As all of you know, I breastfed Kye exclusively for 10 months (and had enough milk frozen to last him until a little over 11 months old). I was not a natural when it came to breastfeeding. I had just about every issue you can have! I’m VERY proud of myself for never giving up as I feel very passionately about the importance of breast milk for my babies!
Since I’ve been through it all before you’d think I’d be a “pro” right? While I’m hopeful it’ll come easier this time around, Zach thought it was important for us to take the Breastfeeding Basics course at the hospital again. I’m SO glad we did as we learned some new tips that I wish I’d remembered the first time. My goal this time is to make breastfeeding priority #1 from birth and to establish a positive experience from the start. When you’re a first time mom things are crazy and it’s hard to really focus on it the way you need to. Here are the notes I took from the first time around, the class really helped me then but after taking it again I did see some flaws in it.
To me, the instructor made it sound too easy. I get that they want to be positive about breastfeeding since it is so important for the baby and they want people to want to nurse, but I think the reason that MAJORITY of women try breastfeeding then give up early on is that they feel like failures. When ALL you hear about is how natural it is, how easy it is, how pain free it should be you can easily feel horrible about yourself and like you aren’t doing something right when you don’t have the natural, easy, pain-free experience. My experience was one where things didn’t come naturally, it wasn’t easy and I had a lot of pain…I wish the class (and the general media) would discuss those points and explain that it may be hard but it’s STILL WORTH IT!!! I am so glad I pushed through and think if more moms knew that the tough parts pass and it becomes wonderful that they wouldn’t give up so easily.
Here’s some of the things I found interesting from the class:
- You can eat pretty much anything in moderation while breastfeeding and it actually helps the baby to know a variety of flavors
- A good latch should feel good and will increase milk flow. It’s important that the baby has the FULL nipple in the mouth, not just the tip
- When you do the cradle position, you want to make sure the baby’s body is in a straight line with the entire body facing the breast
- When they hand me the baby in the delivery room I need to UNSWADDLE him or her to nurse as the skin to skin makes a HUGE difference!
- To get the baby to latch you tickle the upper lip with the nipple then when the baby opens wide you bring the mouth to the breast
- Make sure to keep the nose clear so he or she can breathe
- Ways to tell the baby is in a good position: mom is comfortable, baby is in straight line, baby is held close (take off the blankets), baby at breast level, baby’s chin in with head tilted back, baby has a wide mouth
- Wait to introduce a bottle for 2-3 weeks and the same with a pacifier
- If pumping is not comfortable then I need to buy larger breast shields (I have the Medela Freestyle and it’s AWESOME)
- A newborns stomach is as small as a shooter marble – do NOT worry that you aren’t “making enough”
- Breastfeeding saves a TON of money..in the first year you save about $2,000 in formula and $300-$400 in healthcare costs!!!
Zach and I have talked about why I had so many struggles with breastfeeding the first time around. I for sure had hyper-lactation (where my body produced WAY more milk than my baby needed) so that def caused some issues. We stayed after the class to say hello to the lactation specialist (who taught the course) as she and I got to know each other very well during my nursing troubles and preparations for our Paris trip (she always remembers me when I say “I’m the girl who went to Paris when my baby was 6 weeks old” haha). I wanted to ask her if it was a bad sign that I’ve hardly had any leaking this pregnancy when last time I started leaking at 6 months! Also my breasts have only gone up one bra size when last time they were huge. She said both are very normal for second pregnancies because my body knows more about what it actually needs to do. But she also said that it doesn’t mean I won’t have the hyper-lactation issues again since I had them the first time (and I don’t mind that…yeah it was a tough thing but gah I had SO much frozen milk which was a blessing!).
I think one of the BIGGEST things that got Kye and I started off on the wrong foot was how long they waited until they gave him to me to nurse when he was born. They delivered my placenta (which broke into a bunch of pieces and took forever) then stitched me up (which I was cut then ripped allllll the way to my “second hole” so that took 45 min) then gave me Kye to nurse and told me to hurry b/c my family needed to come in so they could move me to postpartum. THEN they kept him in the nursery over night and were supposed to bring him to me for all his feedings but “let me sleep” for several hours straight and told me the next day that it was okay for him to go a 4 hour stretch without nursing. They didn’t give him a bottle or anything, but they SHOULD have woken me up to nurse him!!!
Our plan this time is to let Blitzen lay on me until the cord stops pulsing, Zach cut the cord, they wipe him or her off then I nurse RIGHT away. In talking with the lactation specialist, she said they shouldn’t have a problem with that and that nursing will actually help my placenta detach and be delivered! We also plan to have the baby stay IN the room with us. I know it may mean less rest for us, but I don’t want anyone skipping any feedings or letting my kids face get all scratched up again (Kye came to us the next morning with scratches ALL OVER his little face b/c they didn’t put any mittens on him!). I also plan to stay in the hospital for 48 hours and leave at a better time of day. I stayed 24 hours to the minute with Kye (I HATE hospitals) and we got discharged at like 8 pm. Um, bad time to go home with a newborn. It was an AWFUL night (he cried all night, I didn’t get to get my prescription since it was so late so I was in mega pain and Levi almost died…). While I loathe hospitals I think staying the 48 hours will let Blitzen and I bond and allow me to nurse a TON without being distracted by the business of home ya know?
More than ANYTHING else I’m so so eager to nurse my baby! Our bodies are naturally designed to breastfeed and I feel that instinct kicking in! I hope and pray that I have a better experience with it this time from the beginning but even if it’s tough again…I will NOT be giving up 🙂
I’m thankful Zach and I took the class again as we both picked up on things we didn’t know the first time around and it gave me MUCH more confidence!
Do you have any good breastfeeding tips for me???? I know stuff has changed in the past 2 1/2 years! I bought some Milkies b/c I heard they were awesome to save milk that leaks while feeding…anything else worth getting or tips for a more enjoyable experience from day 1?
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You have probably already heard this, but if you have the over lactation problem again, cabbage leaves on the breasts supposedly help reduce your milk flow. I wouldn't use them too often, since that may potentially work TOO well but if you find yourself in pain, it might help. I wouldn't worry too much about things changing in the past 2 1/2 years. Women have been nursing since The Fall, if not since creation itself. Since you've already done it once before, it will be just like riding a bike for you. Once you learn it, you never forget it. 🙂
Thank you for this post! I'm only 12 weeks pregnant, but I'm already thinking about breastfeeding because I've heard so many bad stories about it. I really appreciate this post and I already feel more confident that it CAN go well. Can't wait for the "Blitzen is here" post!
I remember going to see the LC since it was still so painful to nurse at 6 weeks. She looked at me like I was crazy and was sure we were doing it wrong. When I nursed in front of her, she said he had a perfect latch. She even said that after I had him, and before we were discharged from the hospital (I took full advantage of her since I stayed 48 hours too). I had her come and watch me nurse several times a day while I was there. Anyway, it took almost 12 weeks before nursing was not painful, and actually felt more natural.
I definitely had overactive letdown (baby choking and milk spraying across the room!) and over supply the first time, which led to a gassy baby with green frothy poop from too much fore milk & not enough hindmilk. It took me several weeks to figure out how to block feed, then just nurse off one side/feeding. It was smooth sailing from then on out (nursed for 14 mo). The 2nd time, once my milk was fully in (day 3?), I only nursed on one side per feeding to make sure he got the hind milk. One side/feeding has been absolutely fine for us and he has grown well. We are still going at 15+ mo. (morning and bedtime). It was definitely easier to get in the swing of things the 2nd time, although the cramping while nursing was WAY more intense the 2nd time. But, that's good because it helps stop bleeding and shrinks the uterus, but boy did it it HURT (I'm talking tears here!).
I tried for a good 15 min to get Mack to bfeed while in the delivery room and he was too sleepy :-(/not interested. So dont be discouraged if he/she doesnt want to latch. My Dr (and every nurse i've talked to) says it can take up to 24 hours before their blood sugar drops enough for them to actually get "hungry" which is why its ok for them to go longer stretches for the first day. But i get it, you want to make sure you give it your all from the get go. You'll do GREAT!Just feed more frequently (yes, off schedule, my friend! HA!) when a growth spurt happens. Please 🙂 lol.
Stephanie i have heard the cabbage thing!!! i'm glad you reminded me though as Zach is going a walmart run tomorrow and i can add that to my list so we'll have some on hand if needed…i know it helped me with engorgement last time! i also bought these things called "booby tubes" that are supposed to help…who knows if it's just a gimic but i figured it's worth a shot 🙂
so glad this helped encourage you!!! i did a week of breastfeeding stories awhile back, i highly recommend going through and reading them all as i'm sure they'd further encourage you! it was very tough for me too as I felt like i didn't have a ton of support with the breastfeeding journey – most of my friends didn't even attempt it and my mom didn't do it for long either. thankfully my husband was HARDCORE and helped me stick it out!!! it really is SO so worth it. Kye will be 3 in March and has NEVER had an ear infection, rarely gets sick, is very smart, and who even KNOWS the other ways it's benefitted both him and I! It seems like every month when i get another parents magazine i read something about how breastfeeding is even more beneficial than they knew before 🙂 good luck!!! if you need ANY help along the way please feel free to contact me – deliasgoddess33@aol.com 🙂
Ashley Troutman i feel like a LOT of people have the same pain issues we did!!!! it needs to be talked about more don't you agree?!?!
Katie1315 WOW good for you for going as long as you did/have!!!! that's AWESOME!!! i have heard that the cramping is crazy painful…but I'm kinda welcoming it as I didn't have ANY of it when I nursed my son and i didn't lost ANY weight from nursing either 🙁 i had to diet! so maybe those cramps will help get this weight off 😉 great idea with the one breast at a time thing…i'll try that too if i have any issues this time with too much milk 😉
@91ddb49b23c85dd62065741fa42f7b4a I was telling Zach about you yesterday and what a blessing you are to me and how you're really the first friend i've had that i look up to in a way where i REALLY want to be like you! you are SO knowledgable about everything and i admire that so much!!!! thank you for telling me this, i won't feel as stressed if blitzen doesn't latch on right away. i honestly remember ZERO of kye's first nursing session but from the pics i can tell i totally wasn't doing it right haha boppy is coming with us in the delivery room this time around :)hopefully schedule queen emily will do better at recognizing growth spurts… 😉
Two things from this peanut gallery: I used my boppy to sit on in the hospital to help me get more comfortable thanks to stitches and hemorrhoids!! So it can certainly do double duty 🙂 But my real tip is to try The First Years Nipple Butter. I loved it and found it so much nicer than lanolin. It is smoother, thinner and leaves no residue on your fingers. Check it out on Amazon 🙂