Not Bad, but Not Good

Well, we just got back from our doctor's appointment, and the news is not bad but not good either. Elias has gained weight this week, but still not enough. He has gained 3 ounces each week the past 2 weeks, and he should be gaining more like 5 to 7. Soooooo, we're still not there yet. The doctor said, though, that he still is healthy, vigorous, and hydrated, so we really just need to keep doing what we're doing. The doctor was encouraged by my story of my supply increasing the past couple of days, and said that should help turn things around. Elias' one month appointment is on Monday, so we're not going to take any action until then. If his weight gain still hasn't increased by then, we'll probably have to start supplementing.

I think our big problem is that Elias still won't stay awake to eat, which I'm sure is hindering him from being able to take in enough food. So in order to try to help that, I'm going on Nipple Shield Boot Camp this week. I really think the nipple shield is stopping him from getting the immediate gratification of the milk as soon as it lets down, and I think this might be contributing to him falling asleep at the breast. I've been hesitant to do this before because feedings already take so long trying to keep him awake, I haven't wanted to make them even longer trying to get a good latch and THEN trying to keep him awake. But I feel like it just has to be done. So I'd really appreciate your prayers for this... I'm kinda dreading how this is going to go.

In other news, though, my sister and her family are going to be visiting this weekend, and I'm pumped!!! Elias will get to meet his Uncle Matt and his cousins Patriot and Azlan!! They'll arrive tonight and leave Saturday evening. I know that fun times will be had by all, and hopefully I'll have some majorly cute pictures to post on Sunday!

Edited to add: We just spent the past hour trying to feed without the nipple shield. We just can't get a good latch, and I have no idea what else to try. Why is it that billions of women throughout history have been able to successfully breastfeed their children and I just can't figure out how to do it? I'm so frustrated because the milk is in there and I just can't seem to get it into Elias. He did eat some during the hour of trying, but not enough to be satisfied, so we finished the feeding with the nipple shield. Even then, though, I'm not sure he got enough because he falls asleep immediately as soon as the nipple shield enters his mouth. I guess we'll just keep doing this until eventually we either get the latch right or we end up having to bottle feed because my child can't get enough food to live on from me. I'm so discouraged.