latest weight check

i've been mia for a few days. might have something to do with the fact that i've been feeding our girl until the cows come home. :) as i mentioned in this post, last week the doctor put azalea and i on a nurse, pump, supplement with bottle (breast milk and formula) feeding regimen. friday was rough. each feeding was taking at least an hour when i was by myself and i was so stressed because she seemed to scream her head off when i needed to pump and i didn't know how to balance pumping and consoling her. 

saturday azalea made the executive decision that she was done with breastfeeding. i tried and tried, but she refused. she had gotten too used to the instant gratification of the bottle. i decided to just go with it rather than freaking out and began exclusively pumping. sure i cried and felt incredibly guilty that i was "giving up", but i had to tell myself that it was not my fault and she obviously was not getting the nutrients she need from exclusively breastfeeding. plus i was so emotionally drained from worrying about it all. i decided pumping was the next best thing. i was only getting less than an oz. each time, but i kept it up along with supplementing with 1-2 oz. of formula. it made me feel so much better to know how much food she was actually getting.

we're still doing the pump, then bottle-feed breast milk and formula routine. every 2 hours during the day, every 2.5 at night. it's been exhausting, but i was determined to get her weight up. today was her weight check appt. i was so nervous going into it. with all the negative reports we've been getting i just didn't know how i was going to cope with more bad news, especially since we changed things up. luckily i had no reason to worry. our little chubber put on 10 oz. in 4 days! i couldn't believe it. i was so so happy to hear that. she is exactly 8 lbs, which is still 7 oz. below her birth weigh, but the doctor was very impressed and said we don't need to come back again until her 2 mo. appointment. yay! she felt really badly that the breastfeeding didn't work out, but assured me that pumping is just as good and as long as i'm at peace with the way things turned out and azalea is growing, that's all that matters. i will try some tricks to increase my supply so she gets as much breast milk as possible. i've already noticed my supply has gone up by at least a half oz. she also said we can change the night feeding frequency to 3 hours.

i'm feeling the best i have in days. azalea seems happier now that she is getting enough food. the weather is nice, i have an amazingly supportive husband, family, and friends and of course my daughter who i would do anything for.