3 to 7 weeks (page 1)
JOURNAL: getting my milk back
Three Weeks IN
Posted On Dec 1, 2008 02:17 PM CST
Wow, it has been three weeks! In some ways it seem like just yesterday that we decided to give this a go, and in others it seems like it has to be longer, enough to have become such a part of who we are as a couple.
I am living with regrets that this has not been apart of “us” all along. I wish I would have understood back when the babies were nursing and my husband desired and suckled my breasts, just what I know now. My frame of mind was so different back then. I knew he liked me nursing because my breast were bigger, and I knew the milk was a turn on. I just didn’t have any idea that the suckling in and of itself had it’s own rewards.
We have been dry suckling for three weeks, four to five times a day. He has not tired of it and seems to be “in the groove.” I personally crave it more each day. I feel so close to him already. We got home late yesterday afternoon, 3 hours past our normal afternoon snuggle. We came in the house and I went to the kitchen to do just a couple things. He grabbed my hand and told me, “Everything else can wait. It is time for my feeding.” Then he pulled me towards the bedroom. It made my day!
Physically, my breast are feeling the signs. They ache, under my arms and behind my nipples mostly. We have seen a drop here and there, but nothing consistent. My breasts seem a tad fuller. I have been “spotting” for two weeks instead of my normal “cycle.” My mood is good. I had suffered with insomnia for at least three years. I am sleeping hard these last couple weeks. I don’t know if it’s the “peaceful” hormones or being worn out from my over active sex drive.
Last night I woke two hours late for our 2 AM suckle and my breast really hurt. It is hard for me to believe there is no milk. The ache was so intense. I tried to go back to sleep knowing that in two hours we would be waking for our morning suckle, but the aching kept me a wake. There was no skipping it this time. My husband stirred and looked at the clock. I told him my situation and he gladly obliged. When we were done, we fell back to sleep knowing the alarm would be going off in a couple hours and we would be snuggling and suckling again.
We will be having company stay with us for two weeks or more over the holidays. We decided to tell them we have a routine of spending at least 30 minutes of quality quiet time alone together after lunch and when he comes home from work. Adding that with so many children still living at home it is a commitment we made to each other. That, and with the business of the holiday and having company, we feel it is important to stick to our quiet time routine. If they know this up front, there wont need to be any excuses or apologies made when the times comes. This will give them good reason to sneak off themselves and enjoy some couple time.
Well how long will it be before I can announce, “my milk is in” ??? Will it be our Christmas gift? That would be really nice. We are not using herbs, drugs, or a pump, so we will have to be patient and enjoy all the pre-milk suckling and the resulting rolls in the hay. Isn’t my life a bummer? Hee hee.
Four Weeks In
Posted On Dec 7, 2008 04:31 AM CST
Four weeks, they went flying by. Between holiday preparations and lots of snuggling time, my days are pleasantly full.
Everything is going so well with our relationship, that it is scary. How can things be this good? We will be having our 25th wedding anniversary in a few months, and we are making googley eyes at each other like a couple kids who have just fallen in love. The newness has yet to wear off any. We attended a dinner last night, and we must of looked like a couple nuts who had just been hit by cupids’ arrows.
We have fallen deeper “in sink” with each other. It is like we are attached even when we are not physically together. Maybe it is because we know in only a few hours we will once again be attached, physically bonded, for a few minutes of bliss.
I do not take lightly, how special it is that our lives allow for this. Usually a couple would have to be in retirement before they could find time together so frequently. Being in business for ourselves and having the office so close to home is a big blessing. We are fitting in five suckle snuggles a day. The 2 AM one has become easier. We do not set an alarm. Sometimes he rolls me to him, and sometimes it’s me who wakes up first. It is a shorter session, because we are so sleepy.
Milk? Well the drops are now consistent. They are large enough to fall, instead of clinging to my nipple. They look whiter, more opaque, just like they did when I was nursing my babies. My husband can express them much better than I can; both sides at one time. He likes them to fall on his own bare chest. One day we were just getting itsy bitsy clinging drops, and the next day we were covering his chest with big white heavy ones. We were both surprised at how quickly it changed.
There is enough milk that he can taste it. I asked him about swallowing. He said he has to swallow occasionally. His attitude changed with the milk. He always had a good attitude, but now he is way more eager than before. Yesterday, he came home from work a little early for lunch. Usually we eat first. But this time he lead me to the bedroom right away. I had washed our sheets and asked him to help me throw on a another set. It only takes a couple minutes with two of us. We finish quickly. As we were getting on the bed he let out a big sigh. I asked him what was wrong. He said, “I guess I am getting impatient.” Of course I smiled and hurried to get my nipple in his mouth.
It was a busy day today. Being the weekend, our “in week” routine does not work. I had volunteered to work a fund raiser. As we planned our day, we had to plan in our snuggle times. We had to stretch out the time between ‘lunch’ and ‘dinner.’ Everything worked out, because there is not enough milk to cause a problem yet. We are going to have to get more creative in our schedule planning in the time to come.
There are some more “personal things,” that I don’t feel fit to share here. Some things are so cute, and some hot. Let’s just say, that for being in our 40s and married for nearly 25 years, that our intimacy and all it entails is beyond my wildest dreams. We have the eagerness of newlyweds, but also the bond of shared life, in all its ups and downs, for quarter of a century. Our new ANR is defiantly an “up.”
Throwing this blessing your way: May all your wishes and dreams come true, may your prayers be answered, your sorrows be few, and your heart be quickly filled to overflowing with contentment and gratitude.
Five Weeks In
Posted On Dec 13, 2008 04:07 PM CST
ANR life is still dreamy and hot. The relationship just keeps on getting deeper. We were up until 4:30 am sharing all our secrets. We slept until 9:00 and picked up where we left off; at my breasts.
Tomorrow is five weeks. It promises to be an almost impossible day. So I am entering in my blog/log today.
What’s new this week? Hubby is constantly getting tastes, and we are occasionally getting squirts of milk. I got to taste some on my finger. It is way sweeter than I remembered. Too sweet for me, but he loves it. So it’s a good thing I am the one with the goods and he is the one being fed. We are still scheduling 5 suckle times a day, we have missed two this week, but we have got in a couple extras also. I still have not needed to pump. I probably could add that, but as long as things are moving forward, I would rather not.
I have been being careful with my eating. I am trying not to restrict my calories so much that it hurts my milk efforts, but still loose some weight. The scale says I haven’t lost any weight, but my pants are looser and my bras are tighter. I am eating yogurt twice a day. It is a good source of calcium. I am taking a multi. When my energy gets low from all the extra “post suckling exercise” I take an herbal supplement with a high concentration of ginseng and green tea extract. I had not heard anything about those helping with milk, but if the keep me stress free, by giving me the energy I need to keep going, I figure it can’t hurt. I have not tried any “milk” herbs yet. I keep meaning to pick up some mother’s milk tea.
I am really looking forward to Christmas. I hope you all find that someone special in your stocking.
Six Weeks In
Posted On Dec 28, 2008 11:39 PM CST
A week ago was six weeks, but with the holiday business I haven’t had time on my PC. I made a mental note of where I was at so I could update my log here.
My husband changed things up a little bit. Instead of a goal of ten minutes on each side before changing sides, he changed to 5, then another set of 5 for a total of 10 on each side. It made a positive difference.
There was a definite increase in milk by week six, but not enough for consistent swallowing. We could still express a few squirts now and then, a couple from each breast after let down. Not suckling on time created a great discomfort. Release from it by his suckling adds to the pleasure for both of us. For me it is very physical of course, for him it seems to excite him to know I need him this way.
All in all, I feel we really moved forward during our sixth week.
Seven Weeks In
Posted On Dec 29, 2008 10:00 AM CST
Well seven weeks have gone by. I had originally hoped to have more milk by now, but after reading the experiences of others, I am very happy with what we have accomplished.
This past week has not been good as far as schedule keeping. Our sucklings are 3 to 4 times a day. The Holidays have wrecked havoc on our attempts to have time alone. it is probably a good thing that I do not have a full production of milk. I will have to remember this next year as the holidays come around.
The decreased suckling times has not hurt my milk supply. It has even picked up nicely. From my experience nursing my babies, as long as we are demanding more than my breasts are producing, we will be OK.
We are enjoining my having milk. Even after five minutes on both sides, I can express streams. After another five I am empty. My milk still will not stream or leak on it’s own. This does not surprise me. Leaking never was a problem after my second baby.
After the holiday company is gone and we go back to suckling five times a day, I expect to see more progress in my milk supply. If things never progress further than where we are right now, I could be content. I am hoping though to have twice as much milk as I do now by Valentines day. Still I am content enough that I will not be adding any drugs or pumping to my routine.
My emotions are on a constant roller coaster ride. I have not had a good cry in weeks, but I know I need one. There is no other reason to cry except for a need I feel. Crazy, I know. Everything is going well and I feel a huge thankfulness for all I have been blessed with. I know from my experience with pregnancies and births, that sometimes I just need to cry for no reason at all. Then I feel so much better. Problem is, crying makes my eyes puffy for a day and red, and that is hard to explain to company and family when I have no reason to cry. It is not like I can say, “Oh it’s just a hormonal thing because of the pregnancy or birth.” So I am just holding on for one more week if I can. lol.
Along with the need to cry is the extreme happiness and peacefulness that the prolactin produces. I walk around looking like the canary that just ate the cat. (Yes, I know that sounds backwards. ( Evil grin here.) It is that “just been laid” look, lol. We have this secret, and it is like being in love and not being allowed to share it with people around you. So we just smile and make googley eyes between us and let everyone wonder. Over all my outlook on life and my attitudes are far more positive then they have been in the past year, so everyone benefits, lol. There seems to be a lot more ups than downs on this roller coaster ride of emotion.
As hard as it is to find time to sneak away from company and children during this season, I can only imagine how little special time we would have as a couple if we were not making the huge effort to find the time because of our ANR. It is no wonder that we would drift apart so easily before when life got too busy. An ANR is defiantly the answer for a couple like us.
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4 to 5 months, (page 3)
6 months, (page 4)