How has Angela with Basking Babies been of help to you?
Sent by email May 2012 from K.K. Hello Angela, I'm sure you don't remember me, but I wanted to finally send you a thank you note to say how much I appreciated your help when my little girl was born and we were learning how to breastfeed. My sweet little gal was born last August at 36 weeks and weighed 5 lbs, 6oz. I really wanted to nurse her, and did right away, but I was also encouraged at the hospital to supplement her feedings with formula in order to help her gain weight. So I pumped, and nursed, and weighed, and gave bottles, and pumped, and weighed, and nursed, and cried, and pumped, and worried, and nursed, and on and on. When I think about those days I remember feeling sleep-deprived and over-anxious, determined to give my baby the best, but also worried that maybe my body just couldn't provide for her. I imagine a lot of new mothers feel this way, but of course at the time I felt so alone and I had so many questions. I met with a lactation consultant before we were discharged, and then a couple days later I talked with you by phone. You answered my questions and then gave me a very specific plan for how I should handle feedings in order to ensure the baby got the calories she needed and I was able to maintain my milk supply. I did my best to follow the plan but questions always came up. I came to a couple support group sessions and you were so helpful then too. I remember one particular day I was having a really hard time because the baby was at the very bottom of her weight range and was latching on well but didn't seem to be getting enough milk and gaining enough weight. I was exhausted from the nursing, pumping, bottles, weighing cycle, and I felt so disappointed in myself because this thing that I thought was going to be so "natural" was feeling anything but natural. I felt like a bad mom. That day I was explaining all of this to you and I don't remember your exact words but basically you said that you were stumped too. And I was so relieved! I thought, she's the expert and she is stumped too, no wonder I don't know what I'm doing. :) We worked out a plan and the next day you called me to tell me that you talked with some of your LC friends and offered me some more advice. Thank you for that. Thank you for listening to my concerns and taking the time to help me and for following up on the phone several times. I know you must get the same questions over and over, but thank you for not making me feel like you were answering the same question for the hundredth time. I'm happy to say today our baby is almost 9 months old and she's happy, healthy, and a champion nurser! I have so enjoyed the closeness that comes with breastfeeding. Thank you so much for the help and support you gave us when we were just beginning. Take care. FROM Facebook Mom: M. H. Thank you so much for all your help with Reuben! He has gained 3lbs 2oz in this first month and even though he eats from my breasts I feel like you play a huge part in this...now if only you could get up in the middle of the night for me, I could get some sleep. Thanks again!
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