This mom handled IVF and over supply, but it was the Lipase in her breast milk that ended this breastfeeding journey
With the help of IVF, Alexis had a beautiful baby girl that she expected to breastfeed. Her plan was realistic— breastfeed when you can, pump when you can, supplement with baby formula as needed. Her oversupply was a blessing and a curse, plus she was faced with vasospasms and a painful latch (on her left side). Pumping became her savior, making it easy for her husband to get involved in the feeding process. Alexis smiled through it all-even when losing most of her hair as many of us do. There were disappointments like the high-lipase breast milk that baby wouldn’t eat (100+ ounces down the drain!)- but her year flew by and peaked with the announcement of baby #2. We chatted with Pediatric Dietician and Bobbie Medical Advisor, Tiffani Ghere about the benefits of breastfeeding and pumping for both baby and mom.
Watch Alexis’ Feeding Confessional above.
Tiff Ghere, RD, CSP, CLEC, Certified Lactation Educator, breaks down what you can learn from Alexis' Feeding Confessional 🤔
My name is Alexis. I’m a first time mom. I’m one of the lucky ones with an over supply!
Alexis
Tiff: Alexis spent a lot of time pumping. Pumping breast milk and providing it is a perfectly fine way to feed a baby- our families in the NICU do it all the time.
One common concern that breastfeeding moms have is ‘how much milk is my baby getting?’.
Knowing how much milk the baby is getting is a reassuring benefit of bottle feeding. With breastfeeding, it is unclear how much a baby is getting- leaving parents to count diapers and do weight checks- which can cause unnecessary anxiety. With bottle feeding, parents can set volume goals based on their pediatrician’s recommendations and know they are meeting them.
Breastfeeding is an expectation for sure!
Alexis
Tiff: Breastfeeding is great for baby, yes, but it’s also great for mom!
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother include:
Lower risk of breast cancer
Lower risk of ovarian cancer
Lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Less endometriosis
Less osteoporosis with age
Less diabetes
Less hypertension decreases blood pressure
Less cardiovascular disease
Disadvantages of breastfeeding for the mother include:
Lack of social support
Extra burden of feeding on the mother vs partner
Loss of body ownership by the mother
I’ve got over 100oz of breastmilk that my child will NOT eat!
Alexis
Our sincerest apologies, Alexis, from all the moms at Milk Drunk! In the words of lactation consultant, Jadah Parks Chatterjee, “Who would expect milk placed in the freezer to not taste good? It’s not uncommon for milk to have more lactase enzymes present, which gives a sour or rancid smell and taste, which baby does not enjoy. If you are continuing to pump, you can scald your milk following pumping, then cool and store. You can also mix the rejected milk with fresh human milk or formula.“
To support you through your feeding journey (and to drown out the sound of the pump), we’re bringing parents a first of its kind guided meditation with our partners at Mindful Mamas. If Alexis’ story resonates with you, we suggest listening to ‘Celebrating Your Journey’. Open the app below: Click Guided > Feeding Baby > Celebrating Your Journey. This content is brought to you free by the team at Bobbie through November 30th, 2021.
