Friday, May 23, 2008

Lactating Dairy Cow-Karma Perhaps?

Originally I thought that my having to have a C-section was karma for all the sections that I've performed on various 4-legged patients.  In fact, my last C-section at the vet hospital was during my last week at work.  Now I truly believe that karma is after me.  I feel like a lactating dairy cow.  All the wonderful pumping has given me a new perspective into what it feels like to be a dairy cow and hooked up to those machines, standing there chewing your cud and wondering when it's all going to be over.  All those wonderful pregnancy palpations that I had to perform in clinics are coming back to haunt me.  Drinking my 2% milk now I have a new appreciation for how it got to me.  

That first weekend of constant breast feeding to regain Elliott's birth weight may have caused my milk supply to become more than she can handle.  Let's just say that if I don't feed her within 2 to 3 hours, I am so engorged that I have to pump in order not to choke her.  She will literally vomit everything she works so hard for if there is too much for her to handle.  So I have saved countless bags of extra breast milk already for when I return to work.  

So the engorgement is one thing, the leaking is another.....If I even think about the baby I start leaking immediately.  Thank God for nursing pads that actually work.  Heaven forbid you start leaking around your nursing pad and it shows on your shirt (thanks for the heads up Jeremy because I just have this awful premonition that this is going to happen to me at work.)  Luckily they make heavy duty nursing pads that can hold about 3 ounces because I need them.  I might as well wear Depends in my bras people.  It's that bad.  

To make matters worse, (although I am not complaining about the supply because Elliott is a little chunk, growing like a weed, and an over-supply is much better than an under-supply) I had my 6-week visit to my OB/GYN today.  They prescribed me a birth control to use while I'm breast feeding that must be taken at precisely the same time every day or it may not work.  That's just perfect for the mother who can barely remember her name she is so tired.  Oh, and the wonderful side effect with this lovely pill is an INCREASE in your milk production.  Not only am I going to look like Dolly Parton but I'm going to have to pump even more.  Fabulous.  

2 comments:

Jessica said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! We need to chat via phone, girl. I know what you're going through! I've had several "close calls" without the proper nursing pads. Not good!

Catherine McPherson said...

Thats funny:) I think we've all been there!! It gets better:)