Most momma-to-be's know what they want to do when it comes to breastfeeding.
Some will choose right away to breastfeeding, knowing that it is what they want
& others will know that it is not for them and formula is. Either choice for a momma
is the right choice for them, but none truly know FOR SURE until baby is here.
With me, I knew I wanted to breastfeed way before I even got pregnant. It had always been something I had known I wanted to do and I was excited but nervous for it to happen.
I had everything ready for when he got here.
Nursing pads, nipple cream, my pump for when I go back to work, nursing bras and shirts and had done a ton of research.
I was bummed I had a c-section because I knew this meant I wouldn't be able to have my little man put on me right away
So we had to wait about an hour before we could begin our breastfeeding experience.
We began perfectly the nurse didn't really tell us too much but {G} had no problem latching and ate for about 10 minutes on each side.
He kept falling asleep at first which I was reassured that this was normal.
While we were in the hospital we were breastfeeding champs.
Things began to get difficult when we got home.
The night of day 3 is when I got my massive migraine from low hemoglobin levels, so I had to nurse in positions where my head was lying.
The morning after my nipples began to get really sore, but I was persistent to power through.
At this time my milk had STILL not come in yet, so my little man was nursing about every hour to two hours.
This is probably why they were SO SORE.
That night, I caved.
I told my hubby and my mom that I couldn't do it anymore.
It felt like glass was on my nipples and I was crying every time it was time for him to nurse.
From there I caved and began to pump, but since I didn't have any milk yet, I hardly produced an ounce.
From here I decided I would give my baby, dun dun dun, Formula....
I couldn't keep him full and it made me so sad to know that he was not getting anything and was starving.
We had a small sample of formula from the doctor, and we opened it to have him ready.
This would be {G}'s first time with a bottle and with formula so I was nervous and feeling guilty, but he took it with no problem and gulped down every last ounce.
For the rest of the night/next morning he was given formula.
At about 11am the next day my milk FINALLY came in and I cut back on the formula and gave him expressed milk.
I still was too sore to attempt to breastfeed and this was the time I was re-hospitalized for my blood transplant.
Once out of the hospital we continued with expressed breast milk and about 3 bottles of formula at night, we progressed to two bottles of formula, then one bottle of formula and then to none. At this point since he was only getting one breast milk I began to breastfeed him again.
It continued to hurt so I started out slow, only breastfeeding him once a day. We progressed to two, and it continued to be sore and hurt.
Finally I called up a lactation consultant to make sure he was latching correctly.
Our consultant told us some tips and reassured us we were doing well.
FINALLY, it stopped hurting and we began breastfeeding exclusively!
We still give 2 bottles at night of breast milk only to keep {G} use to the bottle for when I go back to work and also because he takes 30 to 45 minutes to nurse and I need sleep!
But otherwise I have FINALLY started loving breastfeeding
Things I have learned while breastfeeding:
1) Breastfeeding can be difficult and takes work. I kind of thought it would just come natural and everything would be easy. Well no, I was wrong. It takes work to get the babe to latch on and get use to things, and it is more difficult in the beginning before your milk comes in.
2) Engorgement when your milk comes in is NO JOKE. This was probably one of the most painful parts of having a baby. My breasts were HARD as rocks, as much as I pumped they hardly emptied. They were sore and I could hardly sleep this night, but after about a day they started to get better. They became engorged a few times if I went too long without pumping at first and I have found nursing is so much better at unclogging ducts and getting rid of engorgement then pumping is.
3) Formula is not the enemy. It took my milk 5 days to come in and had I not had formula on hand, my poor baby would have been MISERABLE. It saved us!
4) Calling a lactation consultant is a life saver. This def. reassured me that I wasn't a failure and that I was a good momma. It also was super helpful with little tips and tricks that made things much easier.
5) Nipple shields should be used with caution and temporarily.
6) Breastfeeding can be PAINFUL in the beginning. I was told numerous times my babies latch was good, I was checked for thrush, and was doing it correctly, but something sucking on the same thing that hard, all day is going to hurt. HOWEVER, if you can make if threw the first few weeks, it gets better!!
7) Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing bonding experiences ever. I love this time that I have with my little man. Where I stare at him, stroke his hair and listen to him contently eating. I love that I am able to provide him with that. Even with all the pain I wouldn't trade it for anything.
So if you are a momma-to-be or new momma and are breastfeeding stick with it, it gets better. But know formula is not failing at all!!
