even today) breastfeeding was not the norm, especially not with middle and upper class people. So I grew up thinking it was kinda gross. But as I prepared my body and mind for pregnancy, I discovered my true feelings about it. I realized that for me, the health and bonding benefits of nursing were not only important but imperative. I yearned to have the experience, but I knew that it would be no easy task. So my attitude was, "I'm gonna try it and see what happens!"
Well, on Miles' birth day, about an hour after he was born, he successfully latched on. And thank goodness he did because about half an hour after that, I found out that he might have Down syndrome. And within the next 48 hours I learned way too much about what children with Down syndrome can typically not do. As I said, breastfeeding is something that about half of babies born with DS cannot do. So to have him lay on my chest, rooting with his little eyes closed was incredibly comforting. He was following his instincts and I was following mine.
Still, I was always afraid of plugged ducts or my milk production dropping or thrush or this and that. My first goal was to make it to 3 months. If I could breastfeed him exclusively for 3 months, I would be happy. My milk production was amazing. I had the whole right side of my freezer jam packed with frozen milk. So I set my next goal: 6 months.
We were headed to Australia when Miles was 6 months and I thought I'd keep it up just until we returned and he started on solids. Well, right before the trip I was ready to give up because I was still breastfeeding exclusively and the pumping was wearing me down! My milk supply was decent but not as great as two months before and I really had to get my pumps in if I wanted to replenish whatever we used. But Miles was having trouble sleeping in Australia, so I ended up nursing him several times a night, just so he would calm down. My milk supply came back strong! So when we returned to LA, I felt that I could keep going and decided to take it one month at a time.
We are now at almost 11 months and Miles is still mostly breastfeeding. At this point, my milk supply is really low though. Where as a few months ago I could pump about 5-6 oz. per breast, now I am lucky if I get 2 oz. I've been tied to the pump, eating oatmeal, drinking nursing mother's tea...but none of it seems to work. I'm exhausted from the pumping and sad from seeing my freezer supply whittle down to almost nothing.
So about 6 weeks ago I started supplementing Miles with formula. I started with one bottle a day and now it just depends on the day. If he's at daycare, I send him with 2 bottles of formula. If I'm with him all day, then I'm nursing all day. If my husband is hanging out with him, then he might do formula or breastmilk, depending on what they're doing. Miles doesn't mind, he'll drink either. And I appreciate the freedom and relief it gives me. I still pump, though not as often or as frantically as before.
Right now, my goal is to make it to a year. My production is definitely dwindling, at least when I pump. I have no idea how much Miles gets when her nurses, but he seems to be satisfied. So I'll take my cues from him. If I make it to the year, then we'll see what happens. Maybe I'll still nurse him in the morning or during the day when he just wants a "snack". See, the reality is that I am just as attached to it as he is. I love that special time that only I get with him. I love how content we both feel when he's nursing. That bond that happens between mother and baby is so precious that I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced it for this long. I'll continue to be flexible with whatever happens.
When I think back at the last 11 months, I could have never imagined how important nursing would become for me. Besides the obvious health benefits and the amazing bonding experience between the two of us, breastfeeding has stregthened Miles. Maybe if I had a "typical"child I would have given up on nursing several months ago. But every time I've felt like letting go, I think of how all the nursing has helped him develop stronger mouth muscles and more tongue control. He will probably still need a feeding specialist and certainly speech therapy in the future, but he is doing so well and I know the nursing has helped.
Miles will be 11 months on August 1st. Stay tuned and I'll let you know if we made it!!
GOOD FOODS FOR BREASTFEEDING:
OATMEALThat's right! I'm happy to report that Miles and I made to one year of breastfeeding! I feel like it's a big accomplishment for me. I have Loved nursing my baby boy, but I have also been wanting my body back to myself. So I've transitioned him into drinking 2% cow's milk almost exclusively now. Honestly, I'm pretty sad to stop nursing. If you read my last entry on our breastfeeding story, you know that I wasn't even sure I wanted to go past 3 months. But I did it, and for the most part it was amazing!! I loved all the precious moments that are mine and Miles' and which now live in my memory.
Our transition to cow's milk went very seamlessly. My milk supply was quite low the last couple of months and I was basically nursed Miles 2 to 3 times a day, but he wasn't always satisfied, so I had to supplement with formula. Two weeks before Miles' first birthday I stopped pumping altogether because honestly, I was sick of it! I pumped religiously during the whole year, especially at night. But when my supply diminished I would never get more than 2 ounces no matter how long and hard I tried. So the last couple of weeks before Miles' birthday, he finished the freezer stash and I continued to nurse him as much as I could without pumping.
One week after his birthday I thought, okay, I'm ready to move forward. Our pediatrician recommended that we start him off by mixing a bottle with half formula and half 2% cow's milk, and do that for every bottle for a full day. The next day, add a little more milk and less formula and so on until by the end of the week, he would get a bottle of all milk. By the end of last week Miles started drinking 2% cow's milk in every bottle and he seems to love it! He chugs it and will drink more ounces of cow's milk than he ever did of formula or even my breast milk! (sniff, sniff)
I am still nursing him every now and then when I'm feeling a need to cuddle or when he seems to really need some mami time. Though there's not much there, it's just enough to make us both happy.
I feel so fortunate to have had such a bountiful and fulfiling journey with breastfeeding. I loved nourishing my baby boy into a little toddler and I look forward to doing it again in the future with my next baby. But as with Miles, I will start small, take baby steps, and go from there. The beginning of the journey was very intense and if I thought about how long we had to go, I would have never done it. Instead, I took it one day at a time. And hear we are, a year later and it feels like it flew by!
Miles and Loreni: Our Breastfeeding Story
Miles in a food coma at 4 months.
I've been very lucky with breastfeeding. You see, about 50% of children with down syndrome are unable to breastfeed. Due to their low muscle tone, including in the mouth, many of them are unable to properly latch and suck. Not Miles. Within an hour of being born, he latched on and was suckling away!
Besides one breastfeeding class, my only other real preparation for breastfeeding was to have a flexible attitude about it. I had to have a cesarean and had heard many accounts from other women who had C-sections that it was very difficult for them to breastfeed due to lack of milk production. Although I didn't think I'd have this problem, I told myself to be flexible if I did. I mean, what if my milk came in but I got an infection? What if I couldn't get my baby to latch on? Would I struggle through it or give up?
You see, up until about three years ago, I never even thought I'd breastfeed. I was a bottle fed baby as were my siblings and most of my cousins. In 1970's Panama (and even today) breastfeeding was not the norm, especially not with middle and upper class people. So I grew up thinking it was kinda gross. But as I prepared my body and mind for pregnancy, I discovered my true feelings about it. I realized that for me, the health and bonding benefits of nursing were not only important but imperative. I yearned to have the experience, but I knew that it would be no easy task. So my attitude was, "I'm gonna try it and see what happens!"
Well, on Miles' birth day, about an hour after he was born, he successfully latched on. And thank goodness he did because about half an hour after that, I found out that he might have Down syndrome. And within the next 48 hours I learned way too much about what children with Down syndrome can typically not do. As I said, breastfeeding is something that about half of babies born with DS cannot do. So to have him lay on my chest, rooting with his little eyes closed was incredibly comforting. He was following his instincts and I was following mine.
Still, I was always afraid of plugged ducts or my milk production dropping or thrush or this and that. My first goal was to make it to 3 months. If I could breastfeed him exclusively for 3 months, I would be happy. My milk production was amazing. I had the whole right side of my freezer jam packed with frozen milk. So I set my next goal: 6 months.
We were headed to Australia when Miles was 6 months and I thought I'd keep it up just until we returned and he started on solids. Well, right before the trip I was ready to give up because I was still breastfeeding exclusively and the pumping was wearing me down! My milk supply was decent but not as great as two months before and I really had to get my pumps in if I wanted to replenish whatever we used. But Miles was having trouble sleeping in Australia, so I ended up nursing him several times a night, just so he would calm down. My milk supply came back strong! So when we returned to LA, I felt that I could keep going and decided to take it one month at a time.
We are now at almost 11 months and Miles is still mostly breastfeeding. At this point, my milk supply is really low though. Where as a few months ago I could pump about 5-6 oz. per breast, now I am lucky if I get 2 oz. I've been tied to the pump, eating oatmeal, drinking nursing mother's tea...but none of it seems to work. I'm exhausted from the pumping and sad from seeing my freezer supply whittle down to almost nothing.
So about 6 weeks ago I started supplementing Miles with formula. I started with one bottle a day and now it just depends on the day. If he's at daycare, I send him with 2 bottles of formula. If I'm with him all day, then I'm nursing all day. If my husband is hanging out with him, then he might do formula or breastmilk, depending on what they're doing. Miles doesn't mind, he'll drink either. And I appreciate the freedom and relief it gives me. I still pump, though not as often or as frantically as before.
Right now, my goal is to make it to a year. My production is definitely dwindling, at least when I pump. I have no idea how much Miles gets when her nurses, but he seems to be satisfied. So I'll take my cues from him. If I make it to the year, then we'll see what happens. Maybe I'll still nurse him in the morning or during the day when he just wants a "snack". See, the reality is that I am just as attached to it as he is. I love that special time that only I get with him. I love how content we both feel when he's nursing. That bond that happens between mother and baby is so precious that I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced it for this long. I'll continue to be flexible with whatever happens.
When I think back at the last 11 months, I could have never imagined how important nursing would become for me. Besides the obvious health benefits and the amazing bonding experience between the two of us, breastfeeding has stregthened Miles. Maybe if I had a "typical"child I would have given up on nursing several months ago. But every time I've felt like letting go, I think of how all the nursing has helped him develop stronger mouth muscles and more tongue control. He will probably still need a feeding specialist and certainly speech therapy in the future, but he is doing so well and I know the nursing has helped.
Miles will be 11 months on August 1st. Stay tuned and I'll let you know if we made it!!
GOOD FOODS FOR BREASTFEEDING:
Oatmeal is a great and healthy way to boost milk supply.
"Oatmeal saved my milk. If I didn't eat my bowl of oatmeal everyday I would lose an ounce per feeding. It made that big of a difference with my milk supply- sarah".
HERBAL TEA
There are lots of different brands of herbal teas. Organic Mother's Milk, Nursing Mother's Tea and German Stille Tea. All promote milk production with herbs such as anise and fenugreek.
SARAH AND LUELLA
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