Magical 3 Months Mark

Posted by Me Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:31:00 GMT

Thanks for the advice on my breastfeeding situation. Yes, I am definitely being careful about not pumping too much – as a matter of fact I am trying to stop pumping prior to feeding him altogether with the hope that my milk supply will adjust. It’s a bit tough right now since my boobs are just super engorged (we’re talking pornstar boobs here!) and Jack still has some trouble with the let-down. I have sought out www.kellymom.com for some good ole’ breastfeeding advice and their main thing is to let gravity be your friend (aka feed baby in an upright position or lean back so baby leans forward while feeding) and to burp baby very often.

I have to admit it’s been tough. Jack is still spitting up a lot and having trouble burping. I keep telling myself to be patient and hope that eventually we get the hang of this – in the meantime it’s all about the boobs in our house.

However, this line in the kellymom article caught my eye:

“Even if these measures do not completely solve the problem, many moms find that their abundant supply and fast let-down will subside, at least to some extent, by about 12 weeks (give or take a bit). At this point, hormonal changes occur that make milk supply more stable and more in line with the amount of milk that baby needs.”

Ahh, there it is that magical 12 Weeks (3 Month) Mark that everyone keeps raving about. Apparently, if you were to believe that Jack and I follow any “normal” processes – we are supposed to expect wonderful things once Jack turns 3 months. His sleep patterns are supposed to get into more of a rhythm. His digestive tract should be more mature. My milk is supposed to even out. I’ll have the body of Heidi Klum (post baby). (Ok, maybe not the last bit especially since I have a penchant for Krispe Kreme Doughnut which I am unwilling to give up in the near future!)

Hmm – color me skeptical but I just can’t see that it’ll work out that way. I mean I am sure things may change (at least I hope they will) but I just don’t see things “turning around”. I mean you’re talking to the girl who couldn’t for the life of her get pregnant the good ole’ fashion way. Normal IVF wasn’t even possible. I had to have a fresh IVF cycle follwed by a frozen one. Then, once I eventually did get pregnant I never had that moment at 12 Weeks where I woke up and felt great – no nausea. Nope. Nausea hung around for pretty much the whole pregnancy. So, with all that in my mind, can you blame a girl when she doesn’t quite believe in the magical 3 month mark?

I know every situation is different and if anything ours is certainly that. Nothing about Jack – his conception, gestation, or birth has been thus far and honestly right now I feel like I might be going backwards in my mothering abilities. I mean I thought we were doing ok on the breastfeeding front and then we discover the lovely “Hyperlactation/Overabundant Milk” issue. Ulgh!

It’s ok. Things are a bit tough right now. Jack is amazing – don’t get me wrong. He smiles all the time now. Coos. Gurgles. Squeals. Holds his head up a lot (still wobbly – but definitely showing promise). Super alert. Can stare at you and take you in. It’s incredible and I am so lucky to be a witness of it all. All my worries disappear when he gives me that look of complete adoration follwed by the most incredible smile. It melts my heart every time.

However, there is the other side of it too that is oh so challenging – he doesn’t sleep through the night. I am still waking up every 2 to 3 hours a night – sometimes more. I nurse what feels like constantly so that my nipples feel raw and abused. I am trying to get him on a schedule but haven’t been too successful at that. He doesn’t like sleeping in his crib. We try to put him in there with his “SnuggleNest” bed to help make it more cozy and he maybe lasts 15 mins in there before crying bloody murder. I don’t know – when does it get easier – yeah yeah I know – around 12 Weeks! Maybe! Possibly! Hopefully! ;)

I don’t know. Am I doing something wrong? It hurts me sometimes to see this little guy so gassy due to my insane let-down. I feel bad when I am patting him on the back for what feels like hours just to make sure he doesn’t get an awful air bubble in there.

I know it is supposed to get easier and I do want to believe that. I just can’t see it right now. I am trying not to compare myself to other mothers – you know the ones I am talking about – the ones that boast their babies are sleeping through the night with only one feeding at 3am in their cribs. The breastfeeding experts that have wonderfully calm and happy babies. I know everyone is different and that Jack and I will get the hang of things eventually. He’s still young and may take a little bit of time to adjust to things – like my boobs and his crib. It’s just tough sometimes not to feel like I am being a bad Mom. I love this guy to bits and just want to make sure he’s ok. Actually, more than ok.

Oh well – it’s time for him to nurse. I am doing the no-pump-nurse-upright-burp-often-nurse-on-only-one-boob-for-3-feedings thing with the hope that things will get better for everyone.

All right, I have written a novel that it is probably just incoherent babble. My apologies. Sleep-deprivation is still a staple in this house.

I pray that 12 Weeks will bring us some good things – however, as irony would have it – guess when Jack actually turns 12 Weeks? April 1st. Yes, my friends, that would be April Fool’s day – hmm – does that have some significance? We’ll see.

Ok – gotta’ whip out a boob to see if we can’t kick this “hyperlactation” to the curb. Thanks for listening! :)