I think every mother who decides to breastfeed has this image of herself in a white cotton dress in the middle of a field lovingly caressing her child's cheek as they breastfeed. Rarely does this ever happen.
As a mother and as my job as a family Support specialist I have learned that breastfeeding is as challenging as it is rewarding.
As my experience, I faced a giant problem...rather two giant problems.
My girls got too big. I realize this when I went to the hospital to get a great nursing tank top and they measured me as a size double M! Up until that point I did not know that there was ever a size double M. I was shocked and horrified. The attendant and the breastfeeding coaches at the hospital assured me that some babies don't have any problem with large breasts. Of course, I didn't get a baby that didn't have problems with large breasts.
As a mother and as my job as a family Support specialist I have learned that breastfeeding is as challenging as it is rewarding.
As my experience, I faced a giant problem...rather two giant problems.
My girls got too big. I realize this when I went to the hospital to get a great nursing tank top and they measured me as a size double M! Up until that point I did not know that there was ever a size double M. I was shocked and horrified. The attendant and the breastfeeding coaches at the hospital assured me that some babies don't have any problem with large breasts. Of course, I didn't get a baby that didn't have problems with large breasts.
I tried everything. I tried those little nipple hat things that they give you in the hospital that are supposed to help the baby latch on but they don't ever work. I tried drinking a beer thinking that my milk just hadn't come in yet. It had. In fact I had so much milk it would spray the mirror when I got into the shower. I had a lactation consultant come to my home. I went back to the hospital on more than one occasion to try to get tips from the lactation consultant. Now, normally, a lactation consultant is a combination of breastfeeding Nazi and holistic hippie healer. They normally do not give up on breastfeeding. But my breast were that large and even the lactation consultant asked if I could bear to just formula feed.
The answer was I could not.
It took two months before my child was able to latch on properly. Two months! That meant two months of pumping. Two months of bottle feeding. Two months of a screaming baby who wanted me to hold him while I was pumping. I was exhausted and very stubborn. So, I took the two months on the chin and pumped my heart out.
It took two months before my child was able to latch on properly. Two months! That meant two months of pumping. Two months of bottle feeding. Two months of a screaming baby who wanted me to hold him while I was pumping. I was exhausted and very stubborn. So, I took the two months on the chin and pumped my heart out.
My very supportive mother tried to convince me to just formula feed. She told me my baby would be smart and we would still have a bond. But I was stubborn. I do not recommend this for everyone.
One thing I do recommend is that every mother decide for herself if this is what she needs to do for her child. If you do decide to breastfeed make sure that you're surrounded by supportive people and that you log on to the La Leche League website. It's a great website for support and it's completely free.
From My Heart to Yours
Amy B
Amy B
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