If in doubt...

Never in my entire life have I been so insecure as since I became a mum. At first it was all the advice we kept getting from everyone, much of it contradicting itself. Then came the health problems with Jake - wasn't I feeding him correctly? was I wrong in persisting with breastfeeding? Now things are going well with feeding and Jake's weight, I have found myriad other things to worry about. How long should we keep Jake's crib in our room? Is it wrong to let him sleep for a long time during the day? If he falls asleep at the breast, should I put him to bed or try to wake him up somehow? etc etc. It's quite exhausting!

On the plus side - Jake is doing really well. On Tuesday I went to see the doctor at the health centre with him and I held my breath when they weighed him. He had put on 300 g in 6 days!! He had also grown another centimetre, making him 57 cm now. The doctor at the health centre was full of praise and she checked all his reflexes, which were very strong. He peed all over her examination mat, which amused me no end. His output has improved anyway, as he did a massive poo on Wednesday and twice on Thursday, one of which was so huge it was in his neck!

Finally, on Friday, I went back to the paediatrician who said he was very curious as to Jake's progress. I undressed the little man and the doctor exclaimed "Now, that's what we're looking for!" He caressed Jake's rotund belly and commented on his chubby cheeks. He then complimented me on the good milk I'm giving him. We weighed him and he'd put on 500 g since our last visit, 10 days ealier! When I told him about the poos he had done, the doctor just laughed and said I don't have to come to see him again as all the problems have been solved. I almost skipped out of the hospital!

However, my milk supply has been very up and down. In the mornings, after a good few hours' sleep, I have loads of milk, but towards the end of the day, my supply has noticeably dwindled. I have been weighing Jake before and after feeds, so I know how much he's getting. This morning that was 170 ml, but it can be as little as 40 ml. I still have no idea what affects my milk supply. Some people have less milk when they exercise, when they're tired, when they eat certain things - I can't pin it on anything yet and maybe I simply have less milk in the course of the day, no matter what I do. I don't know. I'm trying to express milk in between feeds to stimulate my breasts to produce more milk, but that doesn't really seem to be making a huge difference. Oh well, as long as Jake is contented and continues putting on weight, I don't really mind. Also, it gives me another issue to add to my list of worries...