Ok, nursing is killing me. Its been a week and I feel like crying every time he latches on. I actually have started crying twice but I may have been overwhelmed and over tired in addition to being in pain. Tim has had pneumonia so we haven't wanted him handling Tate much so I have been a one woman show. I have been dead set on switching to formula but my money saving husband is encouraging me to be strong and wait it out another few days- which is most likely when the pain will subside. This happened with both other kids but man, this kid really gets latched! I had a great plan to pump a bottle- only I don't have my pump handy so I did it by hand. I know, again with more information than needed. So I got enough in the bottle for the size of stomach he probably has a this point. I picked up the room a little and kept thinking how me investing in a half decent pump was enough of a compromise, that Tim and I could both get what we want. I really did feel this sense of euphoria that I have not yet felt since this boy was born. I know- it sounds bad. I love him I promise but this was a HUGE turn in my nursing attitude. I was so excited to try him out on a bottle that I woke him up- it was time anyway for him to eat. So I unswaddled him and he had his first blowout... how memorable. I got him cleaned up and changed and then I sat comfortably upstairs and watched him start chugging. I burped him a few times in between but before long the bottle was empty. Crap. He was looking for more. My awesome plan was not working. I didn't want to nurse him. But he was hungry so what was I supposed to do. So, I almost cried again- twice cause he wasn't happy with just one side- only the pain didn't last as long. My awesome plan was shot to pieces. I still think a semi nice pump could be a good solution to my main complaints about nursing... So, we'll see.
Both Brayden and Tate were sleeping but then Brayden woke up so now I have to be a mom again. Olivia was delightfully distracted with cousins so I was kinda on my own. Real quick though, I measured my hips- they were 39.5 inches around the largest parts of my bottom half. I haven't done the best job wearing the shrinkx thing- I have worn it a few days for a good 8 hours but I measured this morning and I was just under 39. So, maybe they would have gone down some on their own or maybe this is starting to work. We will see how much different things seem in a few weeks.
5 bits of perspective:
Sorry Laurel!! I hated nursing too. All of it. But ESP the first couple weeks when you sit there wincing in pain. Don't buy a pump. I have one and hardly used it to warrant the cost. The time you spend pumping and bottle feeding doesn't make it efficient. And I thought I could solely pump and bottle feed so that when I was in the city or subway with nowhere to nurse I could use the bottle. But for whatever reason, using only a pump doesnt stimulate your milk supply as much as nursing and so you will lose your supply. Keep with it!!! You can do it! Do you have lots of Lansiinoah? And could you always have some Tylenol in your system to take the edge off?
He could be latching wrong. I am sure if you went back to L&D a nurse could give you some help and let you know if that is the problem. Good luck!
Ugh, I had nursing problems with Cohen, too. It took me 5 weeks for it to stop hurting because instead of just nursing through it I would pump so I could get a break, but then the skin didn't toughen up for a while. So with Eden I just nursed straight and after about 2 weeks my toes stopped curling up in pain every time she latched on. You can do it! One thing that helped me with Eden was using a shield every other time she nursed, not every time, but just enough to give my skin a break so it wouldn't crack and bleed like it did with Cohen. I got it at the hospital, but I'm sure they sell them somewhere or a lactation consultant would know where to get one. Congratulations, too, love the name Tate! Hope the nursing gets better soon! :)
I don't like nursing either, but like you, because of the cost of formula I'm continuing on! Going along with the above comment- as long as Tate is not nipple sensitive a shield works wonders! Used them w/ Parker (should've w/ Brynn) and it really helps. You can get them at Babies R Us. Good luck!
Nursing and I have a love/hate relationship. I hope it gets better for you! Congratulations on your baby boy!! It's been awhile since I've been on your blog and I was shocked you didn't have a girl ;) That post about your birth experience was pretty funny! You have a beautiful family :)
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