It was a journey I desperately wanted with both my boys. When
pregnant with my first I hadn’t given much thought to breastfeeding at all. The
extent was I want to be covered up when I do because I’m a very modest person
and would feel uncomfortable being exposed.
Nursing covers hadn’t even made it to my list of baby items; today it
would be my number one. The one thing I
did buy was nursing bras.
Our first was in the
N.I.C.U. for 5 days so breastfeeding your first baby hooked to millions of
wires was distressing to say the least. Another issue I had was that I
preferred the football hold. In this position his nose wasn’t being smushed by
my huge boob, and visibility of his mouth was much easier. All the wires and
tubes, and I.V.’s didn’t really allow for this without leaving him
uncomfortable. We got past that once I figured out how to position myself
better.
Ok next hurdle! My milk came
in full force. I mean pouring out, hard as rocks grew an entire cup size in my
sleep. I looked more like a super lumpy basketball then a woman. My nipples
were so tight and hard I had to squish milk out so my little man could even
attempt to latch on. Every time I did release some milk it was almost instantly
replaced by all the milk build up behind it. I had to talk one of the NICU nurses into
finding me a breast pump. Yes I had to convince her! She kept trying to say we don’t
have any available right now, yet magically after she walked away it was less
than 10 minutes before she brought me one. I sat in the room for two hours and
was not getting much relief after all that pumping I think I got 4 ounces, but
hey it let me feed my little man once my nipples softened.
Wouldn’t you know it another
couple issues aroused. One the lactation nurse kept telling me that I had to
get more of my nipple in his mouth, my minds going ok that thing is huge it
would gag me! How is that needed? His latch didn’t hurt what was the problem?
Next problem, my leaking
milk was drowning the baby, yikes. He would be all latched on and comfy
suckling away but my flow was incredibly forceful causing it to drool out
everywhere and sometimes so bad it would come out the top of his mouth and try
to drip into his nose. He was getting way more air than milk causing
tremendously funny farts but I still felt terrible. Lactation consults
intimidate me. They grab your boob; shove your baby on all quick and forceful.
I want them to ask me what’s wrong; give me pointers on how to fix it.
The best way I have ever
learned how to resolve it is have a huge folded up towel under my breasts for
milk catching. Using one Boppy on top of another so baby is up high enough that
I’m not slouching, and be a prisoner to the couch all day. I never made it past 3 weeks with him because
he had surgery that with all the stress dried me up.
Our second child we started
that adventure with my overachieving boobs again! Thank god after a lot of
praying he did not need the NICU! The over active breasts, unable to walk
around while feeding because they leaked so much, being soaked head to toe
every morning happened all over again with baby number two. We made it three
months before quitting, due to un-breast related complications. One strange
problem was that at about 5pm every day my breasts would be totally empty not a
drop. Although by the next feeding I was right back to overflowing.
Pumping after every feeding, not pumping to drop my supply. Taking
Fenugreek to resolve the missing feeding issue just boosted me during the times
I was working fine.
My question to you is have you ever experienced anything like this?
Can you point me in the direction of someone who can help? I really want to be
prepared for baby number 3 and to succeed in feeding for as long as little one
wants to. Cloth diapers, breast and home birth are my goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment