Nursing Progress Report

After having a substantial reduction of my milk supply that climaxed a few weeks ago with Olivia crying in hunger pains until 4am one night, I've had quite a bit of progress and peace come my way.  And I needed both progress and peace because she refused to take anything but my milk!  I was given all kinds of advice from friends (including RN's), from fenugreek and anise seed to pumping after every feeding and eating oatmeal.  But I saw the most success when I 1) switched my liquid intake from water to whole milk and 2) fed every 2-2.5 hrs and added a feeding mid-night.  I also purchased a Lact-Aid system, which is what you see women using in the hospital sometimes when they have a preemie.  It has a bag and a tube that supplements the baby's ingestion with stored milk or formula, and allows them to stimulate the breast while receiving nourishment.  Olivia eats so quickly and powerfully that she drains me before I've had sufficient stimulation to signal my body to create more milk.  We've used the Lact-aid twice, and it certainly helps to keep her on the breast longer.  Not knowing what might help or hurt my supply caused a lot of anxiety on my part, as did the question of whether my body might be for some reason unable to continue to produce milk.  The most encouraging thing spoken to me came from my midwife, who said that as long as I was eating and drinking and the baby was nursing, my body WOULD make enough milk.  No question.  Just don't give her anything else but a small spoonful of cereal or fruit here and there to tide her over, so to force her to stop being stubborn.  And praise God, I have a full and happy baby again!