Hi everyone,

hope everyone is enjoying their final stages of pregnancy.

I have found the past 4weeks very tough, its quite a shock from being pregnant and suddenly delivering and not even having my baby with me, but ive waited this long for my baby to be home and finally this thursday 19th she came home, its so nice to have her with me and im slowly trying to get into a routine, ive had a few sleepless nights already and my hubby is running around and helping at night feeds.

I am finding it hard for Ishika to breastfeed she is not latching on, does anyone know is it bcuz she was early, as she is sucking on bottles very well, on top of that im not producing enough breastmilk, is there are ways to increase the milk supply? i have had to start giving formula for a couple of feeds which i dont really want to do.

motherhood is very tough especially having an early baby, we have to take care so much, no visitors, less handling, constant checking of room temp and her temp, she is covered with so many layers of clothing and blankets. If anyone can tell me will this reduce when she reaches her due date of 19th feb?

hope to hear the good news of ur lil babies being born very soon.

thanks to everyone for posting to my previous msg, i really appreciate it all ur support.

take care to all

B

padma replied. Hi,

I'm from the jan 2005 board. Congrats on your baby!!

About Breastmilk - have Methi (any type, but the small red ones are exceptionally good) soaked and pressure cooked with powdered rice/oats. The proportion should be two spopons of methi to 2 spoons of rice. (Add milk and sugar or it'll taste yuck). Methi is the most effective for increase in BM.

About latching. Babies find it easier to latch (my son did) when we feed them lying down. Have her lie on the crook of you arm facing you and help her latch. I've found this position extremely comfy esp. for the left breast.

Keep pumping frequently - you'll produce more. The breasts respond to babies much more than to pumps, so keep trying between the baby and you.

Whether her weight gain is from formula or from BM is secondary na?

Having such a supportive d/h is a blessing.. They say that when some moms deliver, a father is born too!!

Much love to lil Ishika. You take care.

Love
Padma shilpi replied. From my past experience and from what I have read :
You will have to help the baby latch on properly - and because you are giving her a bottle as well - she is probably getting confused between the breast and the bottle nipple. I had that problem with Aarya - when I started giving him my milk in the bottle - because I had started working - he refused to have milk from my breast directly when he was wide awake and hungry - it was easer when he was hungry and sleepy - or at nights !
The best way to increase your milk supply is have lots of water and liquids. My mom used to give me jeera also - she said in any form jeera helps in increasing milk supply. And anyway the better the baby latches, the milk supply also goes up accordingly.
For more information, you could probably speak with your pediatrician!
I did not have a premature delivery so can't really comment on the layering of clothes your baby has to be in - and whether that would reduce over time !
Nevertheless congratulations on the birth of your little girl, and happy parenting - first few weeks are usually tougher and then you gradually just get used to it.
Do write your birthing story, so we can gain knowledge from your experience as well !
Have fun
Shilpi