#breastfeedinguk

[breastfeedingandme]

Week 7 - Tough week

It's been a tough week, baby E is having a growth spurt. So it's been non stop feeding. The health visitor came round and was not very friendly. She gave me a lecture on routine, interacting with baby E and tummy time. After she left I felt like crap, but at least that's the last visit. I've not been able to stick to any plans this week, which has been really frustrating! Someone at breastfeeding group said, "when they are having a growth spurt and you're feeding all the time, it's easier to just give in to them. Get comfortable and put a good film on. It's what your baby need". It's very good advice. Getting her weighed next week and she's out growing her clothing. So that's a positive.

[breastfeedingandme]

Week 6 - Still going and happy

I've been out and about a lot more this week, meeting local mums and going to baby group. I’m still feeding her on demand and there are some patterns forming. She seems to have regular times for feeding in the morning and at night but during the day is still random. Baby E throws up little amounts but sometimes it's a lot more, she never seems upset by it though. I feel there is a certain amount of expectation to move onto expressing milk for baby E, but I’m not ready to stop breastfeeding her yet. I have done a little research into expressing and I think I will introduce bottles before I go back to work. Feeding is going really well although I’m still leaking a lot and I might have to start taking a change of top with me when I'm out. We’ve had our 6 week check up at the doctors and we’re both doing great.

[breastfeedingandme]

Week 5 - Established breastfeeding

This week I've noticed Baby E is not opening her mouth as wide anymore, especially when latching on to the left side. I was out in Altrincham when she needed to feed and found Boots had a mother and baby room. It was somewhere private with a chair so I could feed her. She is doing more cluster feeding in the evening, then sleeping for 4 hrs usually at night. All of a sudden the let down pain in the left has gone and baby E is not pulling away as much. We're making progress. Finally starting to enjoy feeding her and having her close to me is amazing. Went to the baby clinic and she is 8.3 lbs, I knew she was heavier but I was not expecting that weight gain. I'm so pleased with her and myself. We're in established breastfeeding now, feels great! I'm so happy I stuck at it and that I'm giving baby E the best start in life.

[breastfeedingandme]

Week 4 - Getting easier...I think

My supply finally feels like it's levelling out, I don't feel as over full in either breast anymore. I’ve still got a strong let down on the left side which feels like daggers stabbing me in the breast, whenever baby E latches on. She has started to cluster feed a lot before bedtime, which is very draining. Trying to rest and eat in between cluster feeding is hard going. At the end of it all I’m shattered and praying she will stop and let me sleep. There is a bonus, baby E usually will sleep for 3 – 4 hrs straight after a cluster feed session. A couple of nights ago I made the mistake of feeding her on the left side for 5 short sessions because it was uncomfortably full. I woke up in the middle of the night with a searing pain in my right breast and it was huge. I took Ibuprofen and used a cold compress to reduce the swelling, but I couldn't sleep. The next morning I felt awful all day - very achy and drained. New rule - no more than 2 or 3 sessions on the same side in a row, no matter how short the sessions. The night feeds are taking their toll on me. I honestly don't know how much longer I can do this for. I’ve been researching into expressing, how to do it, when to do it and how long for. I need to leave it for a little bit longer so baby E is established in breastfeeding. Still pulling on left breast and laying down to feed her which helps a little but she still pulls a lot and makes my nipple sore. By the end of the week things are a lot better and I’m more comfortable.

[breastfeedingandme]

Week 3 - A mixed bag

Baby E is coughing and pulling away whenever she is on my left breast. She does not feed well from the left and she’s not staying latched on for long. My left breast is getting uncomfortably full again. The next day she was pulling away from both – it was making both my nipples really sore. I thought I was doing well and had overcome most problems faced by breastfeeding. I’ve been thinking about all the restrictions on me because I'm exclusively breastfeeding and I’m now wondering how I can keep going until she is 6 months or longer. Expressing my breast milk is definitely an option for the future. I’ve decided to look into using a different hold other than the cradle, the rugby ball hold seems the next best one. It works really well on the left. The next day my husband and I, took baby E out for lunch in Sale, I knew I would have to breastfeed her in public. We walked down the canal and stopped at The Bridge for a drink. She started to wake up and wanted a feed, time to use the cover-up. I found a comfy chair in a little corner of the pub and just started feeding her. We walked back down the canal and headed to Verace Kitchen in Sale town centre and I was halfway way through my pizza, when she wanted feeding and I just used the cover-up and had no issues. After we had a good day, a bad day followed I started feeling feverish and had a headache, so I automatically thought it was Mastitis again. I was so upset at the thought of going through it again. I carried on feeding her, even though I felt awful. I used a cold compress on both breasts to reduce the swelling and took Ibuprofen. The night feeds were bad but I got through with her pulling at my breasts. I knew of a breastfeeding support group at The Life Centre in Sale, so I decided to go and discuss my issues. I met some lovely mothers and I got some great advice to put into practice. The leader Jackie told me that she is pulling and fusing at the breast because the flow is too fast and I should let gravity help by laying down flat. So the next time I fed her on the left I tried it out and baby E was happy to feed. By the end of the week I was feeling happier, we had another family trip out with a picnic at Dunham, where I sat and fed her for 20 minutes. Everything is going well again. ☺

[breastfeedingandme]

Day 14 - Through the other side

I’m starting to realise just how dedicated and determined you have to be to breastfeed your baby. Although it's the most natural thing in the world and women’s bodies are designed to provide for their baby, there are a few obstacles to overcome. Pain, discomfort, swelling and infection, but if you can stick at it and get through it's a real achievement. I think I'm through the other side and feel comfortable breastfeeding baby E . My cover up scarf came today and I’m hoping to venture out next week to feed her out in public, if I need to. 10 sessions 176 mins (2.9 hrs)

[breastfeedingandme]

Day 13 - Not a good day

She has started to pull away and fuss more at the left breast, which really hurts and makes my nipple sore. The left breast is definitely a fast flow, she must pull to slow it down, no idea what I can do to help. The let down pain from the left is even stronger and feels like daggers stabbing me. I’m starting to feel like feeding baby E on my own all the time, is turning into a chore. I’m not enjoying it, I’m interacting with her less, which makes me feel sad. But I will continue as baby E is happy and content. Happy baby happy mum. 10 sessions 213 mins (3.55 hrs)

[breastfeedingandme]

Day 12 - First trip out

Today we’re out for lunch with my family. I fed her a few times before we set off, thinking I could fill her up and she might sleep for the whole meal. She nearly woke up about halfway through, so we changed her and she soon drifted off again. She lasted till just after pudding then woke up and cried for feeding, so we took our leave. We drove home with her screaming and crying in the car, real tears and everything. It was like she was being murdered. After a short drive she drifted off for a little bit and as soon as we got in the door, I fed her. I kept thinking if I had a nursing cover I could have fed her at the meal. I feel ready to feed her out and about, so I ordered a nursing scarf online. I’m feeding her really well now, the let down is still a very strong pain on the left but it doesn’t last more than 30 seconds or so. 16 sessions 334 mins (5.5 hrs).