hello all, 
 
we took elijah back to the ped 1st thing today to check his weight. after 2  
days of our stepped up nursing regimen, he has gained 1/2 an ounce. i also 
asked  the ped to check his stool again, which is very yellow and seedy now. she  
reported that she found traces of blood throughout but nothing like it was. 
she  said she was very surprised to see such a rapid improvement! she was very  
encouraging and gentle and reassured me many times that 1/2 oz is a great 
sign  b/c gaining is gaining, no matter how little...she thinks he looks great as 
far  as color and vigor and attentiveness as well... i nursed after the weigh 
and  asked them to weigh him again when he was done. he pooped twice and spit 
up  twice before i could get him back on the scale - both very respectable  
amounts -  and he showed up as 1 oz heavier (5lbs, 3 1/2 oz when we walked  in, 
5 lbs, 4 1/2 oz post-feed) which i think would have been more like 2 had he  
not given so much back! 
 
so even tho i am reassured the milk is getting into him fine, i imm wanted  
to rent a scale. i called the supervisor of my program again and learned that i 
 had completely misunderstood what she said about there being a conflict w/ 
me  seeing a hospital LC since i had homebirthed. (haven't we discussed many 
times  here what upset/overwhelmed mothers actually hear vs what we are saying 
to them  ... ? well, i was more the upset mother than the informed bfing 
counselor i  think i usually am!) what she said was that it would be a conflict for 
*her* to  come to my home and do a consult for me had i birthed in the 
*hospital*.   so once i realized my misunderstanding, i went straight to the hosp to 
rent the  scale and try to see an LC. i basically accosted one in a hall and 
went over  everything we've been going through.
 
she feels we are turning the corner and weighing before and after feeds at  
the breast for 24 hrs and documenting it is the way to go. if he doesn't  
continue to gain, i can come back in for a more formal consult or follow up w/  my 
ped and push for more exploration of the inability to gain. mary kay smith  
also emailed and called me and agrees w/ this plan of action along w/ some  
breast switching and compression/massage during nursing. i plan to go and see  her 
if he doesn't continue to gain.
 
thank you everyone so much for all the support and concern and advice - it  
has been invaluable and i deeply appreciate it. 
 
also, i've gotten some responses about my water intake. i thought i'd  
clarify that i don't strive to drink so much b/c i think more water = more milk,  i 
know better from previous discussions about it right here. i drink so much b/c 
a. i have always gotten intensely thirsty w/ any nipple stimulation - if i  
don't drink while bfing, i get a sore throat and headache.     and
b. i sustained rectal tearing during my 1st birth which reopens w/  
subsequent deliveries b/c of how fast i give birth and i have found through  trial and 
error that as close as i can get to 2 gallons a day while nursing 3 is  what 
it takes to keep my stools soft enough to not reopen it. i can't stand  slimy 
fiber drinks and i'm always so thirsty w/ a newborn the water has worked  out 
perfectly. 
 
~jacqui gruttadauria, bsw
near detroit, michigan
 
 



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