got milk?

So, I mentioned in my last post that we were having some latching issues and that I had decided it was probably for the best to reach out to a lactation consultant. I knew that they'd be able to help, and I really needed it.

After several days of incredibly frustrating feedings (two babies, both crying/fussing/wiggling because they aren't able to latch on properly), I just couldn't take it anymore. Coupled with the sleep deprivation and my crazy amounts of love for my girls; I realized I needed some help. Our pediatrician had suggested a lactation consultant that was in our neighborhood, so I gave her a call. Not only was she in our neighborhood; but she was right across the street! She told me she'd be able to come over the next day, and I was thrilled.

She brought a digital scale with her and weighed the girls before they fed so that once they latched on and fed, she could weigh them again, to see how much milk they had gotten. (By the way; Poppy has reached 6 pounds and Amelie is at 5 pounds 15.5 ounces!)

She showed me how to correctly position the babies in the football hold (at your side) and as soon as we had the right position- BAM! BAM! Successful latches. Amazing! Seriously, she just changed a few things, and they latched on right away. Since then, we've had successful latches about 98% of the time. If anyone lives in the New York area, I highly recommend you call Beverly Solow (www.bevsolow.com); she's amazing!

My milk supply still isn't as high as I need it to be every time, but I'm hoping with all of the feedings and pumping, that it soon will be. Beverly suggested I try an herb called fenugreek to help increase my supply; so I think I may do that. I gotta be able to feed my girls, and right now I'm having to supplement with formula about every other feeding or so. They are eating more than they did last week, so until my milk catches up, it's what I have to do. I always said I didn't want to have to do that, but what can you do? They have to eat!

Anyway, things in the land of feedings seem to be going smoothly, and I hope they continue to. We're still waking them up every 2 hours to feed and every 3 in the middle of the night. We'll see the pediatrician next week again and maybe she'll tell us we can spread that out a little bit; though who knows.

I'm just so happy that I contacted the lactation consultant and that she was such a big help. Yay for experts!

I am working on writing my birth story out, so I should have that in the next week or so (though it's likely to be in 2 or 3 parts); so stay tuned for that! I promise I'm trying to get better about posting more frequently, but if you had these two cuties to look at all day, would you be in a hurry to sit in front of the computer?

~M