by Christi Qazi / July 1,
2007 Breastfeeding
is a wonderful thing for
both you and your baby. It
is a wonderful bonding
experience for the both of
you. Your breast milk is
perfect for your baby.
I do want to say that
there are some situations in
which breast feeding is not
possible, or desired. No
woman should not be made to
feel guilty if breastfeeding
is not the right choice for
them. Formula is nourishing
and a perfectly good
substitution for those who
do not breast feed, or even
for those who would like to
supplement breastfeeding a
couple of times a day. Most
importantly breastfeeding is
a choice; you are not a
better or worse mother for
choosing one over the other,
and do not let anyone tell
you otherwise.
For those who choose
breastfeeding, you might
find that it is much harder
than you thought it would
be. I know that I found
breastfeeding difficult at
first with both of my boys.
I had this image of
breastfeeding being
intuitive... open mouth,
insert breast....wrong! I
have flat nipples, which
means that my nipples do not
"pop" out and it makes
nursing harder. I had a
c-section which also made it
harder for me to nurse. The
women in my family chose not
to breastfeed, so they were
not very supportive of my
choice to breastfeed. Their
comments, and the difficulty
I had made me want to give
up on the whole idea of
breastfeeding. I asked for
the lactation consultant to
help me, and we decided to
supplement with formula, and
to use a nipple shield. This
helped some, but nursing was
still tough and man did it
hurt! Yikes, could those
little toothless gums chomp
down, but as he learned to
latch on properly, the pain
thankfully went away. I
thought it would be easier
the second time around, but
it was not.
With my first child it
took about two weeks to
really be comfortable with
breastfeeding. With my
second child I did not have
any need for the nipple
shield but decided that
because I had been so
constantly tied down, every
hour my first child wanted
to nurse for 30 minutes;
this time I would have 2
feedings a day of
supplemental formula. My
second child was asleep for
12 hours after his birth,
(after a 20 min crying
protest about coming into
the world) so when we tried
to nurse, he was really
having trouble staying awake
(as was I). Every time he
nursed it was like I had
taken a sleeping pill; the
wave of good endorphins
relaxed us both totally. I
nursed both children for 10
months, and both weaned
themselves with no problem.
Basically they let me know
they were finished.
I really miss the
closeness and that total
feeling of peace I had while
nursing my children after we
got into the groove of it.
It took about two weeks, and
I wanted to quit more than
once, but I kept going
because it was right for me.
Things I wish I had
been told before I breastfed
for the first time.
- It hurts at first
sometimes, but as you get
to learn the positions and
your baby gets better at
latching on, it will get
better quickly.
- Do not let other
people's comments bother
you. EVERYONE will have an
opinion to give, take the
advice you want and leave
the rest.
- Do not buy a cheap
breast pump, the expensive
electronic ones are the
best investment you can
make. If you can not
afford one, you can rent
them from your local
lactation center. DO NOT
WASTE MONEY ON THOSE $50
hand pumps they do NOT
work especially if you are
a C cup or more.
- When you get it right,
a wonderful feeling washes over you, there is
nothing like it. I have
never, ever felt that kind
of warm and fuzzy feeling
before.
- There are lots of ways
to get your milk supply
up: Pumping, fenugreek,
lots of soups and water
etc...
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