Supplementing the Supply

Breast feeding is something which means a lot to me. Its a very surreal feeling to know that in the past 21 weeks that my baby has been here i have never had to buy any food for her, she has survived and thrived only because of my milk.I think its crazy, especially in the scientific world in which we live, where everything needs to be measured.

The decision to return to education meant that i have had to start expressing milk to supply Imogen with whilst I am not around. This task seems easier than it actually is, but i refuse to give up. you may call me a martyr, and perhaps I am. In the early weeks of Feeding Imogen i encountered a lot of problems; Sore bleeding nipples, thrush and mastitis. i could not stop because i did with Harmony and she was combined fed from 8 weeks until around 5 months and the guilt lives on with me to this day.I probably should not feel guilty but i do, anyway this guilt is what drove me through the weeks of pain and upset i had with Immy. And so, begins the nightly pumping!!

Upon the advice of many friends i started to take the herbal supplement Fenugreek. Boy oh Boy did it work!! the only problem i have with it is that i do smell of it now. Kellymom recommends taking around 12 capsules a day, which I have been doing and also says that once your 'urine and sweat' begins to smell of maple syrup your dosage is right (nice!) as fenugreek is used to flavour artificial maple syrup. I've only just finished week 1 of college and have already used up my frozen milk supply- enter panic!

Going on from Fenugreek i decided to do some research into more 'lactogenic' foods. i was surprised and also pleased to find that not only fenugreek but also garlic oats and Rice appear on this list. so my next step is to try and have a better diet that could supplement my supply and help me to express more milk.I found an interesting website called MobiMother which helped me with my research, which inspired my Saturday night dinner!

so For Dinner i tried a Risotto/Paella. given that i cant for the life of me find a real difference between the two i shall call this 'Paesotto', it'll catch on i think. I used, paella rice (still no idea what the difference between this and risotto rice is except for the price) peppers, jalapeno chillies, very lazy garlic, fenugreek, knorr vegetable stock, and king prawns.

Alyce X

A little insight......

I’m Alyce and i am a 21 year old mother of 2. i live in the West Midlands with my Partner Jay and our 2 Daughters, Harmony 21 months and Imogen 4.5 months.
Harmony was born in December 2009, she didn’t come into the world quietly and 21 months on not much has changed she is bubbly, crazy and hilarious and so so clever she makes me so proud!
Imogen came into the world in a much more controlled way in may 2011, she is such a slight little baby- the total opposite of her big sister Harmony the chunky monkey! she is ever so pretty though and knows just how to use her voice. they both make me feel so blessed and are totally different but truly are already best friends.
Jay is 23 and currently doing an apprenticeship in Security work. it is something he has always wanted to do just never got into, he spent most of his adult life working in bars and restaurants and sort of got stuck there, so i am really happy for him that he can now follow his dream!!
Back to me, my ambition is to become a midwife, i am currently studying an access course in college so that i can get into university and do my degree. I haven’t worked since before i fell pregnant with Harmony , and besides my voluntary work I’ve not really had many responsibilities so the whole thing is a bit of a shock to the old system.
I am hoping this blog will be a means of my documenting my journey through parenthood and into midwifery. I look forward to blogging about all things baby related such as baby led weaning and breast feeding, but also real life adult thing (like what I’m not sure as I’ve spent over 2 years out of that world and I’m just about to re enter so hold fire)
thanks for reading, please look out for my next entry!
Alyce X