My delayed Introduction to you all..

[determination]

Hi Everyone,

I figured i should have actually introduced myself to you all, before coming in here and giving advice!

I am 26 years old and have 1 dd (26months) and 1 baby on the way (17 weeks pregnant). I am currently training though BFN to be a Peer Support Worker.

Immediately after delivery i had a PPH (Post Partum Haemorrhage) and was transferred to another hospital approx 10 miles away WITHOUT my dd. So bfing was already off to a poor start. We were not reunited for 9 hours at which point i tried to nurse her and she was not interested. I was stimullating my breast every 3 hours for 3 days after trying to nurse her unsuccessfully and i produced no colostrum at all probably because my body was so weak. On day 3 i received a blood transfusion of 3 units as my Hb was 5.5 and afterwards my milk came in. At this point the Midwife offered a nipple sheild to help dd latch and i successfully bfed for the 1st time

Then i came home.. my nipples felt like they would fall off they were so painfully cracked and bleeding.

My HV said my supply was low as dd hadnt gained her birthweight within 4 weeks. At this point i was advised to express EVERYTHING and bottle feed to monitor how much i was producing. How naive was i to beleive her?? Anyway this led to slightly reduced supply, formula supplements and nipple confusion.

Then i got Mastitis 4x - the last time my breast was double its normal size and the skin had completely peeled off the outer side of my breast. This was when i started noticing low milk supply - the infected breast completely stopped producing milk and it took weeks of major stimulation by baby and pump and also Fenugreek to get it back. After all the stimulation and Fenugreek i was producing enough to donate 50 - 70OZ per week to Queen Mothers hospital for preemies!! Complete HUMAN COW and loved it!

So to round things up it took approx 4.5 months for me to start enjoying my BFing experience and we BFed for 24.5months then she self weaned.. possibly due to a dip in my supply with pregnancy. And you know what?>> I would go thru all the troubles again (if i had to) just to experience BFing again as i thought it was Fantastic

great story.
my supply is not too good. what is fenugreek?
ps: i had pph too and apparently, this alone can hinder supply.

What a story, so glad things worked out well for you all!! Are you from Glasgow, I am a few weeks pregnant with my second, so maybe I'll see you at some point. XX

oh it totally can.. hinder supply. Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenumgraecum) is a Nautural Herb which has traditionally been used to increase breast milk. It is a member of the Fabaceae or Legume family - so NOT to be used if allergic to nuts. It affects the smooth muscle contractions which helps stimulate milk ejection. Additionally, mammary glands are modified sweat glands and fenugreek stimulates sweat production. It has been found that fenugreek can increase a mothers milk supply within 24 - 72 hours after first taking the hherb.

Only downfall is that it makes you smell like Maple Syrup!!

Just south of Glasgow.. Where r u Katyjo?

You deserve a medal! I had some of the same problems pph mastitis x2 bleeding nipples-lovely. However to persevere with everything you went through I don't think I could. I hope no prospective first timer bfers read that!!!

I am on the north side of Glasgow, just near Milngavie.

Message withdrawn

katyjo,

I have just been corrected by my man! He said i am actually west of Glasgow (Port Glasgow). He is from Bearsden.. wonder if you know each other??!!

maybe, I lived in Bearsden when I was younger and went to school there. I am 28, my dh is 30 next month, so maybe we will know your hubby! XX

My husband is also 28 and went to Bearden Academy. His name is Alan McDonald..

Don't remember an alan mcdonald, he must have been the year below, I'm nearly 29 and I haven't got a good memory for names!!

Hi determintation - sounds like you deserve your nickname! BF advice from people who've experienced the problems first hand is always useful on MN ( I'll keep the fenugreek tip in my repetoire) so welcome!