Breastfeeding Success

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and I am a strong believer
that breast is best. I especially solute the mothers that exclusively
pump. That is hard work and an amazing commitment. I also solute the mothers that tried and truly wanted to breastfeed their baby and was not able to do so. I can't imagine how difficult that experience is.

I successfully breastfed Anaiah for a little over a year, and I am
currently feeding Zariah at 7 months. I LOVE to breastfeed. I think it
makes life so much easier and it is a great way to save money. I could not even picture myself getting up several times in the middle of the
night to make a bottle.

I love the fact that I just pick up the baby and feed her. Sometimes I fall asleep or I just put her back in her bassinet. I have done all kinds of things while breastfeeding. I have washed dishes, cooked dinner, washed and folded laundry and so much more. I really enjoy the fact that there is no preparation to breastfeeding. Most people talk about how much better it is for Baby and Mom and I have noticed that both of my girls have few doctor visits. However, I am a big believer in keeping life simple and costs low. 

Breastfeeding wasn't always easy for me though... When I first started with Anaiah in the hospital it was terrible. I was determined and demanded the help from my nurses and lactation consultant. I think I had her see me in the hospital every day to make sure I was doing everything correctly. Anaiah wanted to breastfeed every hour or more I swear.

Then I realized she was not always hungry, she needed to pacify. I am not a pacifier. I wasn't planning on giving her a pacifier because I was afraid it would cause confusion and make it difficult to breastfeed. I was so wrong! I NEEDED to give her a pacifier if I was going to be breastfeeding. My nipples got so sore and so cracked I was actually bleeding. I had to pump from one side so that I could give my nipples a rest and feed her from the other side. I also had to put breast milk and lanolin on my nipples all day.

Once I started healing and the help of the pacifier I was able to breastfeed her for over a year. I didn't go longer because she used to ask for it. I was just not comfortable having a conversation with my
child about my breast. So she was weaned and took a bottle.
Breastfeeding Zariah wasn't so bad until she was 6 months and got two bottom teeth. Anaiah didn't start getting teeth until she was almost a year old. So I never had to worry about teeth with Anaiah. Zariah decided one day to bite me. She actually did it three times that day. It hurt so bad I was bleeding. I thought I was done. I could not go through with breastfeeding if I was going to potentially be bitten.

I went home and started pumping. I thought that I was going to be
exclusively pumping. That way she could still get the benefits of
breast milk while I save money. Yeah that was a no. It was so much
work and so time consuming. I would pump for an hour or more and only get 1 oz. So since I wasn't getting much milk from pumping I still had to put her to the breast. I think she learned that when she bites she is done and I think that's what got her to stop biting. Every time she bit me I would just take her off and put her down. Mostly because I was in so much pain. Since I kept doing that, she stopped biting and I was no longer afraid to feed her, and I stared breastfeeding again.

I'm actually really happy that I did.

Breastfeeding isn't always easy and takes a lot of commitment. I LOVE looking at my children while they are eating and experiencing the ways that they learn to sooth themselves. Anaiah plays with skin and Zariah plays with her ear. I LOVE the connection that I feel to them as they look up at me. I learn their schedule and get to spend great time with them. I hope to breastfeed all of my children until they are at least one year old. The only way a person can successfully breastfeed is with persistence and determination. There is help that provides information and sometimes will come out to you. Reading and asking questions so that you know what to expect and where to go for help.
www.lalecheleague.org