That time Cillian had another growth spurt

So, seriously,who taught this kid to roll? And squeal? Squealing takes a lot of energy. And energy comes from calories. And calories come from.....oh wait Cillian's calories come from me. The start of another growth spurt.

Even though he's growing up, he could never forget his "best girl" Sophie!

This growth spurt came a little differently than the last two, and it had me going in to consulate the experts.
After "graduating" from the breastfeeding clinic at Mt. Sinai hospital in Toronto, way back in November, I found myself visiting them again yesterday afternoon. You see, for the last week and a half, Cillian has been fussing while he nursed. Big time. It seemed that every time I fed him, he would start to pull and tug and then pull himself off and then cry and then pull himself off again. Chris and I were thinking that gas was the culprit, and we were doing out best efforts to try and get those gas bubbles out in "burp form" before they got trapped in his little baby belly. The worst of the fussing seemed to come to a head on Monday night, and I started to question my ability to feed him. I was frustrated that I couldn't seem to figure out what he needed, he was frustrated because he wasn't getting what he needed, so I made a call over to the clinic and was able to get squeezed in with a snowstorm cancellation.

I love Mt. Sinai. I had the most wonderful experience during the delivery and my three night stay at the hospital. The nurses and doctors were great, the vegetarian food was almost gourmet, and the entire mom and baby unit was less than six months old. I felt like Tori Spelling. When Cillian wouldn't latch after he was born, I was referred to the breastfeeding clinic, and even had two lactation consultants (three if you could the amazing consultant in training who was shadowing) who visited me during the hospital stay. I was given specific, written out instructions on what to feed, when to feed and what to do to keep up my milk supply while we were teaching Cillian to latch on himself. The support I was given was outstanding, and I never once gave up because I knew these amazing ladies could help.

I was told that as long as I was breastfeeding I could go and see a lactation consultant for free at Mt. Sinai, so I packed up the baby and headed over, in the snow, to see of they could help us.

First things first: like any child, Cillian didn't do any of the things he usually did while at the visit. He pulled slightly, but mostly was a poster child for breastfeeding. Before he had even latched on, they took his weight, and then after he had finished the first breast they took a weight again. He had eaten a ton in a short while and I had a ton to give. So she had me switch to the other side, which I hadn't been doing for a while, and he quickly gobbled down even more. In fact he had 4oz in a very short time, and had just eaten two hours before. Wow!

So it was explained to me that because Cillian is getting older and active (she told me I need to put him in hockey. I told her she doesn't know his parents. Ha) he needs more food, and will probably need to feed from both sides now. He was fussing at the beginning because my flow was too fast, and then at the end because my flow was too slow. Talk about a picky eater. I was given new signs to look for that he was finished, and tips on how to help him handle and fast flow ad slow flow issues. As usual, I was so happy that I made the appointment and took advantage of the services that the hospital has to offer.

Cillian is happy too.

Happy Wednesday!