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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 98
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Ladies,
Just wanted to let you all know that our little daughter is here. Needless to say we are delirious. She is the most beautiful baby you can imagine.
I was present at the birth and was able to put here to the breast about half an hour after she was born. She latched on fine but then did not seem to be hungry at all the next 24 hours or so. After that, latching on with the lact-aid was quite tricky at first but is now working pretty well.
My success pumping was not great, I never even got to two ounces per day after six weeks of pumping (after two months on the accelerated protocol), and I was somewhat frustrated.
But none of this seems to matter now - it is simply wonderful to be breastfeeding my baby, I am so glad I went for it.
While I don't know how much, the little one definitely is getting milk from me and whatever she is getting will be good for her. I am also fairly certain it is quite a bit more than what I was pumping - it really is true that a baby is so much better at getting the milk out of you than any pump, and you can feel it.
Thanks to all of you for your support. It has been invaluable in this journey.
Love,
Chris
mom to Emma, born June 15th, 2004
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Congratulations Chris! Good job on the breastfeeding! Thanks for letting us know how it is going.
What have you named your daughter?
Vanessa
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,785
extra helpful experienced member
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extra helpful experienced member
Joined: Apr 2003
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Oh Chris, I am so happy for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It is a great feeling isn't it? Keep it up and post a picture of your little beauty when you get the chance.
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 33
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Congratulations Chris !!
Thak youfor that positive note on your progress. I know you are quite busy now, but your daughter is getting milk even though youdid not get up to 2 ounces during the accerated protocol ? That's amazing.
I'm happy for you
Yasta
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,176
extra helpful experienced member
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Joined: Sep 2002
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awww chris! Congrats on your baby.. I am so happy for you. And I am sure she is getting way more than you were pumping. .Keep us updated...
Adoptive mommy to 4 , Last 2 adopted nursed. Youngest nursed till she was 5! Raising 2 grandbabies, as infants they were raised on donor breast milk 
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 98
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Posts: 98 |
Hello again,
We called her Emma Louise, after my grandmother but also because it is a simple and beautiful name that is easy to pronounce it most languages - as a Filipino - German family in Brazil that is a consideration!
Breastfeeding, for me at least, is totally different from pumping. My nipples seemed to have opened up and milk starts coming out on the gentlest squeeze, which never happened before. Also, for lack of a better word, I feel really drained after feeding and am constantly thirsty, drinking tons of water. When Emma is well latched suction feels way stronger than anything you get from the pump, not at all painful though.
When you are pumping, I think it is almost inevitable you are always thinking about how much you are producing, with your baby on the breast somehow this ceases to be such a big priority, for me it did at any rate and maybe just relaxing about it also helps.
Love,
Chris
mom to Emma, born June 15th, 2004
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experienced member
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Chris:
You're a Mommy!!!!! Isn't it wonderful? !! Enjoy these first precious days. I'm so happy to hear about your breastfeeding experience. It is so encouraging to me. I'm not far behind.
Enjoy! Keep us updated on your progress.
{{{{BIG HUG}}}}}}
LD
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Are you still using the Lact-aid while you are breast feeding or soley breastfeeding ?
Yasta
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 98
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Hey Yasta,
Yes, I am using the lact-aid - would be cool not to need it but I do not realistically expect that. You do get the hang of it. At the end of the day this little device is fantastic and could enable loads more women to breastfeed if only they knew about it.
I was convinced I could actually watch little Emma grow, and the pediatrician confirmed this week she is doing extremely well in terms of growth and weight gain. If she were a bottle baby she would need to drink at least 500 ml at two weeks and she takes on average about 350 ml through the lact-aid. She is nursing on demand. All her observable bodily functions are normal and she looks like a happy baby to me. I'll probably keep a closer look on her weight for the time being than I would as a bio mom, but the lact-aid does sort of liberate you from the "is baby getting enough" paranoia you may fear.
And aside from all supply and health benefit issues I just really really enjoy breastfeeding my little miracle and am so very glad I am able to do it. No mother should have to miss this.
Love,
Chris
mom to Emma, born June 15th, 2004
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,347
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Hey Chris,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I wish you and your baby a long and happy breastfeeding relationship. As Dr. Newman says "There's much more to breastfeeding than the milk". And the nice thing about the lact-aid is that your own supply will build and build as you use it. Every drop of your breastmilk is like liquid gold. A very small amount goes a long way toward protecting your baby.
Enjoy!!
Fondly,
Lenore Goldfarb, Ph.D.,CCC,IBCLC
Wife to Rob, Mom to Adam aged 13, and Ethan aged 9, both born via GS and breastfed via Regular Newman-Goldfarb Protocol.
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