Success!

My low-birth-weight baby is now a breastfeeding success story.

Hadley was born three weeks ago weighing five pounds, six ounces. We took her home two days later at 5.1. I was determined to breastfeed and we went at it with gusto. Roughly a week and a half later, she weighed 5.14!

I'd been stressing over my supply because it seemed like I wasn't getting as much on the rare occasions I pumped; the MD told me to go ahead and pump after feedings to either get the hang of it and to try to increase my supply. At first I'd get four ounces per breast; lately I'd only been getting one or two but that seemed normal from posts I've seen on the internet from other nursers.

Well, we weighed Hadley today, two weeks after her last weigh in. She was SEVEN FOUR! I was so thrilled! My baby, who had been in the 5th percentile for size, jumped a whopping 5% and is now in the tenth percentile. The Pediatrician said she was perfect and doing amazing. He also said she was really strong and that she held her head up longer than he'd expect from a baby of her age and size.

This appointment thrilled me to no end. It's an amazing feeling knowing that your baby is thriving solely on the nourishment you give her. I sometimes hate getting up in the middle of the night, but at the same time I love snuggling up with her when it's just her and me, and it's all quiet in the world.

I look at her and I can't help but think that she was my reason for all that I am, and all that I've experienced in my life. At first I wondered why nobody ever told people about this; this furious and devoted love you feel for your child. And then I realized, if you don't have a child that you take care of or that you've birthed, you really just can't understand it.

Loving her makes me appreciate those who love me so much more. I love all of you so much, and I can't wait to see you.

Until then, have a cute picture.