After having my second child, I figured I was ready for just about everything when it came to life with a baby. Except for one thing: breastfeeding. My first child was strictly formula fed. As I was 18, in my first year of college, I really didn’t even consider breastfeeding an option, assuming it would be more stress. So when I was expecting my second child, I knew I wanted to breastfeed, as I felt I missed out on that with my first. And oh my goodness, has it been a learning experience. Here is what I have learned in the first four weeks of breastfeeding.
1. Clusterfeeding
Cluster what? Yeah clusterfeeding, and it’s exsctly what it sounds like: a cluster of feedings. Cluster feedings, are common the newborn stage. I was induced with Novella at 6AM and had her by 9pm that evening. I got to the postpartum wing roughly 12:30am and was up off and on all night learning to breastfeed and get checked my nurses. This carried on well into the next day. By the second evening, I was sooo ready to sleep, until the baby nursed for pretty much 4 hours straight. Turns out, that’s called cluster feeding. And I had never been more tired.
2. The Ring of Fire
That’s what your nipples look like, and feel like the first week of nursing. Seriously, stock up on that nipple butter now, and use it before and after every feeding. The comfort it brings is a godsend.
3. Engorgement
Engorgement happens about the third through fifth day of nursing. It’s this terrible and uncomfortable feeling when your breast swell to the size of Africa as your milk comes in. They are sore (understatement), rock hard, veiny, and leaking waterfalls of fresh breastmilk. Pumping, cold compress, and hot showers gave me relief!
4. Mastitis
My last day of engorgement, I felt feverish, achy, and flu-like, and then I saw it in the mirror, a bright red circle on the side of my breast. My sick symptoms were a sign of mastitis, as if my boobs weren’t sore enough right? I frantically massaged to help the clogged duct, took tylenol, and used an ice pack. Thankfully, it was gone by the next morning, and I am dreading the more than likely second round of mastitis I am sure to have at some point over the next year.
5. Its Different
I have noticed that she just smells so much sweeter than my formula fed son. There is just something about formula that smells sour in comparison to the sweetness of breastfed babies on the breath and the spit up. Speaking of spit up, formula babies have spit up that stains, while breast fed babies don’t!
6. The Bond
Its as true as they say! The bond you experience between you and your child is truly incredible. The crazy look in her eye as she chomps down and gets the first drink of milk in several hours is adorable, and the way she falls asleep with her hand curled up is the sweetest. I am so incredibly proud I chose to breastfeed, and while I dread the teething stage, I adore the attatchment she and I have to one another.
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