The Reality of Breastfeeding...

Breastfeeding was the one thing I worried about most when I was pregnant. Now I can truly say everything I worried about turned out to be okay...

BUT all the stuff I didn't know about SUCKS!!

When your hear about breastfeeding everyone makes it out to be this easy, beautiful and natural process that you and your baby undergo. However, they fail to tell you the reality of it and what its really like... Everyone tells you that it will hurt and thats to be expected when you have something sucking on you. Dry, cracked, and sore nipples was something I was aware of, but probably the only thing I was aware of. There is so much more to it that I wish I would have known about...

For instance, I expected at the hospital to breastfeed my baby within the first hour and someone would be there to teach me what to do. HA! So not the case. They hand your child back to you and basically just stare at you like your suppose to know what to do... I just stared right back and thought- Hello, first time mom here! You of all people should know I have no clue what I am doing or how to go about it. I took birthing classes and they teach you different positions and how to latch the baby... TOTALLY different with the real thing! They only help you if you ask for it or if you have a really awesome nurse like we did (but we still didn't get help for the dreaded first time when we really needed it).

Then when you attempt to do what they teach you, you might feel totally incompetent like I did of whether or not it would work. You have this tiny crying infant in your arms that expects you to feed it, yet they don't really know how to go about it either. You have to teach yourself as well as your child.

Gratefully, Easton and I miraculously figured it out! Of course you would think that once they figure it out they would remember how to keep doing it in order to keep maintaining their food source. Natural instinct is to eat right?!?! Well, unfortunately this also is not true.

Breastfeeding is something you have to constantly work at! Just when I thought I finally had it down, something would happen that would completely throw me off.

For another example- clogged milk ducts- When I heard about it I would not even think twice about learning more about it. I didn't think it was common or that it would happen to me. (Google it for sure if your thinking about breastfeeding so you know somewhat to expect) And although I'm still not sure what causes them, what I do know it that they hurt a HECK of a lot more than dry, cracked, sore nipples. That at least is tolerable. This pain (in addition to sore nipples) makes it very uncomfortable to even move. You want to sleep on your tummy now that there is no baby in the belly... not going to happen! I couldn't even sleep on my side because of the pain. I could barely tolerate breastfeeding anymore when I got a clogged milk duct (multiple times) and was ready to quit at that point. It also brings about emotional pain as to whether or not anything is getting through to your child. I still constantly wonder if he's getting enough food because, although it might be nice, there are no ounce marks on my breasts and I can't see whether or not its being emptied. The only indication I have of whether or not he's eating enough is his temperament and whether or not I "feel" full.

In addition, there is a huge misconception about the amount of time you should breastfeed on each breast. The hospital and even lactation consultants (ours did) will tell you to feed him for fifteen-twenty minutes on each side. This again is not true in my case. If your baby poops gross green instead of the normal yellowish breastfeeding stools, then something is wrong. I couldn't figure out why at first and then Jameson googled it (Google is our parenting for dummies) and we figured out that it can be caused by an oversupply of milk. This happened to me because he would be eating and after fifteen minutes I would want him to switch so he could empty both sides (and because that's what I was told to do). I now know that you shouldn't do this because if they don't empty the breast or get enough time on one side then they get too much of the fore milk instead of the fatty hind milk that they need. This will make them more gassy and more likely to have an upset tummy. I knew my baby was eating enough, but didn't really know why he would be fussy after I fed him. I just figured I had a fussy baby... and now I know that he is a good baby and is ok with being content when he gets a full tummy. All of this I wish I would have known weeks ago to make the last few weeks a little easier. But as we all know parenting is a learning process and there are just so many things people don't tell you that you end up learning on your own.

Another thing I never expected is how much breastfeeding takes out of you... Literally! My skin is so dry and cracked its not even funny. No lotion can help heal the dry skin on my hands. I've tried. I am also thirsty almost all the time and you still have to pay attention to what you eat. They say no caffeine while your pregnant and you think as soon as you have the baby you can finally indulge on that Dr Pepper you have been waiting so patiently to enjoy... not true. Spicy foods are still a 'No No' as well. These I learned the hard way. I just thought well one soda won't hurt right? Again not true! And if you don't eat or drink enough you will feel it. At one point I was getting a headache every day/night and had no idea why. I soon figured out one hectic morning when I did not get to eat breakfast til noon that this was because I was not eating and drinking enough liquids. If he is eating, you should be too!

Now I want you all to know, moms or soon-to-be moms in the future, that me sharing this should not mislead anyone that breastfeeding is horrible.

It is in fact beautiful, natural, and wonderful!!!!

It does somehow create a special bond between you and your baby.

It does make you feel like you are in some way doing something right for your child, even if you do nothing else right.

It is cheaper!

It does eat up a lot of calories and get you back to your pre-pregnancy body faster!

I love that breastfeeding is working for me and I am very grateful for that. It is, however, difficult. This may not even be the case for some people. Every person and definitely every baby is different! Just consider this your google experience now instead of having to look it up in the future :)