Feeding the Family

Well, the verdict is in: my breastmilk is a fan favorite.

Due to S's continued dairy allergy/other food allergy/GURD/reflux, she still from time to time will spit up copious amounts of milk after nursing.  B did the same thing when she was a baby (we determined she had a dairy allergy), and since she never had any problems losing weight, neither the midwives nor doctors were ever worried about it.  S is also easily putting on the pounds, so I just abstain from dairy and monitor her for reaction (or lack of reaction).

Well, the last two days have proven to show that my--uh, nourishment--is appreciated by those other than baby.  After S spit up milk last night, a nice puddle formed on the floor beneath me.  Both dogs lunged right for it, and lapped it up with gusto.  I observed them doing the same today.  Part of me wants to cringe, but the other part of me is glad that this liquid gold isn't going to waste.  Still, it's kinda...shiver...

When I was a new mother to B, I really wanted to know what my own milk tasted like, but I felt weird tasting my own milk.  So, I did the next logical thing and forced my husband to taste it for me.  I squirted a small amount into a bottle for him and asked him to drink.  He did, and commented that it didn't have much taste beyond a sweet watery liquid.  My curiosity got the better of me and I ended up trying some for myself.  He was right; it wasn't the thick, creamy "dairy" taste I was expecting.

B still asks for a little breastmilk when she's feeling vulnerable (mostly about not getting as much attention as her baby sister does), and I make sure to squirt a bit into her mouth when it seems she might be coming down with a cold.  The other day, however, she asked me to put some breastmilk into her cereal (or what it her hot cocoa?).  I have to say I drew the line there...

If I start having to provide milk for an entire family (a la The Grapes of Wrath), I just might make it back into my pre-pregnancy jeans without having to take a deep breath first.