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Challenges I faced while breastfeeding

Though Johnny was able to latch and nurse before we even left the delivery room, breastfeeding didn’t come completely easily for me. I credit his early interest in nursing because he didn’t have drowsy epidural drugs in his system.

But his latch wasn’t perfect, I later discovered. It was just a little off, and that caused excruciating pain. It didn’t always hurt, but there were times it hurt more than giving birth.

Ever hear of flat or inverted nipples? Yeah. I had one. Johnny’s nursing drew that out and now they are regular — but before that happened it hurt like whoa.

(I can’t believe I just told you that. TMI, much? But breastfeeding is important and if telling you this makes your own experience easier, than I can handle any bit of embarrassment that might come of this. Cuz it’s pretty common.).

I do think that was partly why he wasn’t getting a great latch early on.

Anyway.

Aside from other early-on engorgement, leaking (oh man, I could just THINK about Johnny around the time he needed to nurse, and drip-drip-drip!).

Also early on, my let-down was really fast. Too fast for him to really handle. So that was kinda messy.

While my body was still adjusting to Johnny’s nursing needs, I was producing too much low-fat milk and he wasn’t getting enough of the full-fat at the end. I figured out the problem because his poop was green and that can be one indication of that.

I made sure he finished nursing on one side, and then started him on that same side the next time so he’d get the higher-fat stuff.

Then there was the whole, “How do I nurse him around others without completely flashing everyone?” Kinda stressed me out, especially while he needed help with latching on.

I used a blanket or nursing cover initially, but then as my confidence grew I just was strategic about what I wore. I’d often wear a tank top (or a nursing tank) under everything so my belly would be covered, but I’d still be able to pull up my shirt. I was more self-conscious about my still-flabby belly hanging out than anything!

Sometimes I’d wear an oblong scarf. It was a fantastic nursing cover.

But really, using a nursing cover or blanket seems to call more attention to yourself. “Hi, I am nursing a baby now.” It’s handy if you want that to be known (like when I was at a family get-together. I wanted a little space).

I think eventually, I was able to latch and nurse without a cover and without drawing too much attention to myself. I don’t *think* I ever flashed anyone too badly, but if I did, oh well. I’m sure they can get over it.

After all, you see more cleavage and boobs on network TV or at a swimming pool than you do with most nursing moms.

No one ever said anything to me, and I’m glad. The law and common sense are on my side. Nursing moms shouldn’t be sent to the bathroom to nurse (ew!) or made to cover up with a blanket if they don’t want to. Most older babies (and by older, I mean just a few months old!) will usually protest pretty hard if you try to cover them up.

Other problems? During the two-foot snowstorm we had in February, I got self-diagnosed mastitis, which is an infection in the boob. I had a fever, there was a hard, warm lump, I couldn’t express milk to make it go away and I felt awful.

I really wanted to go to a clinic to get an antibiotic, it was that lousy of a feeling. And yes, there was two feet of snow outside. The roads hadn’t been plowed yet and I don’t think the walk-in clinic was actually open.

I used heat pads, took warm showers and nursed like crazy and wouldn’t you know it, but it went away! I could actually feel the lump dissolve and honestly within minutes my fever was gone. What a relief!

Some people think you should wean when the baby gets teeth. Not so. Johnny didn’t bite. You can’t really bite if you are nursing. If he’s bored and not actually nursing then I think you’re more likely to get bitten. I didn’t really have that issue, but also he didn’t get teeth until around his birthday (which is pretty late!) so I might have missed out on that.

I did have a few, “You’re still breastfeeding!?” comments. Some thought it was weird that I nursed him as long as I did. Some thought it was weird he didn’t take a bottle or pacifier. Whatever. It’s not weird! It’s what worked for us.

Lastly, almost immediately after I became pregnant, my milk supply really tanked. He wasn’t nursing much at that point anyway (around 2-3 times per day or so, if that) and it just wasn’t enough to keep my supply going. That caused frustration with us both.

Nursing started to hurt once again. He was clamping down with the initial latch, and that hurt. He was frustrated that there wasn’t much milk. I was frustrated at it all. It was time to wean.

He was nutritionally ready, though he would have still benefited from extended nursing. He was sort of emotionally ready, though sometimes telling him “no” would result in the most devastated look and cry.

But it was time. Next up — our weaning experience.