breastfeeding 101

Let me preface this entry by saying that having a newborn is a wonderful experience. She changes in little ways every day and it is so fascinating to watch her slowly develop and grow and experience the world for the first time. Joe and I are so lucky that Laine has been a very laidback and easy baby for the most part... she sleeps solidly, she eats on a good schedule, she's not too fussy except when she has gas (and really, who can blame her for that?). I wouldn't trade the time I have with her for anything.

That being said, there is a huge glaring lie in the new-mommy world that I feel I must clear up for the sake of your sanity...

Breastfeeding is HARD.

I know it's supposed to be this natural, beautiful bonding experience for you and your new little one, but it has been almost 2 weeks and Laine and I are just finally getting the hang of it. At first, it hurt. A lot. Cracked, bleeding, stinging, you name it. Then that started to get a little better (thank you, lactation nurse at Athens Regional and lanolin cream) and WHAMMO my milk came in. And did it ever. I was so engorged Laine was unable to latch on properly (again) and we would both get to a point of frustration that it was just impossible to have a successful feeding. So I had to pump every feeding (usually after about half an hour of attempting to get her to latch) and give her my milk in a bottle. Which then made me nervous that she would never be able to latch on again because she would get used to the bottle. And engorgement? OW. I mean, I am grateful for an ample milk supply, but still... OW. (Warm washcloths or a heating pad applied right before a feeding help a lot.)

Joe thinks that they don't tell you how frustrating and painful and difficult it would be because then no one would do it. But I think it may actually have the opposite effect. Women start breastfeeding thinking that it is something they should be able to do easily and then when they can't for whatever reason, they give up. They think that they have failed or that something is wrong with them. But everyone I have talked to has shared stories of at least a few weeks of struggle... and that's on the good end of things with a good milk let-down and no mastitis or anything like that.

But here's the good news; eventually, you both do figure it out. Laine latches on within the first few minutes now and eats happily for about half an hour. It doesn't hurt and my breasts, while still rather large, are feeling almost back to normal. I highly recommend finding a support group or having the number of your hospital's lactation nurses handy (I think I called them a few times a day for a couple days, sometimes in tears, and they were always so encouraging and helpful). The groups at the 2 hospitals here in Athens were life-saving and probably kept me from throwing in the towel early.

So I'm not trying to scare any of you away from breastfeeding. The benefits SO far outweigh the struggles and there is nothing better for your baby, especially in their first few months of life. I just hope that you can enter into the experience a little more prepared than I was, with your armor on and your head high, knowing that even while it is a beautiful and natural and wonderful thing...

breastfeeding kinda sucks.*

*Pun totally intended. ;)