Saturday, March 14, 2009

And the challenges continue

So...we went in for Dillon's one month baby appt yesterday. Poor girl only gained 5 ozs in two weeks! That is very, very poor. She's supposed to be gaining an ounce a day so 7 ozs per week! GASP!! Yes, I am now Mommie Dearest. We have been starving our precious child! NO WONDER she's been crying all the time and always wanting to be on the breast! I am appauled at this revelation. For the past two weeks, G and I have been convincing ourselves that she definitely feels heavier. Look, she's longer. She must be putting on weight...well, she did grow an inch and a quarter so we're pretty happy about that, but the rest, not so great.
We need to figure out if it's my milk supply that is insufficient or whether it's her latching technique. We saw a lactation specialist today who thinks it might be a little bit of both. Apparently, you are supposed to be drinking mad amounts of water when you are breastfeeding and, well...water has never really been part of my daily dietary routine. I don't really like water, nor do I like peeing and I've been able to get by for the past 38 years without drinking an excessive amount of water so I just forget to drink water. Now, I am trying to down water like it's going out of style. I am also taking Fenugreek, an herbal supplement known to increase milk supply (Lo? Did you say you took it? I am taking a liquid form, not tablet) and also drinking this herbal tea called Mother's Milk that the lady at the organic market swears by.
We are breast feeding, then pumping (to measure how much I am producing) and also supplementing her feedings with formula. And to add make matters worse, Dillon had jaundice when she was in the hospital and after 24 hours under the sun lamps, her bilirubin levels were decreasing, but now with the lack of caloric intake, it seems her bilirubin levels have gone up. Her condition is not dire, she's actually quite healthy and after a blood test they have determined that her liver is functioning properly, but she is still quite yellow. So, this weekend we have to increase her calories by A LOT and then she's off to see the dr again on Monday.
My oh my are there challenges to being a parent...however, I ain't gonna complain because my friend, Lo...she's had much tougher challenges with her son so who am I to complain???
...Just tellin it like it is...here at La Casa Tung...Castle de Princess Dillon. Hahah.

2 comments:

  1. oh boy, she is going to be a good eater just like her mom. you should start her on a fried pickle, mac n' cheese diet pronto. that will fatten her up.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heehee. That is next on my menu. Pureed mac n cheese with a hint of fried pickle!

    ReplyDelete