This post is brought to you by Munchkin LATCH as part of the #LoveLatch campaign. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
It’s going to get personal here today! While this blog is primarily about DIY/home décor, I can’t overlook the most important part of my life – being a MOM!
I have been meaning to write up this post for a long time now, so excuse me as I unload.
I had my first baby on July 30, 2013. I didn’t have an easy pregnancy with him – I dealt with lots of “morning” sickness all through the first trimester, kidney stones, a broken rib, crazy swelling, and eventually gestational diabetes. It was HARD!
Before I get into our breastfeeding journey – I thought I’d quickly go through his birth story:
Since I had gestational diabetes, my doctors wouldn’t let me go past my due date. I did everything I could to jump start labor before I was induced, but none of my methods worked. I was induced on the evening of the July 28th (with Cervidil) and I went into labor on my own with that push. Things were looking good (and I was praying I wouldn’t need Pitocin) but then labor stalled around 5 centimeters. I got Pitocin & an epidural around the same time, and continued to labor until I reached 10 centimeters after 24 hours of laboring. Without going into too much detail – I pushed for 2 hours, and he was super close to being born that way but was stuck for the last 45 minutes. The doctors told me that I was pushing the correct way, but he hadn’t made any progress in so long, and there was risk of fetal distress. I had a cesarean section after 2 hours of pushing – and our Isaac Matthew was born early in the morning on July 30th. He was a healthy 8 lbs 7 oz!
Here’s where we start with our breastfeeding journey. I had visions of my baby being placed in my arms and having skin-to-skin contact right after birth so we could begin breastfeeding right away. Well, I ended up having to be sedated after my C-section, and I was numb all the way from my neck down to my toes. The nurses brought him in after they had gotten him all cleaned up, and I was totally unable to hold him as they placed him on my chest. My arms were out to the side, and the nurses were cheering as they told me he was nursing like a champ. Hooray? I was excited, but the whole thing was so bizarre! I was looking forward to actually being able to hold my baby and try to nurse him again in a few hours.
My milk didn’t come in while I was at the hospital, and the nurses worried about how much he was getting while he was breastfeeding. His blood sugar was dipping too low, and they ended up giving him some formula to prevent an overnight stay in the NICU. I was devastated! I was sure that this meant he would never nurse, and would only take a bottle. My postpartum hormones were raging, and I couldn’t figure out how to rectify this situation.
When we went home, I was given formula from the hospital. I stored it in a high place and vowed not to use it.
Well, I didn’t use it. But, it was pure torture.
Did you know that I’m stubborn? If not, then you should know this fact. I was bound and determined to make breastfeeding work, and I wasn’t going to hear “no”. So, when Isaac lost almost a whole pound after his birth, and he didn’t get up past his birth weight until about 3.5 weeks after he was born, I was about to lose it.
We were nursing around the clock – he would feed for about 30 minutes and would need to eat about every 1.5-2 hours. Breastfeeding was my full-time job, allll day and allll night long. I was working so hard, and I felt like I was failing every time we nursed. I remember just crying when he would start to show that he was hungry. I was in so much pain! I would be rocking back & forth in pain with tears streaming down my face while he would nurse – it was pure torture! I found out when I went to see a lactation consultant that he had a shallow latch. I tried every different position to correct it, and she suggested I try a nipple shield as a temporary solution.
The nipple shield is controversial, but it really did save our breastfeeding relationship. He wasn’t as efficient when he nursed with it, and I had to keep up my supply while I used it to make sure it didn’t decrease. It was a pain in the butt to always use that shield, but I didn’t cry every time we nursed anymore! My body was able to heal a little (I think I’m permanently damaged from those first few weeks of torture!) and we used the nipple shield for THREE MONTHS.
My life at 7 weeks postpartum – nursing throughout most of my cousin’s wedding reception!
Isaac was gaining weight, but not as quickly as his peers. His dipped into under the 10th percentile, and that really worried me! He had started out as such a big baby, and now was such a peanut compared to other babies his age. I knew it was directly related to the amount of milk he was getting, and I made it my goal to fade the nipple shield. I was terrified that he wasn’t going to latch without it, but after a hard weekend of adjustment, we were nursing around the clock without any barriers! It was a miracle!
I should mention that Isaac was a very “colicky” baby, and suffered from acid reflux. He would cry for hours at a time, and wouldn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time (even at night). All of this combined = we were struggling! He got put on medication for his reflux, and it definitely helped, but he was still a very generally cranky and fussy baby.
At 5 months old, we began to give Isaac table food. The poor kid was basically salivating over our food as he watched us eat, and we did a kind of baby-led-weaning approach. He LOVED food. And continues to LOVE food. We did this in small amounts, and continued breastfeeding for the vast majority of his nutritional needs.
As he got older and grew, I got more excited about making baby foods for him (I shared some of my favorites here). He LOVED eating the food I made for him, and he was less demanding when we would nurse.
At EIGHT MONTHS OLD, we finally got the hang of this whole breastfeeding thing. Yes, eight months in. I would actually look forward to nursing him, and for the first time in his whole life, it wasn’t a struggle. It was relaxing, calming, and bonding. It was crazy that it took so long, but I am SO thankful that we had actually made it to that place! I was so happy to finally experience what I had always wanted breastfeeding to be – a special bonding time between me and my baby boy.
After eight long months of struggling, the thought of weaning Isaac at 12 months seemed so sad. I had never thought I would make it to a year, and I definitely didn’t see myself being one of “those moms” who would nurse past that elusive 12 month mark. But his first birthday came and went, and we were truly enjoying breastfeeding 2-3 times a day.
Taken on Isaac’s FIRST birthday – I was so incredibly proud we had made it that far!
I got pregnant when Isaac was 15 months old, and before I took a test I knew I was pregnant. My milk supply just vanished! It was crazy! By the time Isaac was 16 months old, I breastfed him for the last time. Because my supply was so little by that point, I didn’t physically struggle with the transition. I did shed a few tears, but being pregnant with #2 helped me not to be too sad about it – I knew that in a few months I would be beginning all over again with our next one!
As I’m gearing up for the arrival of baby #2 in a few short weeks, I am feeling a lot more prepared this time around. Since breastfeeding was my “job” for so long, I took a lot of time to research things that could help us. I feel like I’m coming into this new season with an arsenal of information and supplies!
In case you need some support, or if you have a friend/family member who might need some of this help, I’ve gathered some of my favorite tips in one place!
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Set realistic expectations
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Breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, but it is not easy. It seems that it will be easy since it’s what our bodies are designed to do, but it is incredibly difficult! Entering the breastfeeding journey with this thought at the forefront of your mind is crucial!
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Get connected with other moms
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I learned so much from my other new mom friends! They were my cheerleaders, my shoulders to cry on, and gave such great advice. When I felt like I was at the end of my rope, I would text a friend or drive to visit one of them, and I would leave feeling so renewed and encouraged. You are NOT alone!
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Find some great resources online
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Not everything on the internet is helpful or accurate. It’s important to find places online that are legitimate! KellyMom was my go-to place for help online – I recommend it to any breastfeeding mom out there!
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Reach out to a lactation consultant
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I was scared to do this, but it ended up being super helpful. Lactation consultants are specifically trained for this – use them! Your hospital should connect you with a lactation consultant in your area before you go home. If they didn’t – call them up and ask who is in their network of care.
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Get comfortable with nursing in public
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This was hard for me, but once I got more comfortable with nursing in public, I felt much more free to get out of the house. I always used a cover (it’s just how I felt most comfortable). I would build extra time in my errand “schedule” for feedings, and I would find a comfortable spot to sit and nurse my baby. I quickly found which stores had places set aside for this very purpose, and I made those my go-to places to shop!
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Get a good breast pump
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I worked outside of the house on a very part-time basis when my baby was young, but I still needed to provide my mom with pumped milk while I was away from him. I started out using a hand-me-down pump, and bought my own within a few months. Here’s a great explanation of how you can get a top of the line breast pump for free (I’m definitely doing this with #2!)
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Use the correct bottles
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Before I was a mom, I assumed all bottles were made equally. WRONG! If you’re looking to help foster the breastfeeding the relationship, bottles are not the enemy. I am so excited to try out these new Munchkin LATCH bottles with our second baby. They’re specifically designed to simulate breastfeeding – the nipple reaches all the way back to the soft palate (the place your nipple should be at for optimal breastfeeding). It reduced colic and lets the baby maintain his latch while decreasing the ingestion of air (too many air bubbles can cause gas and fussiness).
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Munchkin LATCH bottles are sold at Babies R’ Us and Target, but they’re also available on Munchkin’s website (AND they’re 15% off if you go through their website – WIN!)
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If you’ve read through this whole post – I will love you forever 
I’d love to hear about your experiences feeding your baby! Did you breastfeed? If so, how long did it take you to get adjusted to comfortably feeding your baby? Any other tips/tricks for new moms who may be struggling?
This post is brought to you by Munchkin LATCH as part of the #LoveLatch campaign.
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I had a lot of trouble with breastfeeding. It was torturous and Easton had trouble latching. I would think he was latched and he still wouldn’t get anything. He cried so much! I thought he was colicky but it turned out he was just hungry! He was huge to started at 9 lb 4 oz and dropped to 8 lbs. My supply was horrible! I was told to start supplementing with formula. My baby was finally full and happy! He slept better and was growing again! I was feeding from both sides and then formula. It was a very long and time so consuming process. I had originally been set on breastfeeding and my pediatrician said if I wanted to get back to it I had to cut the supplement feeding. I would also need a second person at each feeding to help me get him properly latched. Meanwhile we were three weeks out and my husband was back to work and it just wasn’t possible to have that extra person. Plus I couldn’t bear to let my baby be hungry and sad! So we continued with what we had been doing -the long feeds breastfeeding both sides and then a bottle to top Him off. I stopped at three months when I returned to work. I cried a lot when I stopped. I I missed that bond and I was sad that I wasn’t providing him my milk, which I knew was best for him.
Breastfeeding is a very difficult thing! I admire you for sticking with it Christina! Thanks for sharing your story!
Thanks so much for sharing, Cara! Sounds like we went through a lot of the same problems – I’m so proud of you for doing it as long as you did too!! Isn’t it incredible how emotional all of this gets? I cried SO much over breastfeeding, and I just assumed it would be natural and easy! You are such a good mom to your little man, and he seems to be such a happy little guy!! <3
It’s true-I thought it would be pretty easy to breast feed, as many don’t talk about the struggles of it. Lacey lost a pound from her birth weight in 5 days, and the doctor was close to admitting her for dehydration. We went to the lactation consultant and she gave me a nipple shield, too. I’ve tried to wean her of it, but it was painful. This is motivation to try again! And also a realistic perspective that it will take time, as the transition doesn’t happen overnight. She eats well with it, so as long as she’s getting what she needs, I’m not too concerned about it. What a great post! Thanks for sharing your struggle. I think too often we don’t talk about it because we feel we’re alone in it. Friends have been such a great resource and reassurance through everything!
I definitely thought it would be easier too, Tanya! Keep going, momma, you’re doing SO well!! And yes, that’s what I’ve learned for round #2…I’m super impatient and I wanted things to change quickly as well. It will take time, it might get worse before it gets better, but I would encourage you to stick with it!! Give yourself some grace, and stay in contact with other moms who can be the best resources for advice or support!!! 🙂
I thought breastfeeding would be easy…I never even took a class on it. I learned quickly after my son was born it is not easy. I admire you for sticking with it. I was also in tears every time I nursed and my son lost weight. I called a lactation consultant that had randomly given me her card at church when she saw I was pregnant. She was amazing and knew what the problem was right away…my son had a tongue tie. They told me this at the hospital too but didn’t make a big deal of it. The LC told me I would not be able to breastfeed pain free until the tongue tie was fixed. So we got it clipped when he was 2 weeks old. It was a quick procedure, with a little bit of bleeding but he was just fine. Tomorrow we celebrate 6 months EBF! I was told at his first pediatrician appointment that I’d probably have to supplement with formula so it makes our 6 monthiversary even more special 🙂
Ahh Sara – congratulations on 6 months!!! Thanks for sharing your story, and I’m so proud of you for reaching out to the lactation consultant and sticking with breastfeeding!! Great job momma!!!
My firstborn never really gave me problems nursing. He was an effective eater so it never seemed like he nursed very long but overall I had a very positive experience and was able to breastfeed until he was a year old. Now with my daughter she was 8lb 5oz at birth(my son had only been 6lb 10oz) and nursed like a pro in the hospital. The nurses told me we were the best breastfeeders on the floor. Shortly after that things started to go down hill she would cry every time I tried to feed her and although she was gaining weight she wasn’t the big baby I expected her to be. I have had thyroid problems and had to double my meds when I was pregnant but then they took me off them completely she was born and I felt my milk supply diminishing so on top of her not nursing well I felt like I didn’t have much of a supply either. Well after having more blood work done they put me back on a lower dose of medication which has helped bring back my supply. Also have I have been eliminating some things from my diet because the doctor thinks she has some food allergies. It has been a frustrating journey this time around. She is such a pleasant baby you would never know she had a bellyache except for her crazy blowouts and crying when I eat something that doesn’t agree with her. It’s hard to know what to eat and I feel bad because I am trying to do the best thing for her with breastfeeding but yet still am not totally sure what she is allergic to other than dairy 🙁
oh Gillian that’s so tough!!! I’m sorry to hear about that – dealing with meds and thyroid issues is really really hard. And allergies on top of it! Glad she’s a pleasant baby … I eliminated things from my diet (mostly dairy) but it never really made an impact on his fussiness/reflux. I’ll pray that you guys are able to get to the bottom of it and figure out what’s happening with her allergies – hang in there!! I know it’s so hard!
Just wanted to say my 10 month old’s name Isaac Matthew, too, and out birth stories have many similarities. Thanks for sharing.
Love it, Caitlin!! It’s a great name 🙂
I had a rough time with my first. He developed Thrush within a few days after we left the hospital and it was incredibly painful for me when I’d nurse him. The doctor gave us some medicine but it wasn’t the strongest stuff, and the Thrush returned quickly. Several weeks in and I thought all this nursing pain would never end… and, like you, so dreaded sometimes when he’d start crying for food. I had many crying moments, too! But finally, after about 8-10 weeks it started to get easier — and then it was totally worth it. Like you, I never thought I’d be a “past a year person” and he didn’t wean until about 14 or 15 months. Now, with baby #2, it has been so much easier! And I’m so thankful to God for that!
Thanks so much for sharing, Lora!! Thrush is the one thing we didn’t have to deal with – but I’ve heard it’s SO painful! And you’ve given me so much hope about baby #2 – it’s something I’ve already been praying about! I’m really hopeful that I can take all of the information I’ve learned (and the perspective of “it’s normal if this isn’t easy”) and it will make the second round much easier 🙂 Congrats on making it past one year!! 🙂
When we finally got help when Robin started losing weight between three and four months, my lactation consultant told me that (at least anecdotally) gestational diabetes can affect milk supply. I so wish I’d known this. Since he was my second, I didn’t even worry about breast feeing and was very laid back, after all, I thought I knew the drill. Between his severe reflux and my poorly established supply, it took us three long months (and the addition of solid food) to get his weight under control. He really didn’t start thriving until almost a year. I’m hoping this next time will be different.
Bethany – I actually was looking into this!! I have just done some basic searches, but a few of the moms I know who had GD also had supply issues. I’m so glad you actually heard this from a LC – I haven’t heard it validated from anyone who was trained. I am SO hoping that’s not the case though, since I have it again with this baby!! 🙁 But I’m definitely concerned about it :/
I am laying in bed nursing my seventh little baby blessing. It’s the most special bond ever! My two cents….keep that baby on you all of the time. really. With my first four, I did it all wrong. I had them on schedules and we slept apart. Our last three, I don’t watch the clock and I put them in the bed with me. Also, no pacifiers or thumbs….if they want to suck let them use momma 🙂
Blessings,
Angela
Seven? WOW! You are truly blessed, Angela! We did a LOT of baby-wearing with Isaac as well – and he slept in our room until about 6 months old. We had no schedule to speak of haha 😉 So funny to see how we evolve as parents as we have more kids – I’m sure you’ve seen such a progression by your seventh!! 🙂