Barley Water

Here is one of the many things I am trying to jump start my milk production!

1 c of Whole or Pearl Barley

6c of water

2 table spoons of Fennel seed

2 table spoons of Fenugreek seed

Simmer for 1/2 hour to 2 hours. I have read the longer you let it steep the stronger the effect; but more than 2 hours is unnecessary. During the last 10 min add the fennel seed, and fenugreek seed. If you can't find one or the other or, have a preference, you can just use one of them. Sieve off the water and toss out the barley, (it has no flavor at this point.) About half of the water is going to boil off so it the "milk" is too think to drink add some fresh water. Sweeten if desired and drink up!

As always please consult your Lactation consultant before ingesting!

My Attempt to Breast Feed.

After Mini Q was born we started having a hard time getting her to latch on a nurse. We did skin to skin for the first hour but she was just too sleepy to chow down on her first meal. About four hours after her birth the nurse was starting to have a little concern about Mini Q's lack of energy. With in 6 hours of my little girl 'Mini Q' her lab results showed she had Jaundice. I was not too worried about it, Mr. Q and I were both Jaundice babies.  They had me start pumping to try to get my milk started. Little Jaundice babies needs lots of milk to flush out the toxin that build up in their kidneys. Her first meal was given my syringe, by the fallowing morning we were bottle feeding her. I had planned to breast feed so I was disappointed that this was my only option. Her Billyrubin was getting higher and she needed food. 
 Over the next two months I tried every trick in the book to get her to nurse. We worked with a Lactation Consultant, and a Occupational therapist. We just keep having set backs. My milk production was deplorable, we got thrush, and she was not gaining wait. Every meal time was horrible for the both of us. We would attempt to nurse five times a day, then I would bottle feed her with milk I had already expressed. In addition to her inability to nurse, she also had a very hard time latching onto a bottle so feedings would take us over an hour. Around the two month mark I was attempting to get her to latch, yet again. She was screaming  her head off and pulling away from me. And the though hit me, " I can't handle this anymore." I was taking it as a personal rejection. So I quit attempting to get her to nurse, and focused on pumping and bottle feeding, and enjoying my newborn. 
I continued to pump until she was 6 months old, so she could get a full benefit from my breast milk. 
In short, Breast feeding was hell!
Why did I do it?
Cause I believe breast milk is very important. 
Would I expect another woman to put herself through hell?
NO!
Would I do it again?
Absolutely! 

Welcome!

A few weeks ago I delivered my first baby girl, she was beautiful and healthy. I had a vaginal birth with no complications. During the course of my pregnancy and through delivery I have experienced many strange things that none of the other women in my life warned me about.  As I was sitting in the hospital I started thinking, I so need to start blogging this stuff!