Breastfeeding at Two Months
Miss E is two months old now. And I’m still breastfeeding! Doesn’t sound like much of an accomplishment but I’ve overcome a lot.
Finger feeding to nipple shield with tube.
Nipple shield with tube to nipple shield with formula squirted in the tip and supplementing.
Nipple shield with formula to Nipple shield alone, still supplementing.
Nipple shield to nothing, no supplementing!
Well to be honest, I have to give her an ounce of supplement in the evening because my milk supply is always just low in the evenings. I’ve had rough spots here and there with some very painful clogged ducts. But overall I feel like a normal breastfeeding mom now. And that is huge!
At six weeks she went from taking an hour to eat to taking 20 minutes. And now she takes less than 10 minutes.
I want to say thank you to all of you who encouraged me or sympathized with me because it HAS gotten easier and it’s SO much better. But it definitely wasn’t easy.
I know that sometimes it just doesn’t work and a mom shouldn’t feel guilty for doing her job, which is just to keep that baby fed. But having been in the position of feeling like a failure/judged for giving my baby formula, I feel like this is preferable. And now that I can do it without any props, it’s so much easier than worrying about going out and running out of formula or whatever. And it’s free (you can’t beat that!) And I feel more part of the ‘club.’
When I had a C section with my first baby, I felt so left out when moms started sharing their labor stories. I didn’t go into labor, I barely remembered the birth. And after I had my second vaginally, I finally had something to share. It feels like that now with breastfeeding. I have something to contribute. I can sit in the Mother’s Lounge at church with all the other nursing moms and chat about our crazy lives. I can ask my friends my questions about it. And I can act all cool about nursing like it aint no thang. Oh yeah!
But seriously thank you, my friends. I read and try to respond to all your comments. They give me so much encouragement.
And now that she’s getting older, I have found some time here and there to start sewing again. I got some fun tutorials coming up!!
Congrats, sounds like a big mile stone. I can imagine! Also she is TOO cute! Good luck with all of it!
Natalie
http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com
Thanks Natalie!
First of all she is absolutely adorable. I’m expecting my first little girl in May. 🙂 Also, congratulations on making it thus far! I am planning on breastfeeding, but everyone is always telling me how difficult it will be, and how it’s so much easier to use formula, and I’m like NO. It’s so much better for little Emma if I breastfeed, it’s free, and this is what my body was MADE to do! Hmph! It’s nice to see a survivor story for a little inspiration that I CAN do it!
Thanks!
Jess @ That’s Sew Crafty
That’s actually better I think, to expect that it will be difficult. I had the expectation that it would be easy—so naive of me! That’s probably why I kind of just gave up the first time, everything was just too hard. So I encourage you to try it out and stick with it if you come across some difficulties. However sometimes you just can’t due to physical problems or whatever so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t. Remember the first rule: FEED THE BABY! Formula is NOT poison, it’s the best thing you can give your baby next to breastmilk. Better than a cheeseburger anyway. 🙂 Good luck!!
Jessica-I SO agree with Heidi (and Heidi, what a balanced opinion coming from experience!) I totally was going to breastfeed, and everyone around me did too. I went to the classes, I read the books. Nothing prepared me for what was to come! We went 3 whole weeks where I was in excruciating pain and honestly afraid of my little love, unable to rest, bond, relax anything! The whole time she was losing weight and I was an emotional mess! Turns out (after 3 Lactation consultants!) that she had this thing called a “bubble” or “high arched” palate that makes it hard for baby to compress the nipple properly even when the latch looks great to everyone looking from outside! (trust me, it was so confusing when everyone with experience, who is supposed to know is saying, the latch looks great, but you’re in excruciating pain!) It IS better to plan for difficulties, that way you have the names and phone numbers of support people if needed!
I totally missed Heidi’s point at the time-FEED THE BABY! It is SOOO true. Try hard and try to overcome obstacles if you feel it is worth it–but don’t miss out on precious bonding time and don’t make yourself completely crazy if it isn’t working and you can’t figure out why, or you know why and there is no easy way to fix it. Bottom line, if you have given it your best, and you get to a point where you need a break, feed the baby and give yourself a break! Heidi! Thanks for sharing such a balanced viewpoint. Everytime I read someone like you say this, it really helps me stop feeling guilty for having to feed my little one formula! It turned out to be the best choice for our family–even though it was not my ideal!!
Wow, that’s awesome!! I’m one of those “totally take it for granted” types because before we leave the hospital my kiddos have been latch champs. It’s never been hard for me at all, and I realize that’s not always the case. Free and easy is so nice though, isn’t it? Congrats for sticking with it to do what YOU wanted to do!! Way to go!
Yep–it’s been so nice. And has saved us money for sure. Good luck with your new babe!
Good job, mama! My daughter is 3 months old and we are still struggling. But, she did stop using the shield this week!
Congrats! I had to slowly get my baby off the shield. I tried it a few times when she was about 5 weeks and it worked but she wasn’t latching right so it hurt a ton and I found myself needing to supplement her more, as if she wasn’t getting all the milk. So I used the shield for awhile longer—as she gets older it will get easier to wean her off. But no pressure! Keep it up!
I had 3 kids and did not breastfeed but know that I’m a nursing student and learning the importance of breastfeeding I encourage it, not to say that formula feeding is a bad thing either. You say that there is not enough in the evening. Are you drinking enough fluids? You don’t want to overload yourself with fluids because your kidney’s will just release it all but having enough to satisfy the baby and your body. At least 10 cups of fluids is a good amount. Hope my advice helps but I’m sure you know this already. She’s beautiful by the way.
Good advice to remember! I definitely need to drink more water. thanks
Lucky, lucky baby!! You go Mom!! I was blessed to easily breast feed both of our children (now 14 & 17.) My heart definitely goes out to those Mom’s that cannot or do not want to breast feed. No judgment -I just happen to think it is one of life’s greatest experiences. 🙂 Our first son had to be delivered via C-section -boy I so felt guilty about that, like I somehow caused it! Go figure! He was 2 weeks late, and I had to have that ole Pitocin to get him going. Smart little baby not to go into labor on his own…. the surgeon said that his cord was wrapped around under his arm and tucked behind his ear -and that is why his pulse was stopping. Good thing out little guy got us all lined for the that C-section otherwise he might not be here now. Definitely Heavenly intervention! I am so happy for you! And, even if you quit tomorrow, I will still be happy for you. 🙂
When I had my C section we tried to do a version first (they try to turn the baby) but it would not work. When he was delivered, the cord was around his neck twice and it would have been disastrous if the version had worked. God is watching out for us! Thanks for your comment.
Congratulations on making it two months. Great milestone!
However, I have to admit that I won’t be following your blog anymore… I think the way you talked about breastfeeding being a “club” and now you feel a part of it isn’t helping formula feeding moms feel any better about their choice no matter what you say in the beginning of that paragraph. I’m a ff-ing mom who had to have an emergency c-section for which I got general anesthesia and wasn’t a part of the birth at all. I ff because I am on medications that were not safe for my LO. She’ll be my only because of health concerns so I “missed out” on being in the club at all. It hurts to think that moms like you DO think of yourselves as part of a different club, and it’s a shame that it has to be that way at all.
For the record, I almost never get defensive about formula feeding, but this post really hit a nerve with me for some reason. I am confident that I did the right thing when we had to make a choice, because my daughter deserves a healthy, living mom more than she needs breastmilk. I’m just grateful that moms around me who DO breastfeed don’t treat me like I’m not a part of the “club”.
I’m sorry if you were hurt by me saying the word ‘club.’ It was merely a figure of speech. I had to formula feed my first two children so I would never intentionally say anything to hurt FF mothers. Of course your child needs a mom more than breastmilk. And obviously every mother should make the best decision for their children, as I know you did.
Hi Sarah-
As a mom who loves the idea of breastfeeding, and supports it, but for whom it wasn’t the right choice for either, I just want to say that I would absolutely support your choice to get the meds you need and not breastfeed. I think our feeding choices may separate us at times, but we all want what is best for our little ones, and almost always that means what is good for mom (you) as well. Even though I tried breastfeeding, I sometimes feel left out when moms chat about it, etc, but I’m in another, more important one, and I bet its one you, me and Heidi all are in! The “I want and do what is best for my baby even when it means sacrifice on my part, or doing what might get me criticized by others.” More power to you for doing whats best for all of you!!
That is awesome, good job to the both of you. Breastfeeding is difficult – it takes both momma and baby to work, I’m glad you two have figured it out and struck a good balance! My little one wouldn’t latch on no matter what I did, so I pumped ALL the time and fed him from a small bottle. I always felt like less of a mother for not being able to make it work. We tried a lactation consultant and I read every passage from every book on the subject, but alas- nada.
Congrats on your big accomplishment! Keep up the good work 🙂
-Kendall
{Songbirdsandbuttons.blogspot.com}
Thanks Kendall. I had to exclusively pump for my second child, so I pumped for five months. It was torturous–I had plugged milk ducts like every day and it took a lot of time. I don’t think it matters how you feed your children–just that you do it! I am sharing my excitement with my readers that after three tries I finally have been successful. And for the record, I really didn’t think I would this time. I wasn’t going to try if there were difficulties. There’s a lot of pressure for moms to breastfeed in the traditional sense but maybe it’s because when it can be done, it really is the easiest and most natural solution. But that doesn’t mean that feeding your baby in ANY other way is wrong.
It sounds like you are doing a wonderful job! Only having two, you are one kid ahead of me! And yes, babies are NOT easy. You do the best you can, which you are. Every day you can get milk into her is one day more but when the time comes that your supply is down, just remember, she’ll be more than wonderful on formula as well. It’s only the pocketbook that seems to take a digger. Beautiful girl!!
I had a c section, and I formula feed my baby. Not just that, I OPTED for the c section! The horror! Hahaha I love the looks I get when people find out, like I’m a monster. But baby girl is healthy & thriving. Congrats on making it 2 months. I chose not to BF, so I don’t know what its like. But I’ve watched friends struggle, and it really is heart breaking. Especially when they have to admit defeat and exclusively FF, when they so desperately wanted to BF.
Congratulations! Breastfeeding is NOT easy! Although it sounds like the worst is definitely over, I am always amazed that breastfeeding constantly dishes out curveballs. I nursed each of my first two kids for about a year and I was always like “ok, now what do I do about THIS?” or “What is going on now?” It always seemed so unfair, tiring, and discouraging. But when you think back to where you started, it’s not so bad. Stick with it. [Oh yeah, and the FREE part is so nice! Definitely not the most important–possibly the least important thing–but OH SO NICE! It makes me smile right now!] I guess God really does provide–for all.
Hi, I came via craftgossip and saw your baby posts. I’ve had 6 babies (one c-section) and nursed them all. Some were easy, and some were tough! Give yourself credit. You have done an amazing thing with all the hard work and supplementing it took to get here. I’m really in awe. I would have given up. The weight-loss thing will happen. I think your body is in starvation mode right now. At just 2 months post-partum and nursing (with your busy life) you need a lot of calories. Give yourself another month before you panic on the weight front. At a certain point, the weight starts to drop off as the baby uses more. Also, if your baby will eat during the night, it will help keep up your milk production. Or, if you will feed her every 2 – 2-1/2 hours during the day, you will produce a lot and she might sleep all night. Either way is good. You are doing great. Big hugs and pats on the back!
Good to remember–sometimes I forget to go easy on myself. Thanks!
Wow I had the exact same experience breastfeeding my first. Finger feeding with a tube and syringe with pumped milk, shield and tube, and then shield until 5 months when he finally took to the breast without it. He nursed until 2 1/2 years.
Good for you for sticking with it! I remember how horribly hard it was and when I had my second and she nursed easily I realized how much harder it had been the first time around (and tiring!). I had never heard anyone go through the same thing as me! Thanks for sharing! 🙂