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Before Talitha was born, I figured I’d be breastfeeding for at least two years or until whenever she self-weaned. If anyone asked, I’d always tag on “if I can” because I didn’t want to sound like I was getting ahead of myself.
That’s all it was though – a tag. I secretly assumed that if I tried hard enough, I could make breastfeeding happen.
So, when I ran into problems with my milk supply due to a tongue-tie diagnosed late in the game, I was seriously thrown. Determined not to give up, I dived into a stressful routine of pumping, breast compressions, frequent feeding, using a supplementary nursing system and taking Domperidone.
In exhaustion, I accepted that I would never have a full breast milk supply and started topping up every feed with a bottle.
Then, suddenly, my daughter began feeding more efficiently and the Domperidone kicked in. She was gaining too quickly. I dropped the formula right away and she continued to gain normally.
Finally, we’d reached a point where feeding felt natural, even enjoyable – everything people had told me it could be.
I accept that I was a bit crazy to continue when things were going so badly in the first few months but having experienced the breastfeeding relationship I have these past two months, it’s been worth every frustration.
I’ve been told that I should be proud of getting this far. To tell the truth, I’ve not had the time to feel that way. I certainly never dared to.
Two weeks ago I stopped taking Domperidone. It was too expensive for me to keep taking it and I didn’t like the idea of prolonged use without medical supervision.
I replaced it with a herbal supplement called More Milk Plus, a potent blend of fenugreek, blessed thistle and other galactagogues (milk boosters). It did seem like there was a drop in my milk supply but the baby didn’t seem hungry. She’s been fussy recently but I still don’t see recognisable signs of hunger.
Yet, when I had her weighed this past week, she showed a weight loss of a few ounces. Of course, this could be attributed to different scales or an empty bladder. I doubt that it’s solids as we’re doing Baby Led Weaning and she’s not eating enough to displace any milk feeds. She also doesn’t move around yet so it’s not down to mobility.
The fact that it coincides so closely to me coming off the Domperidone makes me think that that’s caused the weight loss, if there is one. She gets weighed again in three weeks to decipher what’s happening.
When I got the news, I was upset about it but not distraught as I would have been earlier in the process. As I gain experience, I gain perspective. I’m learning that a change of plans doesn’t wreck a baby.
I have made an appointment with a different GP to see if he will prescribe Domperidone to carry me through the next four and a half months so I can finish the year without combination feeding (aka the worst of both worlds). I’m also trying to pump though I’m finding it, in some ways, more difficult now.
Hopefully he will agree to but even if not, my breastfeeding goals are a lot more realistic now. It’s no longer about looking ahead for months and years. Sometimes I think: “Let’s just make it to next week” but I’m mostly just taking it one breastfeed at a time.
You have done VERY well, despite all the obstacles in your way. I always though I’d bfeed for at least a year, but with both boys it sort of ended very naturally and gradually by the time they were 10 months old.
We can never know for certain how it’s going to go.
I know I have said it about 100 times before but you have done so amazing. Talitha can be so proud of her mummy. x
Thanks for the encouragement!
You have done brilliantly – I hope the doctor gives you the drugs you need to carry on
Give yourself a pat on the back at the same time x
Thank you. I’m going into the appointment without expectation. I’m just grateful to have got this far.
You have done so well and should be very proud of yourself xx
Thanks. I’m still amazed at how far we’ve come.
You have done amazingly. You should feel so proud of yourself.
Thanks hon. I think relief to have got this far is more what I feel.
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Adele, we’re going through similar (although I have the advantage of having started training last year in lactation, breastfeeding support supposedly!
) with baby number 2. Thought you might be interested in these: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tonguetiebabies/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/30008320854/ and https://www.facebook.com/TTandBreastfeeding there is a heap of support and info building on these three resources alone…
Hi Annabelle, I’m a member of one of those groups (the first one). Will check the others out. I’m a bit of a lurker though! I need to remedy that! I’m training to be breastfeeding peer supporter too. At 9 months we’re continuing to breastfeed with the help of domperidone. I finally found a GP who would prescribe it. Well done for carrying on.
LOL just realised I can’t send you a PM on FB
Didn’t really want to have full blown discussion via your blog 
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