Breastfeeding 101

Let me preface this entry by saying, these are MY feelings about the breastfeeding experience, and in NO way am I judging others about this topic, nor do I believe my way is any better than yours.

While I was pregnant, one of the most important parts of “becoming prepared” dealt with breastfeeding. I remember getting advice from a secretary I work with who swore I needed to “toughen up” my nipples; take a dry washcloth to ‘em, because that was the only way I was going to survive – so she thought. She had me laughing out loud after she explained to me that after her first kid, her nipples were so tough she could hang off the back of a pick-up truck and be dragged around by them – no problem. Not a visual I care to imagine, not to mention OUCH!

Picture this, Mark and I are sitting in the breastfeeding workshop offered by our hospital (yes, Mark did come with me, he’s that awesome!) and the lactation specialist asks if we have any questions. I raise my hand and ask, “So, I’ve been told to toughen up my nipples with a dry washcloth; is that really necessary?” You should have seen the look on the instructor’s face. It was as if I ran my finger nails over a chalkboard. “Heavens no! Please do NOT torture yourself like that!”

There will definitely be days in the beginning that your nipples feel raw and you’re tired of asking a 2 week old to latch on to a basketball, because you’ll be so damn engorged, but remember this, it does get better. The best tip my mom gave me to help get the baby to latch on to that basketball I mentioned – pinch your nipple between our index and middle fingers. That should do the trick.

If after a few weeks the soreness is just getting worse, and you’re ready to throw in the towel because sore nipples have turned into bait for a vampire rather than your baby, chances are, he isn’t latching correctly. Yes, you heard it, NOT latching correctly. Now don’t go getting your panties in a wad – it’s the truth. Lansinoh does wonders, and yes, I needed it, and yes, there were days my nipples felt like I had just pitched a 20 innings game of fast pitch in the freezing cold, developing the worst titty burn in history, but that didn’t stop me from pushing through.

Give yourself (and your baby) some time to get in synch. Let those porous silver dollars get used to the sucking and before you know it those headlights will develop a solid callus and you’ll soon be entering easy street.

Don’t get me wrong, cluster feeding and midnight meals that turned to snacks because Isaac decided to pass out on the job were tiresome, but can I tell you, when I get to feed him after a long day in the office, and that little boy looks up at me with those big blue eyes, ready to eat from the tap because he’s been feeding from heated breast milk in the bottle all day, it reminds me it was all worth it!

Now pumping – that’s a whole different story!