Friday, March 21, 2014

Breakin' in the Baby Feeders


There are a lot of reasons that I've decided to breastfeed my daughter, and I have learned so much about the art of breastfeeding since taking on the task. Not only do the beginning stages of breastfeeding hold greater challenges than I could have ever expected, but adjusting to this new part of my life has been a process. After all, Charlotte and I were both newbies and therefore had a lot to learn in order to master breastfeeding.

For some reason, while I was pregnant I had surreal dreams almost every night. Two dreams that stand out consisted of me holding Charlotte to my chest and breastfeeding her. I would look down into her little eyes, and I could feel our connection. To me, breastfeeding is one thing that represents the connection between a mother and her child, and that may be why this loving act was so significant in my subconscious mind. 

The importance of breastfeeding was continuously highlighted throughout my pregnancy, as well as once Charlotte was born. At one of my first prenatal appointments I was given a guide to breastfeeding, in which I read cover to cover. Once we were in the hospital after Charlotte was delivered, a lactation specialist came to our postnatal room and offered us some assistance and information regarding breastfeeding. She was happy to learn that I planned on breastfeeding exclusively and that Charlotte and I were having good luck so far. The specialist gave us tips on proper latching techniques, and she shared information that I was not aware of previouslyapparently women who were themselves breastfed by their mothers are more likely to successfully breastfeed their babies. Luckily, my mother successfully breastfed all four of her children, and she was breastfed by her mother as well, which meant that Charlotte and I had a great chance of being successful in our endeavor. 

Mothers who were themselves breastfed are more likely to have a support system who will contribute to their success. I'm so grateful to have the support and guidance of other first time mothers as well as the support from my own mom, because that has helped me overcome the challenges that breastfeeding has posed.

The first week of breastfeeding was a lot more difficult than I could have ever expected. Four days after Charlotte was born, she was eating often, sometimes every hour. Due to her frequent feedings and improper latching, I was extremely sore and bleeding. My mom informed me that she had a similar experience when she first starting breastfeeding my oldest sister, and she encouraged me to stick with it, even though I felt like I wanted to give up. I am so grateful that I remembered an email that one of the girls in my childbirth class had sent, in which she recommended Medela Nipple Shields for first time moms who wanted to give up on breastfeeding. All in all, these little babies were lifesavers! These plastic nipple covers alleviated enough of the pain and allowed for healing so Charlotte and I could continue on our chosen path. 

I'm also extremely grateful that Josh ran to the store last minute twice to purchase another shield after our dog Mila decided to tear the shields apart in the middle of the night. I continued using the shield for less than a week, and now I'm successfully breastfeeding without it. It is still a painful process, but I have made an effort to use the advice the lactation specialist gave me for proper latching techniques.

To any first time moms out there that are currently facing the challenges of breastfeeding, or to any expectant mothers that plan on breastfeeding, stick with it when it gets tough. Be sure to consult lactation specialists to ensure you're preventing any excess damage to your breasts, and don't be afraid to use the Medela Nipple Shield if you are close to giving up. It will provide the relief you need to heal so you can continue feeding your baby in this beautiful way. Breastfeeding is a great way to bond with your baby, provides nutrition and is convenient. Don't let the challenges of the beginning dissuade you from being successful.


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