Confessions of a Breastfeeding Mother

A new mother once shared with me, “My labor and delivery were much easier than I expected, but no one told me how difficult breastfeeding would be.”  This sentiment has been echoed in many subsequent discussions I have shared with other new moms.  Even with all of the resources available out there for breastfeeding mothers, you may be surprised to learn that… 

Breastfeeding doesn’t always come easily. Like many new mothers, I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to breastfeed my baby as soon as possible after her birth.  As it turned out, my daughter was not all that interested in nursing for several hours (I guess 28 hours of labor and delivery tuckered her out too!).  Of course, once she worked up an appetite, our progress was quickly hindered by difficulties with latching on. Luckily, the hospital where my daughter was born offered a lactation consultation service prior to discharge.  My first (and only) breastfeeding “lesson” went something like this: “First hold the baby in your left arm. Make sure to support the baby’s head and neck with your left hand.  Then, line up the baby to your nipple. Then, with your right hand, hold your right breast like a submarine sandwich (visualize a hands-on demonstration by a very over-zealous consultant while her supervisor observed from the corner).  Then, tickle your baby’s lip with your nipple.  Then, wait for the baby to open her mouth wide.  No… no… wait until it’s really wide open.  Now, quickly bring the baby’s mouth over your nipple.”  Keep in mind, I had two lactation consultants and my husband present to help me arrange all the necessary pillows to support my arms and the wee one.  Needless to say, I wondered how I would ever remember all of this when I would have to reproduce this complex sequence of events of home…alone.  I did not believe the lactation consultant when she said that soon, I too, would be nursing the baby with one hand and vacuuming the carpet with the other.  While I never got quite that proficient, I did once answer the door (to a very surprised UPS delivery-man) while breastfeeding my daughter. In a nutshell: Be patient and you and baby will figure it all out.  

Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable at first.  New moms don’t know what sensations to expect from breastfeeding.  Some moms think it will “tickle.” In reality, you may be surprised by how vigorously your newborn can suck.  Your baby will draw your nipple over their tongue, pulling it far back into their mouth. Nipple irritation and soreness can be a sign of a problem such as improper latch-on or thrush so it is important to check with your medical provider or lactation consultant if these problems persist. However, for many women, some discomfort is just a normal part of getting started.  Breastfeeding resources will state that breast tenderness will resolve in a week or two.  However, from talking to other new moms, it can sometimes take much longer. In own case, it was several months before all of my nipple soreness resolved.  Be patient and in the meantime, you may want to ask your medical provider about comfort measures such as ointments, gel pads, heat or ice. 

Breastfeeding is a full-time job (well, almost).  New moms are often stunned to find out just how much of their time will be spent breastfeeding their little bundle of joy.  Newborn babies eat 8-12 times per day.  Each feeding will take an average of 20-40 minutes (depending on whether your baby is a “sprinter” or a “marathoner”). If you are also pumping your milk to prepare for your return to work, you will also need to factor in time for expressing your milk; cleaning pump equipment; preparing bottles and so on. Although this is certainly time well spent, even the most dedicated nursing mother can become frustrated by the time commitment. Practical as I am, I reminded myself that each nursing session was an opportunity to bond with my baby, and each pumping session was an opportunity to relax and think about my baby and the gift I was providing for her.

To be continued…