A Nursing Tale

Well, it's 3:00am ... what am I doing up? Not with the baby, Clover has been sleeping through nights since about 2 months. I am up pumping ... ugh, I do not miss these days BUT I must do what I must do.

For those of you "grossed out" by nursing (aka single guys and sometimes gals) you should stop reading, because yes this is a about breastfeeding ... oh no she said the word breastfeeding!!!! :) I only say this because while in Georgia we had some talks with people who've never had kids, and to them its just weird to even talk about. But as soon as you have a kid, it seems neither dad or mom have any problems discussing labor/delivery and breastfeeding and they don't even blush!!!

When I got sick, my milk production went LOW ... I was still producing but Clover is getting angry because she doesn't get all she wants. Most moms, I realize now, would give up. But I refuse!! This is where my stubbornness actually comes in useful. I just love breastfeeding, it is so good for baby and it saves so much time and money on food.

I talked to a lactation consultant and they said as long as Clover is having poopie/wet diapers and isn't losing weight, then I don't need to supplement. So I have been drinking fluids like crazy, I drink this awful tea called Mother's Milk which helps promote lactation AND I'm taking an herb called Fenugreek which is supposed to increase milk too (a side effect of Fenugreek is you smell like syrup, which isn't that bad, makes you hungry though). On top of that I'm feeding Clover more often (milk wont produce unless "they" are empty so you need to empty "them" more) and pumping in the middle of the night.
So far, it's going well. I am starting to make more, so hopefully I can get back to normal sleep sometime soon!! I just wanted to put this stuff out there for those of you who sometimes don't produce enough and just want to give up. It is HARD. You have to be so patient. Sometimes Clover will cry for 10 minutes while I'm trying to feed her, but if you just keep at it, it'll come back.

Ultimately, though, it all comes back to God. He is the one that is going to produce my milk so that I can feed my baby. I have no control whatsoever over that part of my body. I've been reading through the Psalms and it is constantly reminding me that the Lord is the one that provides.
It says "He knows our frame" Psalm. 103:14

Psalm 104:27-28 "They all wait for You to give them their food in due season. You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good."

Psalm 111:4-5 "He has made His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He has given food to those who fear Him;"

So often we take for granted how easily food comes to us. We can just walk to the refrigerator and get a snack, even if we aren't hungry. But the Lord teaches the disciples in Matthew 6:11 to pray "give us this day our daily bread" not because they didn't have food, but to always ask for it anyway, because it does not come from us! It is a gift of God to have food.

Well, now Im really awake ... I bet Julie is up with Reese ... :)
Hope some of you find my ramblings encouraging in your breastfeeding adventures (yes thats right I said it again, breastfeeding!!)