Being new to the blogging world, I have been looking all night at lots of inspirational blogs and posts. One that really caught my eye due to my current situation is a post on breastfeeding that has been written over at Mummy Loves... and this has inspired me to blog about my own breastfeeding experience.
Mads is currently thirteen weeks and I have been breast feeding exclusively since she was born. She was born by c-section and at the hospital, although the midwives were all brilliant, I found it very difficult to latch her on due to being sore. To make matters worse I hated hospital so discharged myself after just one night, when I really should have stayed in longer.
The first week was awful. I can honestly say I have never been in so much pain. I remember feeling like a pihareana was chomping on my nipple everytime Mads latched on. I had done NCT antenatal classes and during them they told us that if we were doing it right it wouldn't hurt. (Since then all the mothers in my class have admitted it hurt them too- I am not sure if we were all doing it wrong?)
The pain did get less intense over time- especially after slathering on tons of Lansinoh cream and after a while it didn't hurt at all. The cream was my lifesaver!
However then we hit our next obstacle! I developed such bad mastitis that myself and Mads had to go back into hospital where we both were on antibiotics and drips. However we still carried on feeding as I wanted to do it more than anything.
After this episode Mads completely rejected my left breast, and to this day still only feeds off the right one. (She is a fussy little madam even at 13 weeks!) so I have to constantly express off the left hand side which is very time consuming and frustrating! I have developed mastitis in that side four times now, each time making me so close to giving up.
Yet I am still breast feeding.
Because for all those setbacks it is something I set my heart on doing, and something which truly makes me feel good. I love the fact I am giving my daughter a great start in life, and I love the feeling of closeness I get when we are snuggled up together before she goes to sleep.
Yes it does hurt to start with, but once you have got used too it, it is a lovely experience. And best of all it's free!
There will be people out there who decide not to breastfeed, and there will be people out there who try it and for whatever reason can't continue, and they shouldn't be made to feel guilty for not continuing, it is our choice as mummy's.
However I can truly say that it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done!
1 comment:
thanks for following me - great to have you on board! On the breastfeeding, i think it's brilliant that you've carried on through all that. I did it for 6 weeks - well mixed feeding with formula as well and I couldn't get further than that. I'm expecting our next baby in July and I'll give it another try but again won't beat myself up if I can't keep it up. Well done for carrying on and it's great for your daughter and your bank balance!
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