World Breastfeeding Week!

I would like to share my experience with nursing during this time since it is world breastfeeding week.  I am not going to give a hundred reasons why it is green and cheaper, but it is.  If you want to know why it is go here- http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/stories/6-green-reasons-why-breastfeeding-is-the-best-feeding  and http://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/bfcostbenefits/.

I had a normal birth experience and Kaira latched beautifully within the first hour of life.   Nursing was great until about the third day when my nipples started bleeding.  I was in a lot of pain and started using lanolin cream which did help a little at first.

In the second week I got mastitis which is an infection in the milk.  I had a fever and was so sick.  I also started using a nipple shield because of how painful it was.  Even with it, nursing made me tear up every time. My doctor put me on antibiotics for the mastitis.  I hated putting any antibiotics in my baby, but I did not know what else to do.

I had mastitis 2 more times after that.  One more round of antibiotics and the the third time I looked for help outside the doctors office because I  was not going to put my baby on mastitis for a third time before she was even 6 weeks old.  I posted on facebook asking (begging) for advice and that is when I realized that I was not alone.  I found people who have a wealth of knowledge who I already knew, I just did not know they have been through it as well since breastfeeding is not talked about.  What finally stopped the mastitis was cabbage... of all things. Cabbage.

I found that I had an over supply of milk which contributed to the mastitis, and my milk supply did not even out until my baby was about 5 months old.  The first 3 months were torture.  When people ask how I did during the birth, I tell them that that was not the hard part.  Breastfeeding was.  

Now that my baby is almost 10 months, I feel that breastfeeding is easy and I love the bond that we have.  I would not want to do it any other way.

My only regret is that I did not start asking questions sooner and I took medication.  I was given a book on breastfeeding and I had help in the hospital, but I know now that is not enough.

Suggestions I have for new or soon-to-be moms,

Ask lots of questions!

Do not be afraid to talk about it.  There is nothing sexual about breastfeeding, so there is nothing wrong with it!!!

Do not think you are alone.

Talk to a midwife or the La Leche league.  Doctors have not experienced breastfeeding firsthand.

Use kellymom.com


If you have any questions email me at, Darthalammers@gmail.com.  Please have the subject line as breastfeeding.