A huge dream of mine since my first son was born was to nurse without stress! Sam was born sick and immediately put into the NICU and so we didn't really get into the swing of nursing until he was 2 months old. It was HARD.
When we decided to adopt, I did a lot of research to find out what it would take to be able to nurse an adopted child. We were thrilled when we were matched with a birthmother that was due in 2 months, just enough time to prep for my milk supply.
I started by taking Fenugreek 3 times a day and drinking Mothers Milk Tea every morning. You can find both of these at GNC. I was also trying my best to drink a beer every day, a good stimulator for milk supply, but I am not of fan of any beer. Some GNC's carry a hops and barley pill, but I never started taking either of those.
After a week of Fenugreek and MMTea, I started to pump with a hospital grade Medela pump.
NOT FUN. But I kept reminding myself that it would be worth it.
I started pumping every 3 hours during the day. After about a week I was starting to get beads of colostrum, but never enough to freeze it.
After a month of Fenugreek, MMT and pumping colostrum, I started to get a clear fluid. At this point I also started Domperidone, a medication not FDA approved in the US, but I was able to bum it off a friend who has a prescription in Canada. Here are some websites where you can learn more about the drug and order a generic brand.
http://www.inhousepharmacy.biz/p-17-motilium.aspx
http://www.lowmilksupply.org/domperidone-obtain.shtml
http://www.canadadrugpharmacy.com/buy-domperidone-online.asp
http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/domperidonewhere.shtml#sthash.379UR7FG.dpbs
About 4 weeks before our adopted baby was born I was taking 3 Fenugreek and 5 Dom (50mg) 3 times a day. I was also pumping every 3 hours during the day, 2 times at night.
After a week I started producing milk!
The biggest difference with this route is that your milk doesn't really "come in" as it would after a birth. For me it came in slowly, gradually improving supply over the next few weeks. When my son was born on Wednesday, I was producing 1oz out of both breasts. That may not seem like a lot, but it is enough for a newborn and what an amazing experience it is to be able to nurse a baby that I didn't carry. Totally worth the work! And lucky for me, Miles is a PRO at breastfeeding.
A quote I read when I was researching said to "expect to be able to nurse your adopted baby, not to breastfeed them." My baby is only 4 days old at this point, and although we have had to supplement a few feedings with formula, things are working out great. I am still on my pill regimen and I pump every time I feed him a bottle in hopes that my milk supply will improve as he grows.
What I have to remember, is that there is more to nursing than feeding and the bonding is so important.
UPDATE: At 4 weeks old I went ahead and pumped instead of feeding and found out that I was producing 4 oz of BM a feeding. This was on 60mg (3Xa day) and 3 Fenugreek (3X a day). Unfortunately this was the most I was able to produce and as Miles grew and became more needy, I started to have to supplement more. However, I am still so proud to say that things worked out so well for us and I feel so strong for getting through the worst of it all to be able to have this experience.
Well, back to the newbie! He's quite demanding.
Saturday, October 05, 2013
Friday, October 04, 2013
Miles Matthew Aprecio
He is finally here.
Matthew and I arrived in Utah on Tuesday, just in time to have a wonderfully fun dinner with our birthmother and her daughter. We spent the evening laughing and learning about each other. It was a time I will never forget and we will cherish it forever.
We got to the hospital early on Wednesday morning for the scheduled C-Section. I was lucky to be in the operating room with our birthmother and I did my best to comfort her and I thanked her over and over again, knowing I would never be able to even out the debt.
At 7:38 Miles was born screaming a perfect little cry. I melted, and tears of joy were shed by me and tears of sadness were cried by her. It was very emotional, and his cry only made it harder for her so we left the room and finished up his cleaning and care in the nursery where we met Daddy for the first time.
He weighed in at 7lbs 5oz and 19" long. He's a stocky, healthy boy with a very calm demeanor.
Miles was immediately handed over to us and I was able to nurse him within the first hour of his life. It was magical! He is a GREAT eater and perfect nurser. I can't stress that enough!
The first 2 days were spent in the hospital in a small room outside of the nursery. I'm fairly certain he was never put down. We snuggled him every chance we got.
I got to talk a little to our birthmom on Wednesday afternoon. She seemed to be doing well and was curious to hear more about the baby. She had decided that it would be too hard to see him, and stuck to her plan. She was (and is) so strong. We feel so lucky to have met her and I could not find a better example of strength and selflessness if I tried.
On Thursday afternoon, after all the paperwork was signed, our healthy boy was discharged from the hospital. Getting him "home" and showing him off to my Utah family was so fun, and we have really enjoyed every moment we have had with him.
Our first night, although exhausting, was wonderful. The bonds that happen in the middle of the night are irreplaceable. Miles let me sleep for 4 hours between feedings and didn't mess around when it was time to nurse.
Today we got out a little and visited the pediatrician. Everything is perfect! We are so proud of our littlest and our adoption could not have gone more smoothly. What an experience!
Tomorrow Miles gets to meet Grandma and big brother and I am pretty sure it will be the most amazing experience of my life to have all my boys together!
Friday, September 20, 2013
Our "adventure" themed nursery
We are officially ready to welcome baby brother into his room!
I had WAY too much fun designing this nursery.
These we're Sam's first shoes and I am so glad that we saved them.
These are images of some of the 7 wonders of the world. (Machu Pichu, the Pyramids, The Great Wall, Jesus in Rio and the Taj Mahal)
On the wall opposite of the crib is a map of the world. (No, it's not perfect but it was not easy painting this freehand! I am actually very happy with how it turned out. So don't be complaining about how giant Cuba is, please.) The hearts represent places where our family members were born, including our baby boy!
These little suitcases are perfect for holding blankets and toys.
I painted this canvas to look like "Paradise Falls" from the movie "UP" since it has a travel theme and is one of our favorite movies.
The hot air balloons are made from construction paper and wire. I love how these turned out. (Thanks to Pinterest!)
We are so happy that we have loads of hand-me-downs from big brother. Our amazing birthmother also sent us a box full of baby clothes so we are so prepared!
Now, all we need is our little boy!
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Getting ready
I wouldn't want my life any other way.
Excitement and extreme anxiety make for fast days and deep sleeps. The days as a family of four are quickly approaching and although you can never be ready for a newborn, we are as close as we could possibly be.
We have our tickets booked, his closet full, a room ready and a very prepared family. This is what we have been anticipating for way too long.
Throughout our adoption journey we have met many amazing people, but no one quite as incredible as our birthmother who I will call, for privacy purposes, Angel. She has continued to impress us with her selflessness and pure compassion towards everyone who meets her. She has calmed our fears and changed our lives for the better. She is exactly the person this fragile family needed.
But, this journey is still hard. (Before you think me negative, please see first sentence of this post.) The emotional aspect of adoption is something no one can prepare you for. The anxiety of all the feelings still to come is heavy. I have fears about the birth, the days before relinquishment and seeing Angel for the last time. I will forever feel in debt to this person, yet I will never be able to thank her again. I know that raising this little boy to the best of our ability is exactly that, but I want to prove to her forever that this was the right decision and that this little boy will be loved fully. It's hard.
But it's also so great, isn't it?!
We ARE thrilled. Counting down the days (16!) until we get to hold that little boy in our arms and say "We have waited so long for you!" Sam is preparing for the days by bottle feeding his stuffed animals and painting pictures for baby brother. He has explained that he will help with wet diapers, but poopy ones are just too gross. Everyone around us hears of our "baby boy" from Sam and they can all see how excited he is to be a big brother. He's seriously going to be the greatest. I can not wait to introduce them to each other, which is sure to be one of the most amazing moments of my life.
Things are going as they should and in a couple of weeks this blog will be filled with "baby's firsts" and so many pictures that you will pray for my camera to die.
I can hardly wait!
Excitement and extreme anxiety make for fast days and deep sleeps. The days as a family of four are quickly approaching and although you can never be ready for a newborn, we are as close as we could possibly be.
We have our tickets booked, his closet full, a room ready and a very prepared family. This is what we have been anticipating for way too long.
Throughout our adoption journey we have met many amazing people, but no one quite as incredible as our birthmother who I will call, for privacy purposes, Angel. She has continued to impress us with her selflessness and pure compassion towards everyone who meets her. She has calmed our fears and changed our lives for the better. She is exactly the person this fragile family needed.
But, this journey is still hard. (Before you think me negative, please see first sentence of this post.) The emotional aspect of adoption is something no one can prepare you for. The anxiety of all the feelings still to come is heavy. I have fears about the birth, the days before relinquishment and seeing Angel for the last time. I will forever feel in debt to this person, yet I will never be able to thank her again. I know that raising this little boy to the best of our ability is exactly that, but I want to prove to her forever that this was the right decision and that this little boy will be loved fully. It's hard.
But it's also so great, isn't it?!
We ARE thrilled. Counting down the days (16!) until we get to hold that little boy in our arms and say "We have waited so long for you!" Sam is preparing for the days by bottle feeding his stuffed animals and painting pictures for baby brother. He has explained that he will help with wet diapers, but poopy ones are just too gross. Everyone around us hears of our "baby boy" from Sam and they can all see how excited he is to be a big brother. He's seriously going to be the greatest. I can not wait to introduce them to each other, which is sure to be one of the most amazing moments of my life.
Things are going as they should and in a couple of weeks this blog will be filled with "baby's firsts" and so many pictures that you will pray for my camera to die.
I can hardly wait!
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