Thursday, July 23, 2015

5 Things I Learned Nursing


Not everybody can nurse their child and not everybody wants to. That is totally fine! It is your choice and I support you!

There were some days I wished my husband was the one who did the nursing so I could get a good nights sleep! I wasn't that lucky though.



I always heard "Oh it will be so wonderful for you to bond with (insert baby name)! You will enjoy it!" Ok some days I loved being connected and having that special time with my babies. Okay Okay I was lying when I said some days it was most days that I loved it! There were other days when I didn't want to do it! I am only human and being a constant buffet is hard at times. During all that time I did learn 5 things while I was nursing my children. 

#1 It is HARD work! 
     Nursing is the hardest thing I have ever done! I don't mean just the first two weeks while you are getting a rhythm and are waiting for your milk to come in. I mean the whole time! I was always making sure my baby had enough food. I had to make sure I was drinking more than enough water because I normally would choose something else. I had to watch what I was eating because my milk supply would change and because the kids tummies would react a certain way. It at times was exhausting to feel so tied down by the work I had to do so my baby could just drink! It's was down right hard work but totally worth it in the end!

#2 It can make you feel like a failure! 
    No matter which baby it was there was at least one or two times I felt like a failure. I worried about whether my kids were getting what they needed even though their pediatrician never saw any problems with them. I do remember feeling horrible with my first son D3 because I had to give him a bottle. I was not producing much and he was eating double of what his sister ate. I knew I wasn't being a bad mom or failing him in any way but I still felt like I couldn't provide for him. Don't let yourself get that way if you can't nurse for whatever reason it is! I was still a good mom and doing what was best for him. 

#3 It maybe the most natural thing in the world but it feels weird!
     I was talking to a mommy friend who had just had her daughter about nursing and was trying to explain how it feels. I didn't want to give her the normal answer of how the latching on hurts at times . I also didn't want to tell how bad it hurts when you are full and need to pump. I told her that it was hard to explain but I feel like tiny threads are being pulled out of me when the baby nurses. It is such a weird feeling! 

#4 You will get weird looks from people! 
     I was not someone who always nursed in public. I just wasn't comfortable enough to do it all the time. I give women who can major mommy props! There was times I had no choice because there was no place for me to go to have privacy. I would get looks from them like I was a horrible person because I wasn't a nursing Jedi that could just magically make milk appear in my child's stomach. Sorry it is hard trying to wrangle a baby who is hungry and doesn't want to latch on. People can be cruel sometimes! 

#5 You will be SAD when it ends! 
     If you would have told me a year ago when Bug was a baby I would be sad when he was done nursing I would have told you that you were down right loco!  Then I would of had to apologize cause you would have been right! I miss that time that we had together! He decided when he was 10 mo old that he didn't want to latch on any longer. He thought taking a bottle was the best thing since sliced bread and he had no idea what sliced bread was! Those first weeks or so when I was drying up I was so happy I didn't have to nurse him any longer. Then 2 weeks later I was SAD I didn't get that bonding time with him. I would long for that one on one time. I had to make a new way that we would get that time together. Now we cuddle every night before bed either reading books or watching a movie laying on the couch. 

No matter how many classes you take nobody can ever prepare you for the high and lows of nursing your baby. It is one of the most awarding things I have ever done. I just wish other women are able to do the same.

I'm linking up this post with....
Mums' Days
Domestic Momster

9 comments:

  1. I was sad every time one of my babies stopped nursing. With my last I was willing to nurse her well into her 2nd year of life....then 1 week before her first birthday she just quit! Oh well....

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    1. It always amazes me how upset I was when they stopped nursing. Thank you for commenting!

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  2. Ahhhh yes, breastfeeding is hard but it's amazing - I was so sad when it ended for all three of my kiddies. It's a wonderful bonding time with your baby. After a few weeks post feeding I felt great though & back to myself. Weaning is the hardest part #momsterlink

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    1. I never actually went through the weaning process. My youngest decided on his own he was done even though I was still producing quite a bit. With my older two my body stopped producing. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done!

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  3. I agree with all of it. Although I could never breast feed in public due to the fact that my boobs are rather large and when full of milk bigger then my baby's head. But I can't stand people who think they have to make mothers feel uncomfortable for doing so. And yes I was sad when it ended. Thanks for sharing with #momsterslink. Welcome to the land of blogging and hope to see more of you! If you have questions about anything I am always available to help a fellow blogger :D

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    1. Thank you so much! I will probably asking you lots of questions coming up as I am still trying to figure all of this out. I really do enjoy it though. Everyone I have met has been so wonderful!

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  4. I totally empathise with number five. I have been breastfeeding baby number two for 6 months now and I am ready to stop. However, I keep feeding him myself during the night as I know that when I do stop then it really is the end of nursing for me as we are not planning on having anymore children. #momsterslink

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  5. I totally empathise with number 5. I have been breastfeeding my second child for 6 months and am ready to stop. Although, a part of me doesn't want to as I know I won't do it again. It's hard to accept that that part of my life will soon be over as we have no plans for baby number three. #momsterslink

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    1. That is EXACTLY how I felt with the baby. I didn't want to keep going cause I had a few clogged ducts and low milk supply but I kept at it. Thanks for commenting!

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