Breastfeeding: My Experience

When a pregnant woman often declares her want to breastfeed she may commonly hear the remarks below if not similar ones:

1. It's really hard,  I couldn't do it!
2. Good luck! You'll never be able to do anything by yourself!
3. Don't you think bottle feeding is easier? It's so much easier.
4. I couldn't make enough, but good luck trying.
And so on...

First off, I would like to state that breastfeeding can be different for anyone, but I think my experience with breastfeeding shows that you CAN get over little frustrating humps, and you CAN breastfeed successfully. 

My birth experience was not a good one. I was induced and after putting my body through 16 hours of induction the doctor decided Ella had to come out. I was dehydrated, exhausted, terrified, and angry. I felt the doctors make an incision, I felt immense pain when she was pulled out, and I threw up on the table, and also went unconscious. I did not get to meet my daughter when she was pulled out. I did not get skin to skin, and I did not get to hold her for 1-2 days. My daughter was not fed/put to breast for two days. She was in the NICU the whole hospital stay and our time was very limited together due to both of our needs for rest.

 

Now,  I have heard people argue that when having an experience almost similar or equivalent to mine they could not breastfeed. I've had people argue that their bond with their child was altered tremendously and it took time to repair their bond. Even in the documentary the Business of Being Born, one of the directors/producers declares her frustration with attempting to breastfeed and how it changed her perceived notion of the bond she would have with her son.

 

Sooo....did I breastfeed....do I still breastfeed....what happened....

I still breastfeed Ella who is now four and a half months old:

 

 

How did I do it? Below I am going to share some tips/suggestions that kept me trying/succeeding and forming and maintaining this great bond with my daughter. Today, do I argue that my bond with Ella was bruised or wounded by our birthing experience? No! Do I think it could have been if I didn't do the work I did to make our breastfeeding relationship work? I do. 

What did I do in the beginning to make it work? When I was in the hospital with Ella I made sure to be up there every 3 hours to feed her, I made sure to pump afterwords for 15-20 minutes. I made sure to eat healthily and even eat snacks after feeding and pumping and I made sure to rest in between feedings. I made sure to hold her as often as I could while she was in the NICU. I was patient, hardworking, calm, in physical pain, and EXHAUSTED. But I did it! You can do it. I was in a lot of pain, but I did the work to make sure Ella and I could have the great bond we have today. Nurses applauded my efforts, they were in shock a younger mother like me did what I did to ensure a good breastfeeding relationship. Anyone can do it. You can do it. I made myself walk again within the first day of a c-section, I did everything the doctors told me to and more to ensure that Ella and I would make it breastfeeding and we did. You just have to work girl, but you can do it! Below are some tips to help you continue on!

Brit's Breastfeeding Tips:

 

1. Be Patient! It takes time to get this to work, I thought in the first 3-5 weeks I would never make it past 3 months! I did! IT GETS BETTER. Your nipples will get tougher, you will become more comfortable and HE/SHE will figure out how to do this (unless the baby is tongue-tied where they physically can't latch). If you have a healthy baby without any mouth impairments I assure you they do learn to get better at it. Ella used to have a crummy latch but now she's a pro!

 

2. Drink tons of water BUT make sure to not flush out all of your nutrients! You need to stay hydrated, but you need to balance your water intake with nutritional food and a daily vitamin. If you do not balance this you risk feeling exhausted and worn out.

 

3. If you have issues with supply after staying hydrated: try some oatmeal, try making the lactation cookies, just give your body a head start! Sometimes it takes a little KICK to get the milk flowing, that's totally okay!

 

4. If you get clogged up, TAKE A HOT SHOWER. Be patient. Be patient. Be patient. I can't say that enough. Also, if your breasts do not feel better within 1-3 days PLEASE GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. It's better to get antibiotics to clear this up then to risk baby not getting enough and to risk your health!

 

5. You can pump at night and after feedings to help, but you DO NOT have to UNLESS you need the supply (if you are going back to work). I used to pump all the time, but I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I was overproducing milk and stressing out my boobs. I would wake up way too full and uncomfortable every morning because I pumped at night. If you plan on bottle-feeding you CAN pump but you MAY HAVE TO pump even more than you expect because you're going to be fuller more often and more uncomfortable more often. Your boobs DO NOT need to feel engorged to be full. Your body will learn your schedule and will make milk accordingly as long as you follow my rules. 

 

6. Once you get things going, try to enjoy it! It gets better! It gets easier! Breastfeeding was far easier traveling versus bottle feeding! Also IT IS OKAY TO SUPPLEMENT WITH FORMULA IF YOU CHOOSE. You do not have to stop breastfeeding because you gave in and gave the baby some formula. This is your way, you make the rules too! You will not ruin your bond by supplementing, as long as you continue to nurse physically you can still supplement here and there! 

 

7. Make your own rules! Supplement, EBF for however long you want, don't supplement. Mix formula into baby food, mix breastmilk into baby food. These are your choices. As long as your pediatrician approves you can do whatever arrangement works for you!

 

I am not a doctor or a pediatrician, these are only the methods/tips I use from reading, experience, and discussing certain goals with our pediatrician. 

ALSO: PICK UP THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING FOR MORE TIPS!

It's a great read, and definitely worth your time! 

 

What do you think of my tips? Did you try any of these? How did they work for you! Feel free to comment below: