I used to be pretty darn happy with my perky Ds. Then I got pregnant and they got alarmingly large. Now that I’ve stopped breastfeeding…let me paint you a picture.
Have you ever blown up a balloon, not tied it and let it go? It flies around the room, finally sputtering and dying, completely deflated on the ground.
Yep, that’s about accurate.
Last week, I blogged about the formula experiment we were trying. We first opened one of the Enfamil samples that we had received in a childbirth preparation class, but the next day I purchased a can of Nestle Good Start Gentle (orange can). It had good reviews online for being gentle on a baby’s stomach and I remembered that my sister-in-law had used it for her girls. Enfamil Gentlease seemed to have good reviews, but I was slightly alarmed to see that the first ingredient in that formula is corn syrup solids. I have an allergy to corn syrup and, regardless, I didn’t feel that corn syrup should have that much prominence in the ingredients of a formula.
We noticed a difference in C almost immediately. He was generally more relaxed. When we picked him up, he kind of melted into us and cuddled instead of being more stiff and uncomfortable. Within about three days, it was like we had a totally different child. He now loves to smile and coo. He sleeps even better during the night than he used to. On breastmilk, he would sleep about 4-5 hours at a time. Last night, he slept for a 7-hour stretch.
It’s awesome to see him happy and comfortable. Granted, he still gets gas and fusses; but, I think that’s because he takes his bottles so quickly. It’s just the way he eats! There’s nothing we have been able to do to slow him down. Now I think it’s a normal fussiness, though, instead of a 24/7 colic.
So glad that we found our answer!
I couldn’t take it anymore. Watching my son have stomachaches every day. A smile quickly turning to a frown. Fuss and fuss and fuss.
We’ve tried everything. Chiropractic care (which definitely did make an improvement), baby Zantac, propping him, burping him often, tracking what I eat, avoiding certain food triggers, various gas drops…the list goes on and on. Nothing has made a difference. Tonight, he seemed to refuse his bottle of breastmilk.
That was the final straw for me. It’s been heartbreaking knowing that he has stomachaches and the only nutrients going into his body are from me. So I am the reason he is hurting, and there’s nothing that I have been able to do to make it better. He had never refused his milk before. I couldn’t take it.
I opened one of the numerous samples of formula that we received from the doctor’s office, hospital, and childbirth preparation classes. He was skeptical of it at first, but he ate. And he didn’t cry. I can count on one hand how many times he has taken a bottle of breastmilk and not cried after eating.
We’re going to try this for two days. I am definitely pro-breastfeeding and it breaks my heart that it has come down to this experiment. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll keep trying to come up with different things to help him. If it does work and we need to switch to formula-feeding…at least I was able to give my son the advantage of 8 weeks of breastfeeding.
While running errands yesterday, Hubster and I randomly saw a sign for a Baby Expo that was being held today – couldn’t believe we hadn’t heard about it! We braved the snow today and trekked to the expo. I’m so glad we did! We got a bunch of awesome information from community resources. And the coolest part? FREE SAMPLES. Of awesome stuff! Enfamil and even a onesie!
This afternoon we got a phone call that we were selected to win a basket full of children’s items from a local baby store! I’m so excited to pick it up. We entered so many drawings today that I can’t remember what was in that basket 
Attention moms! Target is having an awesome baby sale through Saturday! We stocked up on some diapers and wipes and got $10 in Target gift cards. I love great deals.
I noticed that they have car seats, formula, cups, plates, bowls, sippy cups, bottles and more also on sale. I also purchased some Up & Up baby shampoo and soap. I was SO excited.
Happy shopping!