My Breastfeeding Journey

Several of you have asked about my personal issues with breastfeeding as well as the goat milk formula that I use for my babies. Instead of emailing everyone individually, I thought I would just do a post about it.

Back three years ago when I was pregnant with my first baby, Lily, I read all the books I could about labor, delivery, unmedicated births, and of course breastfeeding. I fully believed that I would breastfeed my new baby, and never really gave a second thought to having issues with it. 

When Lily was born, she had some trouble latching and sucking. My midwife helped and encouraged me and my sister came over several times in the first week to help. I was drinking tons of water and mother's milk tea and taking handfuls of fenugreek. Lily was a happy baby and gained almost back up to her birth weight. I had a little milk come in, but I never felt a let down.

Around the second week, I started feeling like Lily wasn't getting enough to eat. I voiced my concerns to several people, and everyone assured me that she would let me know if she was hungry. I kept on working at it. I began noticing that Lily didn't seem to be growing, in fact, she looked like she was losing weight.

This poor sleep-deprived, brand new mom, was an emotional wreck. I went to see a lactation consultant. When she weighed Lily, she was barely 5lbs (she was 6lbs 4oz at birth). I knew something was terribly wrong. The lady had me nurse Lily and then she weighed her again. There was no change in her weight. We rented an electric pump and a baby scale. The consultant told me to pump as much as possible, supplement through a syringe, and make sure Lily gained 1oz each day.

When I pumped, I got less than an ounce, but still I kept on pumping. That did more damage than good.  I still tried nursing Lily before pumping and before supplementing, but she just wasn't interested...there was nothing there. We started supplementing goat's milk in the syringe. After about a week of excruciating pumping with only a few drips, I stopped. We started Lily on bottles full time around 3-4 weeks. 

It was hard for me. I felt like a huge failure. Never did I expect that I would have any trouble producing milk. After awhile I was able to work through it and truly accept that it was ok, that I was not a failure because I couldn't nurse my baby girl, that this was part of God's plan.

When Levi was born, I was determined to try breastfeeding him, but I was also determined to not have the same experience I'd been through with Lily. Even with Levi's cleft lip and abnormal palate, he was able to latch on and nurse well. I did all the same things I'd done with Lily to help produce milk...but the same thing happened. I had some milk come in, but then it was gone, just that fast. 

Yes, it was hard not to feel like a failure again (I think a lot of that had to do with postpartum hormones), but I really was ok with putting Levi on bottles around 2 weeks. 

In the weeks leading up to Asher's birth, I started making Lactation Cookies to try to give my body a head start. I also ordered MotherLove More Milk Blend to have on hand to take right after Asher's birth. I was really hopeful that I would be able to produce enough. Immediately after Asher was born, I took the More Milk Blend, Fenugreek capsules, and drank cups of mother's milk tea. Asher was my best nurser. Everything seemed to be going really well for a couple weeks, then he was getting fussy, and I felt like I didn't have enough. I would nurse him as much as he would and then give him a bottle of pumped breast milk from a dear friend. Around 3 weeks, he was fully on bottles of breast milk and goat's milk. 

I didn't struggle too much with feelings of inadequacy this time around. I'm really thankful for that. God has used this trial for good to help me trust Him more, and realize even more that He is in control of everything in my life.

From what I've read and heard from friends, I believe that my food allergies play a big role in the lack of milk production. 

With each child I've learned more about what to put in the goat's milk to help them get the best nutrients. This is the basic recipe I've been using for Asher - 

2 cups raw goat or cow's milk

2 cups filtered water

2 capsules acidophilus 

2 drops 1000iu vitamin D

1/2 tsp. melted coconut oil

1/2 tsp. cod liver oil

5 drops liquid Folic Acid & B12 

3 T. prune juice (my babies have always gotten constipated on goat's milk)

2 drops of an iron supplement

If you have any questions for more specific info, please email me!

Our Busy Week

Last week was a crazy busy week...but really, all weeks seem like that these days! Ha. On Monday I took Levi to order the new prescription in his glasses. We got the lenses put in on Wednesday. He seems to be doing well with them, but I think he is still adjusting. They are a lot stronger than what he had.

Monday was my "little" brother's 14th birthday! How did he get to be 14? We went out to my family's for supper. It was so good to see Memaw! We haven't been out to visit her much lately with Jacob's car in the shop and just the busyness of having three little ones.

Love this little man!

Tuesday evening we made a spontaneous trip to Earth Fare (about a 30 minute drive) and went to a splash pad. Lily and Levi had the best time!

I made bubble jars for the kids on Wednesday. It's just old plastic jars (I used a pb jar and a mayo jar) filled half way up with water with a squirt of dish soap and a couple drops of food coloring. Lily and Levi enjoyed shaking them and watching them for like 10 minutes, but then they were done. Oh well.

Levi has been doing so well lately feeding himself with a spoon!

It's way too hot during the day for walks, so Asher and I have been out several times to walk after his morning bottle.

Thursday was our 4th anniversary! In some ways it seems like it should be a lot longer than four years and then sometimes it seems like just yesterday. We took Lily and Levi to Parent's Night Out at our church Thursday night and we went out for an romantic dinner at...5 Guys! LOL We went to a yogurt shop (yum!) and then stopped by the grocery store to get diapers before going back to pick up Lily and Levi. After we got the children in bed, Jacob popped some yummy popcorn and we watched a movie together. Yes, a picture of the popcorn is the only picture I got the entire day. Sad.

Jacob was off Friday morning so he mowed the grass and cleaned up outside. He found that big frog while he was mowing. I hate frogs. When I was little, my sister would chase me with frogs and throw them on me. Terrified me to say the least! Oh, she would also swing dead snakes around her head while chasing me too. Such a sweet big sister. LOL Lily and Levi were intrigued with the frog. They sat and watched it for the longest time.

Lily stayed with Jacob's mom while I ran an errand. She didn't take a nap, so I assumed she would go to bed early. I was making supper and came into the living room to find her asleep on the couch. She slept for an hour and a half through all the noise of Levi and Asher, and even Levi going up to her and patting her (kind of roughly) on the head!

Friday evening we took the kids outside to play in the kiddie pool. They had such a good time!

Mr. Saggy Pants. LOL

Sweet little man!

Saturday we had some friend's over for lunch, then I ran to the grocery store during nap time. I loved how the children were so sweet to play together in the afternoon! 

Sunday was a normal busy day with church, naps, and family time.

Midweek Randoms

I am a tired mama tonight.

We are participating in the summer reading program at our local library. I set Lily and Levi's goal to be 1,000 pages. After just over a week of recording our reading, I counted up the pages we had so far - 1,077! I couldn't believe it! Yep, we spend lots of time on the couch reading!

Today a sweet lady came for about an hour and played with Lily and Levi. It was a huge blessing to me! I was able to get dressed (with make-up on!), some laundry folded and put away, our bedroom cleaned up, the bathroom cleaned, and the dishwasher emptied!

Levi pushed a stool over beside Jacob and climbed up on it so he could sit by Daddy for breakfast. So sweet!

Yesterday I tried to make homemade mayo - it flopped. I'm not really sure what happened because I followed the recipe exactly. I'm going to try again with a different recipe.

Pretty much all my blog posts are typed with one hand while I feed Asher. I'm actually getting pretty good at it. Ha!

Last week we finished up all the freezer meals I made before Asher was born. My goal was to not have to "cook" for 3 months, and with the help of meals from our church family in the first few weeks, we met that goal! 

This verse has been a blessing to me this week - "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him" Nahum 1:7. I'm not necessarily in a "day of trouble," but I do have daily difficulties that I need God's grace and strength to get through.

I just got my chores/nightly routine done, so I'm going to head to bed.

Chalk Town

We have been spending a lot of time under our carport on these hot days. The other day I drew a little chalk town for Lily and Levi. They had so much fun "driving" on the road, going to each other's houses, to the park, to the store, to church, etc. 

They also had fun washing their cars and tricycle. 

I love fun and easy activities that keep them occupied and in the shade!

Weekend.

What a busy, busy weekend! 

On Friday while the kids were napping, I ran out to order Levi's new lenses for his glasses (yes, I know, it's been like a month since we saw the doctor, but some unexpected car repairs put us behind a little). I didn't realize that I needed to have Levi with me so they could measure him, so I'll have to take him one day this week. While I was out, I ran by a consignment store and got a purse (which I'm using as a diaper bag). The diaper bag I was using was getting really worn and it was big. I'm just thrilled about this new bag! It was only $8.00 too!

Em and Asher at the rehearsal dinner

A couple friends of ours got married on Saturday and Jacob was playing in the wedding. We went to the rehearsal and then enjoyed the rehearsal dinner! It was such a fun evening! We got to sit at a table with another young couple and we just had the best time with them. It was a blessing to connect and have great conversation. Asher went with us and he started getting fussy (and I hadn't brought his bottle because we thought we would be home by 9) so we had to leave early.

Me and Jacob at the reception

On Saturday morning, Jacob went to a prayer breakfast at church and I took the kids grocery shopping, which is always an adventure. Ha! We met up with my mom at one store and she walked through with me even though she'd already gotten her groceries. It was nice to have an extra set of hands! 

My parents at the reception

I pretty much forgot that Father's Day was on Sunday, so I didn't have time to get any fun crafts done with Lily and Levi, but I had Father's Day cards on my grocery list. Wouldn't you know, when I got home, I realized I had forgotten to get cards. I cried. Seriously, where has my mind gone?! Jacob had to use the van to go play in a wedding early Saturday afternoon, so I didn't have time to run back out and get some. Then our babysitter came and my parents picked me up to go to our friend's wedding. We got home from the wedding late and I wasn't able to go to the store. Yep, Jacob, my Dad and my Father-in-law didn't even get a card. I know it's not about cards, but that's what we normally do and they got cards from everyone else in the family. 

Reading time with Aunt Elizabeth

Sunday was a busy day. We have Sunday School every other Sunday morning, so Jacob left early for that. I had a horrible time trying to figure out something to wear...let's just say, my wardrobe is in a sad state. Needless to say, the kids and I were late for church.

We had dinner with Jacob's family and then went to the hospital to visit Jacob's precious grandfather. He is not doing very well at all. He's having really bad back pain, but the doctor isn't sure what's causing it. Please pray that he would be able to go home soon!

After church on Sunday night, we went to my parent's for supper. Lily and Levi weren't much up for pictures, but I love this one of Asher and Papaw!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

3 months.

Asher turned 3 months on Monday! Here is what my baby man is up to these days - 

• Eating 7oz of goat milk formula every 3 - 3 1/2 hours (I'm working on a post about the formula since so many of you have asked about it).
• Sleeping straight through the night from about 9:30pm - 6:00am.
• Taking 3-4 naps each day.

• Rolling over both directions (back to front and front to back).
• Isn't a fan of bath time.
• Loves his brother and sister.

• Wearing mostly 0-3 month clothes.
• He's long and skinny!
• He is about as tall as Levi and his feet are bigger than Levi's!

• Looks a lot like Lily and my nephew at this age.
• Has found his tongue - always sticking it out and moving it around.
• Still loves to be swaddled when sleeping.

• He's a content baby unless he needs food, diaper change, or sleep.
• Smiles the sweetest smiles.
• Loves looking at colorful things - He was sitting in the highchair the other day and I set a finger paint kit box on the tray. He "talked" and laughed at it for the longest time.

• Sucks on his hands and fingers.
• Loves to snuggle.
• Still sleeping in the co-sleeper beside our bed.

• Likes to be worn in my wrap.
• Doesn't mind his carseat.
• Loves being outside.

Is an overall sweet happy little man. He is a joyful addition to our family. 

Typical.

Getting a decent picture of three little ones is quite a challenge. Here is an example of the progression of pictures that I normally get when trying to get just one picture where nobody is blurry.

 if levi would just lie down.

 hugs.

 lol.

 levi tickling lily.

 kicking legs.

Finally.

Happy Friday!