I’ve been wanting to write for awhile now about breastfeeding since it’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
To me, there was never an option. I was going to breastfeed come hell or highwater.
It was really important to me (and to my husband.) And in hindsight, I really had it easy.
Those first few days, of course, were full of frustration and tears as I tried to get the Bug to latch on and my poor boobs were sore, chapped and experiencing every other unpleasant sensation you can imagine. But once we got home, everything just seemed to fall into place and it became just part of the routine. Nursing the Bug became the ultimate bonding experiencing, particularly those first few months of late night feedings. As tired as I was, it was actually NICE to have this little person cuddled up all close to me. No one else is around and it is solely about mommy and baby.
I was fortunate enought to be able to exclusively breastfeed for 3 full months, but then had to get little man on a bottle so he could go to daycare. (He took the bottle like a champ and has always gone back and forth between boob and bottle like a pro!) So, I began pumping.
I have to admit I have a love/hate relationship with my pump. Now that I am only pumping at night, I see it as a nuisance, this thing that I almost always forget until I’m IN bed and then I remember I DIDN’T PUMP and therefore cuss and jump out of bed to get my pain in the tookus “friend”. Pumping at work didn’t go a whole lot better for me. My biggest problem was REMEMBERING TO DO IT. I would set alarms, set appointments up in Outlook, but to no avail. Inevitably, I would be on a call or in the middle of a creative writing stream and then VOILA, it was 2 hours later and I was DYING. And then, since it was later than usual, I was all off track and my feeding schedule for the Bug was off and it just plain wasn’t working for me.
So after three months, I stopped pumping at work. I still have major Mom Guilt about that, but am getting better about trying to let it go. I am a much happier person having made the decision to STOP and the Bug doesn’t seem to care if he gets Mom Milk or formuala, so we are good to go there.
I still nurse in the mornings. I really treasure those first few minutes with him. It’s still our time and I don’t plan on giving that up any time soon as long as my milk supply can keep up. (Any tips now that I only nurse once a day and pump once a day? Supply is dwindling.) I really feel it is an honor that I’ve been able to do this for my son.
I have had several friends who really, really wanted to nurse and their bodies wouldn’t let them. And I’ve had several that just couldn’t get it down and rather than lose their mind, they bottle-fed. Either way, it’s a personal decision. However, I do encourage all to try…even just while you are in the hospital. If you can learn it (and you really do LEARN it) and get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. But if you can’t…try not to dwell on it and be able to let it go. Babies first few months of life is such an adventure, I wouldn’t want you to miss anything because you were too focused on what you couldn’t do. Babies love you either way.
But if you are going to breastfeed, here are just afew things I’ve come to know and appreciate that may help you (or just entertain you):
– There is nothing better than the first time your baby pulls off the boob, stares up at you and gives you a silly grin.
– Just when you think you can’t make any more milk, you make more milk (I have no idea where it comes from!)
– You can never have enough milk in the freezer. STOCK UP!
And I’ll leave you with this thought….teeth hurt. You’re welcome.
Okay, so while you're on the subject of BF, I'm wondering if you have any fab suggestions for nursing covers/wraps. While nursing Hannah Claire went extremely well, public sessions were not really our thing. I'm determined to have a little more flexibility with bambina number two, so I'm on the prowl for something cute and functional for those times when I need to nurse on a trip or in the middle of an errand.
Just in case I'm freaking other readers out, I so don't just whip out the girls in front of the world! But even the car and family restrooms/nursing stations didn't work well for me and the first baby. Anybody got a product they really loved?
Love it Erin…I was so there…it's hard to believe I stopped only 3 months ago and I'll be going at it again in less than 2 months! Love your blog!
I pumped at work until my little guy was a year. Hated the pumping but it was worth it for being able to bond with my son in the evenings, weekends and of course that first thing in the morning cuddle!
On the subject of supply — try a nursing tea in the evening, so you would have a greater supply in the evening when you pump and then first thing in the morning. Also nurse as frequently as you can when you are with your baby. The more you nurse the longer you'll have milk.
Thanks for taking me back to the joys of nursing! I now have a two year old, and look forward sharing those special moments with his future little brothers or sisters.