So, we took Tricia to the doctor yesterday. (Okay. Everyone except Bill went, but that’s not relevant to this post. It will, however, explain why Tricia’s doctor gave me medication — he’s my doctor, too.)
Turns out that my underactive thyroid has been jacking with my milk supply. Tricia went from being in the 50th percentile for height and weight to being in the 45th and 15th percentiles, respectively. (Her head, however, went from 97th percentile to the 99th percentile.) The kid is meeting all her developmental milestones, thank God. She’s just not gaining weight like she should.
I have to admit — I am completely and totally crushed by this. With Lenna, I had enough milk for any three babies (per my ob/gyn and her ped). This whole “I’m not adequate to meet my baby’s needs” thing is new for me, and I’m feeling like shit for:
1. Not being able to feed Tricia; and
2. Not knowing long before now that it was an issue.
At any rate, Dr. Alexanian (who is awesome — if you live in the Charlotte area, he’s in Huntersville and well worth seeing) is having us back in two weeks to check Tricia’s weight gain now that I’m on the appropriate dose of thyroid medication. I’m feeding Tricia or pumping every two hours in hopes that my milk supply will build back up. From what I’ve read, by Monday things should be right again. I sure hope so, ’cause I really have *zero interest in giving this kid formula.
So, as goofy as it sounds, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, guys?
Tags: breastfeeding · kids · parenting · TriciaComments
