So they call her a Diva

How can it be Halloween already?  On September 6 I couldn't imagine being here already.   Lorena has been in the NICU 55 days.  It has flown by so fast.

Lorena weighed just over 5 pounds on Saturday night, 5 pounds 1.9 ounces on Sunday night, 5 pounds 2.2 ounces on Monday night, and on Tuesday night she weighed 5 pounds 2.5 ounces.  She has been gaining steadily but not at the rate they would like.  Therefore, the nutritionist (Rachel) decided to change feedings to 4 bottles of formula and 4 bottles of breast milk a day.  She receives vitamins in some of the feedings but is no longer getting protein supplements in the milk.  They are hoping this formula will help her put on more weight in the coming days.  She is still taking about 1/2 to 2/3 of feedings by bottle and the rest through her tube.  Her meals are increasing and she is now getting 49 mils (about 1 2/3 ounces) each feeding.

I had been mentally preparing for the day that my milk supply would fail to keep up with her but it was hard to take when it finally happened this week.  I have a condition which causes low milk supply, (also the same condition that made it harder for us to conceive).  This condition is called Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and about 10% of women have it.  It causes a hormonal imbalance that may lead to cysts on the ovaries, trouble getting pregnant, weight gain, and apparently low milk supply!  Some women with PCOS overproduce milk, some have normal supply, and some (like me) have a relatively low supply.  I know I have done everything I can to help my supply:  fenugreek tablets, mother's milk tea, lots of water, brewers yeast tablets, actual brewers yeast from drinking beer (I may have over done this one a few times), eating more fruits and vegetables, oatmeal (cookies mainly), but nothing seems to help.  I have also tried two prescriptions (reglun and domeridone), and domperidone actually has doubled my milk supply which I am very thankful for.  But all the frozen milk has been used in the NICU and we are now relying on my current supply.  It just makes me feel like a failure not to be able to supply food to my baby.  All of the nurses have been supportive and are proud of me for pumping this long, and I will continue to pump for a while.  My sister Maria reminded me today that I have a beautiful healthy baby girl and that it isn't the end of the world if I have to give her formula.  I need to be reminded of this sometimes!

She is going to do things on her own time (as she always has done).  So she will be able to go home once she takes all her feedings with a bottle.  The nurses have called her a "diva" recently because she likes to cry and fuss a lot.  I hope Dan is prepared for having a daughter like Lorena. ;-)

her tiny hands

sleepy girl

sleepy girl again