I thought it was time to talk about my experience with breastfeeding. This is a very emotional topic for me, but I wanted to tell you about all about it and also about what I am trying to do. Maybe I am insane, if you think so, don't tell me! =) haha
Before Caelyn was born, I was DETERMINED to breastfeed. I have no idea what drove me to be that way, but I was. When she was born, I know she had a bottle in the nursery and I was fine with that. I was planning on solely pumping and giving her bottles, not nursing. I had no idea how much I would love it. I fed her a bottle in the beginning. Right after she was born, there were so many people in my room that I felt uncomfortable whipping out my breast to feed her when I had no idea what to do.
After most left, a nurse came in and she was the wife of my uncle's best friend. She helped me; I wish I had thanked her but I was still semi-drugged haha. It was so easy, Caelyn and I were so natural at it.. I was even surprised. She told me to call her when I wanted to switch; I never did, I just KNEW what to do. In the hospital, she took a bottle and nursing both. I wanted her to bottlefeed so I could sleep longer because I was beat; she went to the nursery and I do feel like its important for dads to feed their kids if possible.
We continued nursing at home; I loved it. It was so easy. We still did formula so I could sleep longer and she could nurse for 30-45minutes and still scream and be hungry.
I breastfed for about 2 weeks and had enough pumped, after hours of work, to be able to continue to mix bottles with formula for her to get some a week or so later. I stopped about 2 weeks into it. Why?
I started school again and I was gone. It was so hard to nurse and pump with not my full milk supply in, she took formula when I was gone. It was giving her belly aches. Plus, she is tongue-tied and latching sometimes could be a battle and we both spent hours crying sometimes.
But, I miss it and still do.
I regret my decision but I know it was the best decision to make at that time.
I've been thinking and a friend I know was a breastfeeding consultate and told me if I pump at a schedule that my milk will come back in. She said she had milk for a year before it wouldn't come out anymore.
I think I am going to try. If it doesn't work, I tried right? Its not that I am doing it for Caelyn, although I know it is better for her. I know she did get some and that matters. Not many 20 year old moms even consider breastfeeding. But, I want to do it for myself. If it works, I feel like I won't regret my decision anymore. And if it doesn't work, I tried.
I know a lot of you breastfeed, do you think this will work? I know that adoptive moms and other people have done this. It may seem crazy, but I need some support in this decision. I am only going to try for awhile, maybe a month and if it doesn't work, I will give up.
Advice? Opinions? Thoughts please?!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Talk to a lactation consultant about what you can take to increase your supply, since you haven't nursed in so many months. You might need to take herbal supplements, like fenugreek.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's crazy though; I let Grace nurse a little every once in a while, even though she is completely bottle-fed, just for the comfort of it.
thank you so much for sharing your story! I wish more people did. And I don't think you are crazy at all. Even though I nursed my older one for longer than "normal" I stopped because I felt pressured to. Not because I was ready. All to often the mother is left out of the equation. Do what you need to do for YOU! Keep us posted! :)
ReplyDeleteHi - I am a new follower :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is totally worth a try. Why not? You won't lose anything by trying.
And you are right - it seems that few younger moms don't want to breastfeed so kudos to you for doing it when you did and for wanting to try again.