A few things have been harping on me lately in the blogs and here's one of them that people just won't let go of. Why is Michelle constantly pumping and freezing her milk? Well obviously if you'd research it, you'd know that if a nursing mother stops pumping, she won't have any milk at all--it will dry up--therefor once Josie comes home and starts to nurse, there won't be anything to nurse from.
People seem to have a problem with her freezing so much of it. What is she supposed to do with it? Toss it? Big mistake! What if Josie has trouble nursing? That is something you can't foresee--having that stockpile to bottlefeed will be a blessing. Also if Michelle is sleeping, taking a break, or not at home, someone else can feed the baby for her with the stockpiled milk. It will also come in handy to mix with cereal later on. On a bigger note, a more emotional note, it's the one thing Michelle CAN do for her daughter. Right now the nurses are doing everything for Josie while Michelle has to sit by and watch and that has to be heart-breaking. So by pumping her milk, she knows she is giving something of herself to her daughter that only she can give.
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I lost my milk with my first babies (twins)in NICU and it was horrible. The stress of having my first children in hospital born at 29 weeks and being so young dried my milk right up mdication didn't even work to bring it back. I was so glad I had been freezing it while they were too small to have feeds this make it so they had BM for their first 6 months even though they never nursed.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my youngest at 24 weeks I did everything I could to keep my milk I woke up at night and pumped I carried my pump with me everywhere and I ended up with so much milk in my freezer that I started pumping and dumping. You are so right there was nothing I could do for my child at that time but pump and I took that job seriously. It worked and my daughter learned to nurse and nursed for 18 months of her life before she weened herself. I felt so proud that I was able to do that for her.
Also, hospitals take donations of excess breastmilk, especially for preemies if momma is unable to provide milk. There are also milk banks that send milk around the world to help primarily sick babies, again, increasing their chance of survival - so I doubt the milk will go to "waste" even if Josie doesn't get all of it.
ReplyDeleteI had my boys at 32 and 34 weeks, I used a pump to get milk for them and freezed what wasnt used. unfortunatly my milk dried up and had to rely on donor milk for a while - so there is always a need for breast milk even if you are willing to provide it purely for donor babies
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is that you can only donate milk if you are medication free. I tried but I was on an anti anxiety medication while my daughter was in hospital to keep me from having panic attacks so my extra milk was sadly wasted once my freezer filled up
ReplyDeleteThere was a case in Michigan where a mama had died and a team of about six other mamas nursed the baby she'd left behind along with their own babies. I think they must have pumped for that baby too. Since my cousin was one of themI oiught to ask.
ReplyDelete-kg
I love that story! I hear about it, so moving.
ReplyDeleteI read recently that a milk bank sent breast milk to haiti for some premie babies whos mommas had died and it saved those babies..i love the duggars and it makes me sad that everyone needs to comment on every aspect of there lives..people try humanaitarian work itll keep your mind off of negative feelings..
ReplyDeleteNicole, that was a very wise statement. If you'll notice my description of myself--I don't agree with any of the Duggars tenant beliefs (I'm pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, I believe evolution walks hand in hand with creationism, I have a grave dislike for Sarah Palin, and I'm not a Christian) yet I don't focus on ANY of that, but on what wonderful people they seem to be, what wonderful things they seem to do, and how I wish with just 1 child MY life seemed THAT together!!! I watch them wishing I'd met my husband 20 yrs ago instead of 4 and that we could have had what they have and giggle. But I do try to put forth some of their budget philosophies, their management techniques and kid wrangling ideas--and I do volunteer with my temple and help out as much as I can there. So as for being an encouragement--I'd say they are to me.
ReplyDeleteMarybeth, thanks for this blog post. Establishing milk supply and saving the milk (Josie would have gotten and now still will) is so important for baby and Mommy.
ReplyDeleteMy Zach was born full-term, but with a rare genetic syndrome. While he struggled for life in the NICU, I began pumping breastmilk. Not just for him, not just for me -- but as a sign of faith that G-d would keep my baby alive long enough to drink all that I had banked and more.
When they thought Zach was going downhill, my husband insisted that they let me hold him and nurse him before they intubated Zach.
To everyone's amazement, my baby latched on immediately and nursed strongly. His O2 rate shot up, and Zach was released from the NICU 8 days later. He continued to be a great nurser, and I carried him in a hip to shoulder sling and nursed him on demand for his first year.
Fast forward almost 17 years, and my son has lived longer than anyone expected him to. Zach is full of life and enjoys every day like the gift it is. We are blessed.