CATASTROPHE ON THE FRONT END.

Someone forgot to tell me that when you have been on Pitocin for 30 hours, you will swell.  I'm not just talking about having to remove your wedding band (though, for me, this occurred early on in the pregnancy.)  I'm talking about looking like I was wearing a fat suit that I couldn't take off for six days.  Like "can't I just slit my skin open to relieve some of this pressure?"  Or, "I think I saw this episode of The Half Ton Woman on TV!"

My feet, legs and hips were swollen to proportions twice their normal size!  I won't even get into the puffy space below my bellybutton. . .

The worst part of this, however, wasn't the humongous feeling or even the pain associated with the skin tightening. . . it was the fact that my milk wasn't coming in.  The goods that existed prior to labor and shortly after were all dried up!  My child was going to starve, people!

So, while we waited, we supplemented with formula.  I think I just heard 1,000,000 Leche League Moms groan and gasp!  Seriously, I had NO milk.  Nobody warned us of this - they just kept telling me that it was fine and that my child wasn't starving.  Really?  How many days without sustenance can a newborn go?  Five?  Six?  Right.

It was actually the pediatrician that gave the best advice.  We saw him the Saturday after birth (on Monday.) He told me that the pump wasn't going to be able to reap milk like the baby, so not to rely on what the pump was able to get.  Instead, continue to let the baby attempt to feed at the breast and then supplement with formula after.  He was sure that with the recession of swelling, my milk would indeed come in.  And, he was right.

By the next Monday (1 week out, for those of you playing along at home), I was able to feed more from the breast and supplement less.  The day after that, I was able to eliminate the formula completely.  I am proud to say that we have been a Mom's Diner household ever since.  I'm even pumping excess so that the Hub can bond during feeding.

So. . to those of you who found this post because your milk has yet to come in - do not get discouraged.  The drugs will wear off for you as well and your body will return to responding in kind.  Don't listen to the hype about nipple confusion, formula being the Devil, or anything anyone else has to say.  Your kid will eat at Mom's when s/he can and until then, you will do the best that you can with what you have. .

In the words of one of my favorite shower gifts (Thanks, Aunt Tatie!):  "My Mom Doesn't Want Your Advice"