All through the pregnancy I have said without quibble that I will be breastfeeding, and I've scoffed when people have suggested I might not be able to. In my mind, nothing was going to prevent me from feeding my child the way nature intended. One good thing about being in hospital for a week is that I had a Lactation consultant on hand all day so if I ran into any trouble or had a question, she was there to support and advise.
I was initially worried my baby wouldn't latch because I'd missed out on that precious first hour of skin to skin contact and by the time I was able to cuddle and nurse him I was worried he wouldn't feel secure enough in the bond to feed. Whether it was luck or nature, I can't say but my baby opened his mouth wide and I cradled him to my breast for the first time and after a few painful twinges he was latched and he fed perfectly. Since then I've had no trouble attaching him and he's fed sometimes for ten minutes, other times it's been a stretch of forty minutes.
The hospital ward was so hot I could only sit in my bra and a pair of Adam's boxers to feel semi-comfortable, sweat was pouring out of me, especially when nursing. So cover ups went out of the non existent window. Everyone in that maternity unit has seen my boob! Half the family has seen my boob now! Adams brother has seen my boob! I've lost all hang ups about that, I was in too much of a worn out, crashed out state to care. Maybe that's why baby has taken to it so well, because he can sense his mother doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks anymore haha!
I will say there was a first time Mom next to me who really struggled to breast feed her baby, but continued to persevere so I know its not a walk in the park for everyone, but persistence and relaxation is key.
If I am stressing it, my baby stresses too. I have to be calm and assertive without getting irritable and then I find baby latches on and feeds perfectly. If he unlatches himself or I find its uncomfortable I just gently pop him off and reposition him. Even though breast feeding means you feed baby on demand, which can be constantly, you still have to maintain control while nursing. You position baby, you hold baby in a way that feels right and you lead the way.
There are so many benefits to breast feeding, the first three days was pure colostrum, the best nourishment for a newborn anyone can offer. My real milk came in on day four. Yes it's tiring, and yes sometimes I feel like a cow, no one else can just offer to feed him to give me a break. Sometimes were up all night, and at 2 weeks 3 days old he fed almost constantly from 1pm-8pm, with just 5-10 min breaks every half hour, enough for me to have a toilet break, drink and swap boob!
But the benefits of breast feeding far outweigh the negatives.
Breast milk dispenses immediately, at the right temperature, so when my baby cries it lasts all of 30seconds before boob is available to him keeping him happy and quiet.
No waiting for formula in the kitchen at 2am, I don't even have to leave bed.
No sterilising bottles.
No need to burp a Breast fed baby, as no air is being sucked up. The occasional burp happens but its rare.
Less risk of colic or reflux, again because no air is being sucked up.
Breast milk contains all the mothers antibodies and helps build babies immune system.
If I inhale any germ, my milk immediately starts to change to offer immunity against that germ
Breasts supply as much milk as baby requires, so if baby feeds more hungrily your breasts develop more milk supply to keep up with demand.
Breast feeding reduces risk of SIDs, which was the main reason I was adamant about feeding this way.
Breast feeding makes the uterus shrink back faster and it helps with weight loss due to all the calories it burns.
and it secures a bond between mother and child, no one else will ever have. These precious weeks-months that I exclusively breast feed, it will build a bond nothing can come between. Even though he wont remember this, I will and this is our special time together, not his dad, or his family can have this with him. The most natural thing in the world.
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