My adventure into breastfeeding...

I went in to breastfeeding not really understanding what I was getting myself into. I had signed up for the "breastfeeding class" through Willow Creek to learn more about it - my mom never had good letdown and was not able to breastfeed, so I didn't have much in the experienced veteran department to rely on. I did, however, have a fantastic cheer-leading section. Jared and my mom, a lot of good friends and family were all very supportive of my decision to breastfeed - I would never have made it as long as I did without them. Anyhow, the breastfeeding class I signed up for got cancelled because the instructor was sick, and then the make-up class got cancelled because of snow, and then on the day I was supposed to have the make-up, make-up class I went into labor and little Claire Marie was born. (Suffice it to say I didn't make it to the breastfeeding class).

During the hospital stay I asked to see the lactation nurse, but she always had an obligation and was "coming" to see me when she was free. I am pretty sure that I never saw her. The pediatric nurse was pretty helpful and we did manage some latch on, but it was with the help of a nipple shield. I never could manage to get Claire all the way through a nursing session without a shield. If I had been more diligent I would have seen a lactation consultant after we left the hospital, but the two weeks after we took Claire home we had two "900-inches of snow" snow storms. (Okay maybe it was only twenty inches of snow.) When you have a newborn infant to transport any amount of snow seems like a good reason not to leave the house.

On our second or third night home from the hospital I had a really high fever and had to go to the emergency room. My milk was just coming in and as it turned out I had developed double mastitis, and a urinary tract infection. (Not fun!) They gave me some antibiotics and I pumped like a madwoman in between nursing sessions with Claire. The nurse in the ER was really helpful too. She gave me some literature about mastitis, clogged ducts, pumping, etc., and some really good hints about dealing with those issues. She and Claire's pediatrician (who was a breastfeeding mother) were probably the most helpful people I talked to about nursing. After that nursing went pretty smoothly until about the time that I had to go back to work.

Working and nursing is a whole different ballgame - and will have its own post. : )

My (unsolicited and possibly unwanted) advice to new mothers:

1) Make up your mind about breastfeeding before the baby arrives. 

Decide you are going to do it (or not) and for exactly how long you want to continue with it. If you are wavering it will be really difficult to stick with.

2) Surround yourself with support.

See a lactation consultant whether you are having trouble or not. Make sure your family knows your decision and supports it whether they agree and understand or not.

3) Educate yourself. 

Read all of the articles, books, Facebook posts, etc. about breastfeeding that you can find. The more you know the better off you will be.

4) Do not beat yourself up about when you decide to wean. 

You have to do what is best for you and the baby. The baby isn't going to be in good shape if you are not in good shape.

5) If you have to go back to work...God help you. 

Working (especially as a school teacher) and breastfeeding do not mesh well, but if that is what you want to do then you can make it happen. You just have to be really determined!

Breastfeeding is hard, but it is worth it - however long it lasts. I will never regret my decision to breastfeed.