Breastfeeding, Take Two

First 'noms' at BC Women's Hospital, shortly after the birth

I'm sure you've all heard, "Breast is best", "Human milk for Human Babies", & so on. You've probably heard people say that pretty much every woman can breastfeed. I'm in full agreement with these ideas, to the point that you might even call me a 'lactivist', but wish that third one came with a caveat more often. YES, nearly all women can make milk. However, not all can make enough milk to sustain a baby. I know this from personal experience.



If you've been reading the Sprog since Sprout was born or you know me in real life, you can probably skip this paragraph, as you've heard our story. I was one of those women who could make milk, but despite a lot of effort, couldn't make 100% of what my child needed. That effort included pumping six times a day after feedings (round the clock), taking herbs & teas, Domperidone pills, reading tons of breastfeeding books & websites, tracking every detail of feeding, supplementing, weight, etc for months, going to workshops, La Leche League meetings, baby groups, lactation consultants, my midwives & then weekly weigh-ins & doctor's appointments at a specialist breastfeeding clinic, not to mention all the washing & sterlizing that goes along with using a breast pump, bottles & early on, a tube setup.

After all the struggle, these moments were worth it.

I'm still not entirely sure WHY I couldn't make enough milk. There are definitely things that I could have done better in the early haze of new motherhood, but I was well-educated, with a great number of resources at my disposal. Most women make mistakes at the beginning yet then go on to have a full milk supply. None of the experts I consulted were able to give me an answer.

Now that I'm pregnant again, with my due date looming less than a month away, I've been doing more research. This article on Kelly Mom (8) was interesting to me, breaking breastfeeding issues into three categories. Basically: hormonal issues due to thyroid problems or PCOS, etc, breastfeeding management issues (including tongue tie, latch issues as well as too few feedings, etc), then lack/shortage of milk-producing glandular tissue (IGT).

I suspect I may have mild IGT, but I don't know that it wasn't mainly breastfeeding management issues. At our last appointment with the doctor at the Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic (7), she suggested I come back before my next baby. I just had that appointment this week & after a refresher on getting a newborn to latch well, plus lots of discussion about how everything went after she last saw us, we've set up a loose plan.

After talking to the doctor, I left feeling very positive & hopeful that I can avoid the months-long struggles that I faced last time & maybe, just maybe, make enough milk to breastfeed exclusively. Having a plan helps me--the obsessive lister. I've got a couple of herbal supplements, one that I'm taking already (5) & one I'll start after the birth (6). My doctor at the Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic has given me a prescription for Domperidone & I'll go see them in the first week after baby's born. I have a copy of a great book (3) on foods that help in milk production (see below for details) & a prescription for Domperidone. I've got my awesome breastfeeding pillow (4) back but still need to pick up the double pump that my cousin is passing along. Nearly ready!

I plan to write more on this after my daughter is born. I want to share the journey in the hopes that other moms--with IGT or hormone imbalance, PCOS, issues due to surgery or the myriad of other things that can affect a mother's milk production--will know it's possible to stick with it & that it doesn't have to be one or the other. I'm not out to shame anyone who stops breastfeeding & uses formula to feed their baby, because I know how bloody hard it is to combo feed & there are many reasons why it might not work (I'll have to leave that for another post). However, if I could inspire another mom or two to see herself as a success, not a failure, if she breastfeeds & supplements, I'll be happy.

Some of the resources mentioned above that I've found useful:

1. FB support group for IGT/low supply moms (private group, you'll need to request to join) It's full of moms who are struggling, who've been there & a few experts in the field.
2. The article that inspired me to write this: on Best For Babes
3. This book: Mother Food all about things you can eat to help your supply
4. My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow
5. EcoIdeas Moringawise Organic Moringa Powder--the best-priced form I could find of a well-known galactagogue in the Phillippines, plus here's a study that found positive results immediately postpartum & another one focussed on moms of pre-term infants.
6. Motherlove More Milk Plus capsules with fenugreek seed, blessed thistle, nettle, fennel seed.
7. Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic
8. Kellymom is a brilliant site with tons of evidence-based resources.

Mamas out there: what was/is your breastfeeding story? Did you face some bumps in the road like I did? No judgement here--just sharing stories. :)

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