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