In honor of national breastfeeding awareness month, I thought I would post about my current journey through breastfeeding.
I’m not going to lie, girls, in the beginning I was down about it. I felt like a cow. I felt like I couldn’t get up off the couch or even get a wink of sleep. And it hurt. I had thoughts of “is this really worth it? can I handle being the baby’s only source of nourishment?”
They say if you are doing it correctly, then it won’t hurt. To them I say HA! “They” must be a bunch of men who have never had a baby stuck to their sore cracked nipple every hour during a clusterfeeding marathon the first week a newborn is alive. Yes, I was doing everything correctly. Yes, the baby was latched on right. I even worked with a lactation consultant.
The truth is, you need to toughen up. Your nipples that is. Just like playing guitar (which I do) you need to build up a toughness in order for it to be, dare I say it, enjoyable. Now, exactly 3 months later I am wiz at the breastfeeding. I know the hungry cry, I know the positions, and my baby is happy after every feeding. And I feel good about sticking with it. Breastfeeding is another way after giving birth that you can feel like super woman.
I do have a funny story though. When I was in the hospital after having L, I whipped out the boppy pillow to lay the baby on to learn how to breastfeed. Now, ladies, I was well endowed in the boob area to begin with – but when my milk came in WOOBOY! My lactation nazi came in (we lovingly call her that, as I have known her for a very long time) took one look at me and laughed. “Oh hunny,” she said “I’m afraid your nipples aren’t up high enough for that pillow!” And she was right! I am really jealous of those women who can lay their babies on a pillow hands free and feed their babies…But on the other hand, I do love holding my sweet baby close 8-10 times a day.
So if you have gotten past the soreness, and the sudden feeding schedule – good for you! And keep going!! You and your baby will benefit in the long run.
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