babytalk

One of the biggest myths of motherhood is that breastfeeding will be easy and natural. I even took a breastfeeding class and thought that I was prepared for the difficulties that lay ahead - but I had no idea of the little jaws that was going to be aggressively trying to get “his milk” from my sore breasts. I remember two days postpartum I was in tears over my all night breastfeeding round with my son. The pain of breastfeeding is like labor - everyone says that it is okay because you get a break in between feedings or contractions (if by break you mean time to agonize over the anticipation of the pain resuming) than I guess that’s true. My doctor came in that morning and began the series of lies that I was told to keep me on the breastfeeding bandwagon. She assured me, “6-8 feedings a day is totally doable!” The truth was that my son wanted to nurse 12 or more times per day.

I joined a lactation group (something I never thought that I would do) for a few reasons. The first thing that caught my attention was free breastfeeding advice. The second thing was that you can weigh your baby to prove that all your hard work is actually going toward something. And third, it was nice to get out of the house and go to a place where babies are welcome. My first meeting I confessed what a challenge breastfeeding was for me. Sleep deprivation was nothing compared to this obstacle. They offered me all sorts of tips. Ice your breasts, heat your breasts. Basically, focus 100% of your energy attending to your breasts well being (which I honestly refused to do).

Some of the tips did help, but two things really made a difference. Seeing one or multiple lactation consultants and time. The lactation consultants are amazing. They teach you how to feed your baby - the most important job that you have as a mother. If anyone is having trouble with breastfeeding - find a lactation consultant. The second thing is time, which cannot be underestimated. Your breasts are learning how to do something that they have never done before and your baby is also learning how to eat as well. Most of the time the problem is the baby, not you.

I remember seeing multiple doctors who kept assuring me “2 weeks is when you should feel less sore” and “the month mark is when is really gets easier” (the time limit kept increasing). The most honest advice that I got was when I took my 2 week old son to the after hours pediatrician who said, “If you can get through 2 months of breastfeeding, then you can do anything.” That is exactly when things turned around for me. We finally came together and made this whole nursing thing work. I wanted to quit many times, but if you can stand it, it really is the best way to start off your baby’s life.

My first two months of breastfeeding were filled with tears, breast cream and trips to lactation consultants. But even though my experience was so difficult, I am still breastfeeding my son (he is 3 1/2 months) and I expect to continue until around his first birthday (my pre-baby goal was 6 months). And I am happy to say that is no more pain and I now understand what people mean by the closeness and satisfaction that breastfeeding brings. His very survival depends on me. The fact that he is thriving on my milk is incredibly satisfying.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS