My next goal is to provide exclusive breastmilk for 6 months, but I'm not going to stress out about reaching this goal. If I'm no longer able to provide enough breastmilk, I've got 18 cans of unopened Enfamil waiting to be used (and two more free shipments a mere phone call away.) It was very difficult for me to exclusively breastfeed Jackson for 6 months. I experienced low supply after returning to work and Jackson was no longer gaining weight between 4-6 months. (This was likely due to untreated reflux in addition to low milk supply.) After 6 months, Jackson was exclusively formula fed and he is a smart, healthy toddler. If James, Amelia, or Madeline need formula, I'm at peace with that. I've already exceeded my expectations by being able to provide exclusive breastmilk thus far.
Currently, I don't have any major supply issues, though I have noticed a slight decrease in production since the IUD insertion. To combat this, I decided to make lactation cookies. Here's the recipe (courtesy of my sister):
1 cup crisco/butter/margarine
1/2 C white sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
2t vanilla extract
1/4t salt
1t baking soda
1/2 C whole wheat flour
3/4 C white flour
3 T brewers yeast
2 T milled flax seed
1/4 C wheat germ
2 C oats (quick or old fashioned)
1 C of chocolate chips/butterscotch/toffee
I had to go to Trader Joe's for some of the ingredients. |
Combine sugars & butter until smooth.
Add eggs & vanilla, mix well.
Combine all remaining ingredients, excluding oatmeal and chips/toffee until smooth.
Add oatmeal and chips/toffee.
Jackson kept eating the chocolate chips! |
Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.
This recipe makes several dozen cookies |
In other pumping related news, I finally bought a car adapter so I can pump on the go. I am so, so excited about this purchase! I frequently drive 30 minutes or more to visit family or take Jackson on adventures. I have to feed and change everyone and pump before I can get out the door. By the time I've done all of that, I only have a two hour window or less before the babies need to eat again. If I'm away for more than 3-4 hours, I have to lock myself in a bathroom to pump. Now I can save time by pumping in the car.
I've pumped in the car before using the battery pack, but the suction isn't as strong and the pump quickly eats through 8 AA batteries. I still don't own a pumping bra, but I use the hair tie trick and it works just fine.
"Hands-free Pumping" by Catharine Decker, MD |
Cheers for eating cookies, pumping in the car, and feeding my babies!
Elizabeth's mom told me to just cut holes in a sports bra to make my own hands-free-pumping bra; worked great too!
ReplyDeleteI did that and use the sports bra at home, but not on the go.
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