You Were Right March 5, 2007
Everyone said breastfeeding would get easier, and I’m happy to report that it has. Gone are the days when I seriously had to will myself to make it through one more day. Gone are the days when I cursed at simply the thought of doing it one more time. I don’t hate breastfeeding anymore, and it is such a relief.
I went ahead and bought an electric pump, and I think it was a wise investment. I only plan to use it a couple of times a week, but it makes a huge difference over the manual one I was using before. I used it yesterday and the day before and got four ounces each time, double what I was getting from the manual pump. Now I can pump and leave expressed milk with Dan and not feel like I have a ticker attached to me when I go out and run an errand or two.
We did try to have Dan take an overnight feed, but that didn’t work so well. I’m always the first to wake when Adam stirs, so it’s not like it meant any more sleep for me since I couldn’t go back to sleep while they were up. Plus, my boobs did not like skipping a feed one bit. It works much better for me to pump during the day when it means I don’t have to skip a session, so I think that’s what we’ll stick with.
It really is amazing how differently I feel about it all now. I knew it would just take time and practice, and that’s just what it took. I’ve still got the milk blister issue to contend with, but even that is starting to get better now. I’m still sticking with the dairy-free diet, and while I must admit that I daydream of pizza with lots of melted cheese and Snickers bars, it’s getting easier to deal with the new diet.
You know, I really wasn’t sure if I was going to make it with this breastfeeding stuff. I was determined to do it, but I still wasn’t sure. Now, here we are closing in on the two month mark, and it dawns on me that we’re already one-sixth of the way to my ultimate goal of breastfeeding for a year. Wow. It feels really good to be over the hump, to know that this is working and that we can keep at it. I have to admit that I feel pretty darn proud of myself.
- Posted in : our main man
- Author : amanda
Comments»
I’m so happy to hear that things are going better. You should feel proud of yourself! I’m sure a lot of people would have given up out of frustration.
Good for you! Yes, it was a little more than six weeks with my first before breastfeeding really caught on. Until then it hurt, a lot. After that? Golden. Enjoy the moment. :)
So happy for you! I’m at the point now where I love breastfeeding and can’t imagine stopping. I’m sure I will want to at some point,but right now I love it.
Congratulations on making it over the hump. You deserve to be super proud of yourself. Those first 6 weeks are incredibly hard.
Good on you, Amanda. I am facing a long road ahead with Jasper being prem, and I’m glad to be hearing positive stories.
I’m so glad to hear that it’s going better for you! I think you’ll find, too, that it even improves in ease/convenience/pain, etc. from here. Soon A. will be okay with more time between feeds, and then from there, you’ll introduce solids–another break!–and before you know it, it’ll be utterly second nature. Yes, you’re 1/6 of the way through timewise, but I think in terms of difficulty, you’re about 90% of the way through, if that makes sense.
I too had the goal of one year, and as we’re nearing that time, I think we’re going to have a hard time quitting then! It’s something that has really been so special, and I’m so glad you’ve gotten to have that experience.
Well done you, isn’t it wonderful when it all comes together! Sounds like the three of you are doing great. I had a nightmare time at the beginning but now we’re coming up to the year I’m not looking forward to stopping at all.
I am so glad that breastfeeding is working out for you.
I’m so glad it’s easier now.
congratulations. so glad it worked out for you.
So happy for you. Much to my own amazement, it’s one of my favorite things in the world now, and I can’t imagine wanting to stop. It was so painful and hard and soul-draining at the beginning, but now it’s the sweetest bonding experience I get to have with Olivia. Knowing that I will have to stop within the next few months is really difficult for me.
–Bugs
Yay! I am so glad you stuck with it and made it to the good side. I hope I have that fortitude.
Glad things are better for you!
I’m so happy to hear that things are going better. I am nearing five months and I agree with Bugs that it is a great experience now.
Glad to hear it’s getting easier! Congrats.
I’m so glad it’s going better. When you’re in the throes of torture and people keep telling you it will get better, it’s so hard to believe that. You should be proud of yourself!