Giving Ellie milk these nine months has of course not been easy, but it's something I've enjoyed so very much. Since it's such a unique experience to feed her in the manner we must, I've learned some things about nursing that I thought might be good to pass along to those that were interested.
- Equipment - you have to have the right pump if you are going to feed your baby this way. I had a close call back in November when I thought I was losing my supply and it turned out to be the pump. Now I have a modern, new pump with major improvements and I'm excited about its first trip to Atlanta.
- This past week I decided to take Tamiflu (perscription) to try to quickly knock out my cold symptoms. It didn't seem to help, which is what makes this current "flu-like cold" so tricky. What did happen for sure is - my milk supply was in major jeopardy. I have a book about drugs and breastfeeding and I knew it was a risk but I was desperate to feel better. When I noticed my dry mouth, dry nose and compromised supply, I stopped taking it. I took it 3 out of the 5 intended days.
- To regain my supply after this scare I bought a box of a tea I've relied on during my breastfeeding days that promotes milk production. It took about 2 days to kick in, but I'm here to testify it really does work. I am relieved to say - crises averted and we're back on track to produce what Ellie needs each day.
Ellie did eat like our other three children for exactly 16 days. The last time she nursed was in waiting room of the x-ray department before we fed her with a bottle and watched milk go into her trachea (lungs). Since then she's been safely fed milk. We now know she is no longer aspirating but when your heart and lungs work as hard as hers do - there are no calories left for the difficult coordination of "suck, swallow, breathe" a baby must do to eat.
Soon I'll be handing off my milk to the good nurses of the Atlanta hospital. They will freeze it when she can't have it immediately after surgery and then they'll give it to her when she's ready. It will lead her onto recovery and be the best for her, as it has been her whole life.
