Bell was only a few weeks when I got my first blocked breast duct. By day two I was desperate. Everyone told me just to keep feeding her and eventually it would go away, but eventually wasn't soon enough. So I took to the Internet for advice. First I tried a warm bath, which was quite relaxing but didn't help the block. Next I tried warm cabbage leaves, which did nothing but make my breast stink! As the desperation grew, I was just about willing to try anything... Including "dangling your breast over the baby to have them suck from a different angle", sound crazy? Like I said I was desperate!! So I took little Bell into our bedroom, laid her on the bed, closed the bedroom and dangled. Of course not two seconds later my husband walked into the room and said, "What the hell are you doing?"
Needless to say, breastfeeding was never easy for me. Because Bellamie was on iv's, fluid, oxygen and antibiotics, I wasn't able to feed her right away in the hospital, which lead to my milk taking longer to come in. And several blocked ducts and sore nipples later, a good friend finally convinced me to try nipple shields, which definitely helped. But not long after, Bellamie had her surgery which was just too much stress on both of us, and she lost a significant amount of weight, which lead to supplementing with formula. It didn't take long until Bellamie was no longer interested in breastfeeding and we were solely on formula.
While I had always liked the concept of breastfeeding, being the life source for your baby and the connection between mom and her little one, I have to admit, I wasn't sad to see it end and even somewhat relieved. I guess not all women are cut out for breastfeeding.
Did you breastfeed your babies? Did you love it or struggle with it?
I breastfed Harrison for 5 months. But we always seemed to have little difficulties, not sure if that had anything to do with me having a c-section (I'm sure that didn't help). He would never latch on without a nipple shield and he always had to be held a certain way. It just seemed like every time I went to feed him it took 10 minutes to get ready. After a month I started pumping like 4 times a day and supplementing with formula. Eventually I was getting less milk and doing more formula. Sometimes I feel like a bad mom for not doing it longer but sometimes things just aren't meant to be.
ReplyDeleteBreastfeeding was torture for me! Nipple guards helped a ton with my kids...I really couldn't do it without them, but in the end I was battling not beingn able to make enough milk. In hind-sight I'm so glad I changed to full formula when I did with all my kids. Each one was a different time frame that I nursed, Carson being the shortest time frame. That being said, I really struggled about 4 or 5 months after I stopped nursing my first. We did full formula when she was 2 months old and even though that was the right thing to do, I struggled with not being able to nurse longer...because I felt like everyone and there dog nursed! I think those are all the crazy emotions that we get as mom's and for most things as soon as I accept it then I can move on and be happy.
ReplyDeleteI will say breastfeeding is the single hardest thing I encountered as a mother. I had a very hard time - it made my two-day all-natural labor feel like vacation! We had the NICU stay (where I had to nurse her every 90 minutes to avoid supplementing), the shallow latch, the bloody nipples, thrush, etc. Four lactation consultants later, with the help of nipple shields, she finally got the hang of it 8 weeks in.
ReplyDeleteThe first 8 weeks I hated bf, I would cry all the time because it hurt so bad! I dreaded it....Then the next few weeks were tolerable...but now at 8 months and change I love it! She has never had formula and I don't think I will need to start. I do hate pumping at work, but its worth it for me. And its free!
I do remember those first months being so depressed because I though bf would be so great- it took a loooong time for me to feel that way. Now my plan is to go to age 24 months (as long as it doesn't hinder getting pregnant with the next one!)! But I will cut out pumping in a couple months when I introduce cow's milk.