We shall dedicate this post to all things breastfeeding. Hooray! I know...don't roll over from the excitement. I have been wanting to document my thoughts/feelings on this little journey though so I'll remember it forever.
Breastfeeding used to FREAK me out. For real. I don't know why, I KNOW it is completely natural...but it just kinda gave me the heebeejeebees (is that how you would spell that, ha!). However, when I became pregnant I knew without a doubt that I wanted to give breastfeeding a try. I don't care what other people do at all, but for me; I do believe *if it's possible* breast is best if you can, for however long you can. *I totally understand that it just doesn't work for some people for whatever reason, and I would have been completely okay if that was the case for me. But, I just felt that if it does work, then do it while I can. *make sense?*
I'm not one of these people who feels like I am creating a special bond with my baby while I breastfeed, nor am I going to be really sad when I stop, it's not really an emotional thing for me. It's more of "this is what I am supposed to do" type feeling. I went into it with the attitude that if it works, great...but if not, no biggie either.
Fortunately for me, it worked...very well. Collins latched on right away with no problems at all. I have never had any supply problems either (well if you consider OVER-supply a problem, geesh!) which also has made this whole breastfeeding journey fairly easy for us. Of course the first week or so was very painful. VERY. I used lanolin and gel pads constantly. But, after that went away...it's been easy breezy. I do like breastfeeding for the health benefits I feel like it provides (again...not knocking people who don't breastfeed in ANY way, this is just my personal experience/opinion) and for the cheapness...yes, I am excited that I don't have to spend money on formula yet. That stuff is CRAZY expensive.
On the one hand, breastfeeding is convenient/easy...you can "whip" out your breast anywhere (well, I've never breastfed in public...but you know what I mean...public restrooms, my car...thank goodness for my hooter hider!) and feed your child. You don't have to worry about fixing a bottle, etc. If your baby becomes hungry/fussy unexpectedly an hour before she's supposed to eat...no problem at all. But, on the other hand...it is time consuming and a HUGE commitment on the part of the mom. I've spent lots of time by myself at events (well me and my phone...and to Mikey's credit he will come keep me company a lot). You are tied down in a way...until you start pumping, but really even if you are pumping and the baby can get a bottle by someone else...you can only go so long before you have to pump or nurse or your tata's will um...for lack of a better word, explode! So yeah...a definite time commitment. Now that I have gone back to work, I only nurse twice a day. She gets a bottle for the rest of her feedings and I have to pump, pump, pump! I swear that pump is attached to me at all times now. Seriously, I can't go anywhere without it. I've even pumped driving down the road!! But, you gotta do what you gotta do. It is hard though...I admit when I am in the middle of something at work, the LAST thing I want to do is get up and go pump. I have to pump right before I go to bed and right when I wake up...no sleeping in for me, even though I have a baby that sleeps wonderfully...I can't sleep late because I HAVE to pump by 6 or 6:30 if I go to bed around 10:30. It is what it is and I am completely okay with that right now. However, I will be okay with it when I decide enough is enough and give it up. It's a lot of work to keep up. Collins will be three months (tear...) on Thursday May 17, and really anytime after that I would be okay not breastfeeding anymore. We will see how long I go...I'm not dying to stop but I am not dying to do it for a really long time either. Ideally I think I'd like to do it for about two more months, but I'm not going to stress if that doesn't happen.
And on the issue of the actual TIME magazine cover...the beauty of our country is that the MOM of that child can decide what she wants to do. Do I think it's "right"...not really, but I don't care what she does. If she is comfortable breastfeeding her child until they are that old...than by all means go for it. I don't understand why everyone else in our country feels the need to judge so quickly? It's not something I would do, but neither is half the other stuff that goes on in this world. Anyways...enough of my opinions/rambling for the day. I just wanted to document how I feel about this whole breastfeeding thing at this point in my life as a new mom.
Happy Friday!
Breastfeeding used to FREAK me out. For real. I don't know why, I KNOW it is completely natural...but it just kinda gave me the heebeejeebees (is that how you would spell that, ha!). However, when I became pregnant I knew without a doubt that I wanted to give breastfeeding a try. I don't care what other people do at all, but for me; I do believe *if it's possible* breast is best if you can, for however long you can. *I totally understand that it just doesn't work for some people for whatever reason, and I would have been completely okay if that was the case for me. But, I just felt that if it does work, then do it while I can. *make sense?*
I'm not one of these people who feels like I am creating a special bond with my baby while I breastfeed, nor am I going to be really sad when I stop, it's not really an emotional thing for me. It's more of "this is what I am supposed to do" type feeling. I went into it with the attitude that if it works, great...but if not, no biggie either.
Fortunately for me, it worked...very well. Collins latched on right away with no problems at all. I have never had any supply problems either (well if you consider OVER-supply a problem, geesh!) which also has made this whole breastfeeding journey fairly easy for us. Of course the first week or so was very painful. VERY. I used lanolin and gel pads constantly. But, after that went away...it's been easy breezy. I do like breastfeeding for the health benefits I feel like it provides (again...not knocking people who don't breastfeed in ANY way, this is just my personal experience/opinion) and for the cheapness...yes, I am excited that I don't have to spend money on formula yet. That stuff is CRAZY expensive.
On the one hand, breastfeeding is convenient/easy...you can "whip" out your breast anywhere (well, I've never breastfed in public...but you know what I mean...public restrooms, my car...thank goodness for my hooter hider!) and feed your child. You don't have to worry about fixing a bottle, etc. If your baby becomes hungry/fussy unexpectedly an hour before she's supposed to eat...no problem at all. But, on the other hand...it is time consuming and a HUGE commitment on the part of the mom. I've spent lots of time by myself at events (well me and my phone...and to Mikey's credit he will come keep me company a lot). You are tied down in a way...until you start pumping, but really even if you are pumping and the baby can get a bottle by someone else...you can only go so long before you have to pump or nurse or your tata's will um...for lack of a better word, explode! So yeah...a definite time commitment. Now that I have gone back to work, I only nurse twice a day. She gets a bottle for the rest of her feedings and I have to pump, pump, pump! I swear that pump is attached to me at all times now. Seriously, I can't go anywhere without it. I've even pumped driving down the road!! But, you gotta do what you gotta do. It is hard though...I admit when I am in the middle of something at work, the LAST thing I want to do is get up and go pump. I have to pump right before I go to bed and right when I wake up...no sleeping in for me, even though I have a baby that sleeps wonderfully...I can't sleep late because I HAVE to pump by 6 or 6:30 if I go to bed around 10:30. It is what it is and I am completely okay with that right now. However, I will be okay with it when I decide enough is enough and give it up. It's a lot of work to keep up. Collins will be three months (tear...) on Thursday May 17, and really anytime after that I would be okay not breastfeeding anymore. We will see how long I go...I'm not dying to stop but I am not dying to do it for a really long time either. Ideally I think I'd like to do it for about two more months, but I'm not going to stress if that doesn't happen.
And on the issue of the actual TIME magazine cover...the beauty of our country is that the MOM of that child can decide what she wants to do. Do I think it's "right"...not really, but I don't care what she does. If she is comfortable breastfeeding her child until they are that old...than by all means go for it. I don't understand why everyone else in our country feels the need to judge so quickly? It's not something I would do, but neither is half the other stuff that goes on in this world. Anyways...enough of my opinions/rambling for the day. I just wanted to document how I feel about this whole breastfeeding thing at this point in my life as a new mom.
Happy Friday!
Agreed. I just thought as an advertising/journalism major they could have picked a better photo for cover! Ha I can see kids everywhere in grocery store lines pointing to it saying "boobie boobie!!!" ha!. But then again probably not much more showing than the latest Kim K cover story now is it? Wish I could have breastfed longer!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, this post made me crack up Caroline! I think you have the right attitude. Good mommy you!
ReplyDeleteI felt/feel the same way about breastfeeding. I really hope it works out for us but if not, I'll deal. Fingers crossed for success!
ReplyDelete