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Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Sorry for the bland look here at the site folks. Having some server trouble. I'm moving hosts this week as a result, so things should be back up and running by the end of the week. Thankfully, the site still functions and you can still read, comment, etc... You just can't see any images. :)Labels: All About the Site
(I am sorry to have to leave this post here, but I tried to email you. it got bounced back as undeliverable.)
Hi, Jennifer. My name is Jen and I am writing to see if you have any resources for a friend who is trying to exclusively pump for her 5 week old daughter. She attempted to nurse, but had a lot of issues. It was a difficult delivery and my friend (Colleen) tore badly. She ended up needed a lot of pain medications (I really didn't know that you could take percoset while nursing??) and had a very sleepy baby who had difficulty nursing and latching on (maybe because of the percoset?). So now she is trying to EP. She is having trouble getting a supply established, and they are supplementing. She can only pump one or two ounces at a time. She told me that she was going to stretch out pumping sessions to pump more milk, but my understanding was that doesn't work that way, and told her that she should pump more frequently to produce more milk. (I nursed but not exclusively for 6 months, I had many issues with latch and supply, even medication and pumping could not help me- I have medical issues that interfered.) I am going to visit her around 4/23 (she lives in another state) and would love to take some information and resources about EP. I know by reading your blog and its archives that you successfully EP'd for your daughter. If you can tell me anything or put me in touch with anyone (my friend lives in Philadelphia, I live in NJ) that may be of assistance, I would greatly appreciate it.
Also, I am the one who posted anonymously (I couldn't figure out how to get my name to appear) to Anna's post regarding home birth studies. Do you have any information about that? I do have The Business of Being Born on my Netflix queue and it should arrive by the end of the week. Neither you nor Anna responded to my post, and I would appreciate any information you have on the subject (when you get the time, its not that important, I would rather I get info on EPing).
Thank you so much for any assistance you can give me and my friend.
Sincerely,
Jen
Jen,
Sorry, I was out of town on business and am just catching up on the comments here.
Re: Pumping...
1.) The absolute number one thing she needs to do is pump MORE, not less. I realize some people think the breast fills up and thus, if you wait, you get more milk, but you need to gently remind her it's a supply and demand thing. The more often she empties the breast, the more milk she'll produce. Basically the breast will try to keep filling up, so the more you empty, the more milk it makes.
Here are some tips on EPing:
Advice on Pumping
Building a Supply Through Pumping
The Difference Between Nursing and Pumping
Exclusively Pumping Email List at Yahoo
As for the studies, the most well known one was the one published in the British Medical Journal.
Jen, Thank you so much for the info. I will be sure to pass on the links. Hopefully, I can encourage her to continue EP. I know I had to fight to continue to breastfeed my daughter, and really needed the moral support. Hopefully she will get good advice from her LC.
As for the BMJ article, it was an interesting read. I am in NJ, and I am not sure if home births with lay midwives are legal. I gave birth to my daughter in a small country hospital (I would consider baby-friendly) with a CNM whom I absolutely adore. I got a lot of flack from my family about using a midwife instead of an OB. I also could not choose homebirth even if I wanted to- I had placenta previa, which fortunately resolved by 8 months. But I had a couple episodes of bleeding, and once I was in preterm labor. But I was able to have a perfect vaginal delivery. Next baby I want to have in the tub (there is one available at our hospital). That article was definitely food for thought. Thanks.
Jen
I'm also looking for Lactivist advice - regarding a video I found on You Tube - I couldn't even figure out how to email you. I apologize in advance, but please email me any time.
sgxmas@hotmail.com
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