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.