Breastfeeding Stories - Clueless Breastfeeding Mom Became Clued In Breastfeeding Mom
When I was pregnant I had no thoughts regarding feeding the baby. My mind was stuck at "unending agony" and couldn't think any further than that. When my stupidly long labour ended and my precious wriggly baby was lifted towards me, I put out my drip-filled hands and accepted her from the midwife.
Before you say it, I know it sounds dramatic, but come on how many times do you get to do it in your life? I have to be a little dramatic about it! Anyway on with the story...
I lay her on my chest and she lifted her head up and just looked at me for the longest time. It was truly amazing; no one will ever formulate words that do the experience justice, but suffice to say, it was special and after her long look at me she started to peck my chest. She looked like a tiny chick so I lifted my nightie and latched her on. She latched on perfectly and I didn't feel a thing; I just lay there basking with my legs in the air being stitched up and my baby happily suckling away while my husband slept in the chair next to us.
Unfortunately the hospital I was in was not terribly pro-breastfeeding and although I was congratulated for breastfeeding, I was offered no advice rearding what was to come. I'd read every book I could find on pregnancy & birth but none on breastfeeding.
The first night after she was born she started feeding at 4pm and continued solidly through the night. I was exhausted (slow labour for 2 weeks can do that to you. Sad. ) But I carried on, lay there in the corner bed next to a drafty window with a light that didn't work and a call button that didn't work until she screamed so loudly that one mother shouted down the ward, "For christ sake someone shut that kid up!"
So I put my precious girl into her little plastic crib and wheeled her down the corridor to the nurses station. I explained that she wouldn't stop feeding/I couldn't stop crying/ she wouldn't stop crying if i didn't feed her, and the midwife showed me into a little windowless "breastfeeding room" which was a cupboard basically, where I sat for the next three hours, sobbing.
There was a mix up with my daughter's test results so they wouldn't let us leave for 3 days, by which time they had put her on a bottle because I was told I didn't have enough milk.
When we eventually got home I tried again to feed my daughter and managed for 5 weeks but unfortunately she had got used to a bottle and found breastfeeding extremely hard work. So I expressed for a while longer but eventually my milk dried up and I was devastated.
My second daughter was a totally different kettle of fish. The labour was 3hrs 14 mins start to finish, she popped out so quickly it was unbelievable and she gave me that same look that her sister did when she was placed in my arms. She too snuffled around as soon as she'd finished assessing me - except she was like a little piglet, all snuffly noises and little whines. I latched her on and it was agony and I decided I wasn't going to put myself through the same upset as last time so I discharged myself 8 hrs later and bought our new baby home.
After introducing DD1 to DD2 I went and got in the bath and had a good soak, then settled myself on the sofa with a cup of tea and some toast and hoisted DD1 onto the sofa next to me. DH passed me our beautiful baby and I latched her on again and again it was agony.
I called my midwife who came round and checked I was latching her on properly (tick yes) and that she was in the position (tick yes) but it was still agony....apparently it was just me, I'm sensitive!
After a week of pain we finally started working together and latching on stopped hurting. The more I asked around, the more I realised that people were willing to help. I contacted our local breastfeeding group and La Leche League and spoke to some wonderful people. With support from them, and people I love, I'm still breastfeeding now and she's nearly 7 months old. I have no intention of stopping for some time yet!
It really made me think and worry about other mothers who had been let down first time round and didn't have the heart to try again. I hope that by reading this people will realise that support is out there. My case is probably one of few like it and there are many many people out there who are willing to offer support, so ask for it and don't be afraid to tell people how you feel. If you're happy then your little one will be happy too!
If it's open-close it
If it's on the floor-pick it up
If it's dirty-clean it
If it's hungry-feed it
If it's sad-love it.
Lactivist
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