When I was pregnant with the girls I was HELL BENT on nursing them. I bought every nursing pillow and aid for nursing. I read every book on nursing and nursing twins. I got my hands on a good pump AND rented a hospital pump for the first month. I was SURE I was going to be able to nurse my girls for a long while. After they were born that dream slowly unraveled. Between feeding tubes, my milk not coming in, an extended NICU stay and other factors I ended up only being able to pump and supplement with formula. I was close to devastated that my dream didn't work out. Because I required IVF and a C-section that was going to be the ONE THING I could do "naturally".
When I got pregnant with Jack I decided that I was going to nurse but I was going to take a much more laid back approach. I read a great book that made nursing sound a lot more natural and easy than the books I had read in the past. I got my Boppy ready but also bought some formula just in case.
Within minutes of Jack being born the boy was ready to nurse. He was rooting and sucking like a mad man. Because I struggled with the anesthesia I wasn't able to nurse until I got into my room which was hours after he was born. Thankfully he started to nurse like a pro.
Since then nursing has been both way easier and way harder than I anticipated. We've hit some bumps in the road like thrush, engorgement, horrible pain, problems latching and being exhausted from doing every single feeding. The great parts have been a baby who shows awesome feeding cues and is a great eater. I knew nursing was a time investment but that was an understatement. Some days it feels like all I do is feed him. I am just so thankful that I am getting the chance to do this one "normal", "natural" thing. IVF and C-section aside my body is cooperating with this one part.
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As far as the nursing thing, (I know you've already been a "new mom" before), if you can stick it out for the first six weeks, it really does get easier after that. It's like your body and your baby suddenly click and they know what to do. Maybe it has something to do with the normal baby blues (not ppd) lifting after 6 wks too. But I've felt with my two babes that after we got over the 6 wk hump it was easy sailing. Good luck!
On another note, congrats! I've been a long time reader and I don't know if I've ever commented. I don't know how I found your blog, if you ever posted in one of the groups on WebMD, I used to hang out there when TTC. Anyway, I am so happy for all of you!
Erin - that's what i keep hearing. I'm committed this time so pain and all I am in this for the long run. :D
Good for you two! The other nice thing about nursing is that is forces you to slow down and take it easy.
It is a huge time commitment. Especially at the beginning. Perhaps in the night have Bry get up with him, change his diaper and then give him to you to nurse. This is the arrangement we had and it worked well. Made me feel like I wasn't doing all the work, all night long.
And I'm so glad it's going well this time around. I know how much you wanted to make it work.
so happy for you! well worth it. having been through thrush, mastitis et al I can empathize, but clearly you can handle all that and it will pass.
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