I don't know if any of you remember me but back in June I was just shocked to bits when the baby we intended to adopt was born 9 weeks early due to her birthmother's pre-eclampsia. Lily weighed just 2 lbs and 8 oz and couldn't breathe for herself when she was born. She had a collapsed lung on day 3 and had to have a chest tube. When I finally got to see her on day 5 she was struggling for every breathe and so weak that we couldn't hear her cry over the noise of the NICU. They couldn't feed her because her little digestive system couldn't cope so I froze what little breastmilk I managed to pump. Lily was a fighter and got stronger every day.
While she was working hard to grow and get stronger we were dealing with a drama of a different sort. Our insurance company dropped us and the social worker who was supposed to be working our case was actively trying to get Lily's birthmom to choose another couple. She claimed that I was unfit as a mother (eventhough I've been homestudied twice). Lily's Bmom stood by us and together we fired the unethical social worker. Keith and I got new insurance and by the time Lily was released from hospital she was placed with us. We are now back home in Georgia and Lily is thriving. I would say she is close to 10 lbs now. I can't believe how fast she's grown!
You can see her first smile here
http://www.robinson-clan.co.uk/movies/Lily01.mpgPhotos both from the NICU and more recent ones are here
http://www.robinson-clan.co.uk/page.php?titleid=50&catid=19http://www.robinson-clan.co.uk/page.php?titleid=51&catid=19September photos of our little piglet are forthcoming.
Unfortunately I was never able to bring in much of a supply. I had several conversations with the hospital lactation consultant and she checked my pumping technique and settings. I pumped every three hours around the clock. At first I didn't pump at night but then I started on the suggestion of the Lactation Consultant. It did help a little. I tried a number of different things to increase my supply but in the end I never pumped more than about 12 mil per session. When Lily finally came home I decided that getting enough rest and caring for her was more important than pumping so I did what I said I would never do - I gave up. Still I can forgive myself because I can mother Lily in other ways. She spends a lot of time just lying on my chest and as I said before, she is thriving. I do take comfort in the fact that her first successful feedings were of my breastmilk and shortly afterward she began taking far more than I could supply for her.
Lenore was also wonderful while I was trying to figure out why my body wouldn't produce milk. She mentioned that sometimes a severe bloodloss could cause problems with lactation. I did loose a lot of blood as a 6 year old in an accident and required a transfusion. But it could just come down to genetics. My Mom had trouble with her supply for her second two children. Only my oldest brother was breastfed. Maybe I've just inherited her problems with lactation.
I am now in the process of selling all of my breastfeeding supplies. You can find posts under the buy/sell/trade board. I'm selling 1400 Domperidone pills, my PIS and 4 nursing bras. If you're interested just email me
vanessa@whiteoakdesign.com I can also send photos if you need more info.
Vanessa
Mom to Lily Beth, 06/30/04
