Breastfeeding

Throughout my pregnancy I knew I wanted to breastfeed. I also knew it might be tough. So many women give up. I read many horror stories about baby not latching on, the pain, cracked nipples, even failure to thrive. I was hoping for the best and expecting the worst. But I knew I would try my hardest.

Right when my son was born they put him on my stomach, I got my breast into the "taco hold" I had read about and brought him to it. I was lucky - he latched on right away. It didn't hurt at all so I thought - what was all the fuss about. Hours later I figured it out. He started suckling wrong - leaving me with little tiny blisters all over my nipples. It was painful. With the help of a lactation consultant and a little patience, I got him to latch on right.

After hours and hours of breastfeeding him, I was sleep deprived - the nurse came in to check my blood pressure, temp and such, asked me if everything was OK and I broke down. I started crying uncontrollably. He won't stop crying! She asked me if I wanted to give him a pacifier, which only made me cry more having read about nipple confusion. After much debate we gave him one, and she offered to take him to the nursery. But once he was gone, I really couldn't sleep - I could hear him crying out there and felt like an awful Mom. I lasted about 10 minutes before I marched out there in my backless hospital robe and got him back. I would rather deal with the crying than feel like a horrible mother.

The crying did get better. I believe he cried so much and wanted to nurse all day that day because he had his circumcision and was in pain. The next day was calm again, but the pain didn't stop. In the week after I had him my breasts became engorged, and every time he would start nursing there was a stinging burning sensation in my nipples that almost brought me to tears. (this only lasted about 30 seconds on each boob) I was hoping this would stop after a while - and it did. After about 3 weeks the stinging went away, and my boobs were no longer like lumpy rocks.

Now at two months I feel like a pro. I've had cracked nipples *Then I found the wonderful nipple cream, I've had the backaches *then I found the boppy I've leaked all over the bed *then I found the breast pads, and I've squirted the hubby with milk a few times. Anson is also a pro at the latch on. I've invested in a good electric pump and try to pump a few times a week, with plans on leaving him with the hubby here and there in the future. He's had a few bottles of breast milk and we've learned that he will only accept the bottle from daddy.

I think the best thing I did for myself was to be informed before he was born. I read everything I could on breastfeeding. I came prepared.

SAHMommy

So, This is my introduction, I guess.

What does SAHMommy mean? Well SAHM means "Stay at home Mom". As of October 16th, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. I became a SAHM. The term sounds so lazy. Staying at home all day sounds easy. It's not, and I learned this rather quickly.

In the above picture is an embarrassing one, I am not at my best, it was the day we came home form the hospital - my breasts are engorged, and hair hasn't been brushed in who knows how long, and, well I am tired - giving birth is a tiring thing - but I think it is a good example of my learning process.

I thought I could still work on my art, my website, my blogs - I was wrong. When my son Anson sleeps, I either sleep, or feel the need to clean up my messy house. Getting a shower is the "me" part of my day - if I am lucky enough to get one that day.

I am either breastfeeding, pumping, cooking, cleaning, soothing my fussy baby, playing with my happy baby, or changing yet another dirty diaper. Currently my connection to the outside world is a once a week trip to the grocery store, where I hope Anson will sleep or at least be in a good mood. But it is all a learning process. I am getting more and more me time, finding it here and there. Sure I may not be able to complete a blog in 10 minutes, but I sometimes manage to have it finished by the end of the day.

So why do I choose to stay at home? Because every little smile he flashes me makes it worth it. Seeing the way he looks at me when I am breastfeeding him makes it worth it. Knowing that I am teaching him how to socialize, smile, coo, play, teaching him everything makes me happy. That all makes the 7th poopy diaper of the day worth it. If I weren't here all of the time, I might miss some things.

Maybe I am spoiling him. But if I am it is with love. I think a 2 month old deserves to be spoiled. This isn't a "SAHM's care more" debate - I know this is my choice and some moms want to work outside of the home. I am just sharing my experience with staying at home - and raising my baby boy Anson.

Here I will share my day to day life. The little lessons he teaches me.