Hannah
is our first child and I knew before I had her that I wanted to breastfeed her.
My husband was very supportive; he went to my bf class with me and helped
me pick just the right rocker with a nursing stool.
She was born after thirty-eight and a half hours of labor so alert, calm and absolutely perfect. Knowing that breastfeeding is natural, it isn't always easy. I wasn't deterred when I struggled to get Hannah to latch. The nurses were so patient helping me get her latched on, but something just didn't seem right since she wouldn't stay latched. We quickly discovered she had jaundice and she had to go under the lights. Over time she wasn't having enough wet and dirty diapers and her jaundice wasn't improving. The lactation consultants from the hospital visited for a few moments, latched us and by the time they left Hannah had released. So our wonderful nurse helped me get set up with a pump and we syringe fed her breast milk. Her dirty diapers immediately increased and the light therapy started to work. By day four we got to go home.
She was born after thirty-eight and a half hours of labor so alert, calm and absolutely perfect. Knowing that breastfeeding is natural, it isn't always easy. I wasn't deterred when I struggled to get Hannah to latch. The nurses were so patient helping me get her latched on, but something just didn't seem right since she wouldn't stay latched. We quickly discovered she had jaundice and she had to go under the lights. Over time she wasn't having enough wet and dirty diapers and her jaundice wasn't improving. The lactation consultants from the hospital visited for a few moments, latched us and by the time they left Hannah had released. So our wonderful nurse helped me get set up with a pump and we syringe fed her breast milk. Her dirty diapers immediately increased and the light therapy started to work. By day four we got to go home.
At
home our doula came to visit and noticed she had a tongue tie and gave us a
referral to a lactation consultant. The LC confirmed a class four tongue
and lip tie meaning her tongue had almost no mobility and her lip was so tight
it could not flange. As a result Hannah could not breast feed and
struggled even with a bottle, spilling milk from the corners of her mouth and
often choking. When she was five weeks old she had a revision and due to
the severity of her tie there was no improvement even after healing for two
weeks. She did not know how to use her now free lip and tongue.
We had the consultant come back and train us on special exercises, positioning and methods for overcoming nipple confusion. I really had to jump through hoops. At the most intense time I would have to pump to let down, because she didn't have the patience or stamina to work for my let down. Simultaneously I would hold her in football hold, elevated on pillows, because she had no tolerance for being repositioned mid-meal, while giving her a bottle to encourage her to eat, then slip on a nipple shield and get her latched. If she released or cried, there was a lot of crying, it was back to the bottle and then transfer to nipple shield again. My husband tirelessly supported us, cleaning, cooking, getting us things, taking them away when we were done and hugging us both when we cried and were frustrated. At week 10 she decided she didn't want the bottle anymore. Just like that during a mid-day session she decided she only wanted the breast. We slowly faded all the props as she now had the motivation and was gaining strength and skill.
We still had some challenges to overcome. Hannah like many other babies with ties had some muscle tightness. It wasn't improving with chiropractic work so we went to a cranio-sacral therapist. Finally we saw results. She was able to nurse more comfortably and I didn't have to hold her in just the right position. We continue to go to therapy but with decreasing frequency because her body is responding so well and can now physically do the things she wants it to do. This month my sassy, smart, stubborn girl will be 9 months old. She has had breast milk her whole life but has only been breastfed almost 7 months. My little family worked so hard to get here and it was completely worth it.
We had the consultant come back and train us on special exercises, positioning and methods for overcoming nipple confusion. I really had to jump through hoops. At the most intense time I would have to pump to let down, because she didn't have the patience or stamina to work for my let down. Simultaneously I would hold her in football hold, elevated on pillows, because she had no tolerance for being repositioned mid-meal, while giving her a bottle to encourage her to eat, then slip on a nipple shield and get her latched. If she released or cried, there was a lot of crying, it was back to the bottle and then transfer to nipple shield again. My husband tirelessly supported us, cleaning, cooking, getting us things, taking them away when we were done and hugging us both when we cried and were frustrated. At week 10 she decided she didn't want the bottle anymore. Just like that during a mid-day session she decided she only wanted the breast. We slowly faded all the props as she now had the motivation and was gaining strength and skill.
We still had some challenges to overcome. Hannah like many other babies with ties had some muscle tightness. It wasn't improving with chiropractic work so we went to a cranio-sacral therapist. Finally we saw results. She was able to nurse more comfortably and I didn't have to hold her in just the right position. We continue to go to therapy but with decreasing frequency because her body is responding so well and can now physically do the things she wants it to do. This month my sassy, smart, stubborn girl will be 9 months old. She has had breast milk her whole life but has only been breastfed almost 7 months. My little family worked so hard to get here and it was completely worth it.
So proud of you Jenifer, Ricky, & Hannah! It was a team effort, and not an easy task. Proof that where there is a will, there will be a way. You could have given up any time during the first 2 months, but what an awesome reward for sticking it out. Go team!
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