Post by amandakisser on Aug 29, 2016 9:47:13 GMT -5
With DD1 I was almost militant in my determination to breast feed. I suffered through bleeding nipples, an excruciatingly painful latch, and I had to exclusively pump on that side for about two weeks. Then, I struggled to pump enough for her for the first year of her life and it only exacerbated my PPA.
With DD2, the poor thing had stomach surgery at two days old and couldn't eat ANYTHING for ten days. I can still hear her heartbreaking wailing in my head - she was starving, and the IVs she was on obviously kept her hydrated and nourished, but the hunger was still there. The first thing in the world she ever ate was pedialyte - even though I had over 100oz of pumped milk. Yeah, knowing my baby was starving made me realize that it doesn't fucking matter what they eat. A healthy baby, a calm mom - that's the only thing that matters.
I will always be grateful to our pedi with DS1, who was supportive of breastfeeding but encouraged us to give him some formula via syringe while we waited for my milk to come in. He was born at 37 + 5 and was smaller and jaundiced. Also to the LC in the hospital who watched him nurse and immediately went and got me a shield.
the shield made my bfing relationship successful for both boys. I would have given up without it.