Adventures in Nursing

Yes, nursing.  And I am not talking about women in starched white outfits and little hats wielding needles.  I am talking about........................................................breastfeeding.

Widely agreed to be the best thing you can do for your baby but culturally kind of......misunderstood.  It seems a lot of people aren't all that supportive of nursing even though in the same breath they will tell you how good breastmilk is for your baby.  It's weird.

I admit the whole idea seemed a bit uncomfortable to me before I had PB, but literally the second I had him, it just felt like the natural thing to do.  Natural, but not without challenges. 

I have become somewhat of a nursing advocate.  It has become a passion of mine and I am seriously considering becoming a lactation educator.  I think that with the right support nearly every woman can successfully nurse as long as she wants. 

I believe that there are a few women that truly are unable to produce enough milk to sustain their babies, or maybe even none at all.  But I think that number is very low.  I believe that for one reason or another, women give up.  And I can see why. 

Here's what I think:

1)   Nursing, especially at the beginning, is painful.  Pain-FULL.  Maybe not for everyone, but it was for me.  Oddly enough, "they" say fair-skinned women experience more pain.  And if there is anything anyone knows about me, it's that I'm fair.  The good news?  It goes away.  :)

2)  Many new moms think that a crying baby must be a hungry baby.  They think the baby must not be getting enough milk so they supplement with formula.  That fast and easy delivery system (aka a bottle) can make a baby lazy and refuse the breast.  It also fills baby up and baby doesn't nurse.  The best way to make milk is to nurse (or pump) more often.

3)  Nursing moms get tired.  All that stuff about the incredible experience of bonding is true...SO TRUE...but means very little when you've had 4 hours of sleep in the last 24 and your baby is hungry AGAIN.  Many moms opt for formula so Daddy or Grandma or Auntie can feed the baby in the middle of the night.  This actually is okay once in a while, but will definitely affect milk supply over time.  And the reality is even mothers who exclusively formula feed are tired.  That's just motherhood.

4)  Some mothers want to be able to go out, have a drink, go on a little vacation or something and they feel like formula would be easier for caregivers.  This might be true.  It is definitely more work for a nursing mother to leave the baby for any  length of time because you'll have to pump and leave the milk in bottles.  That's it.  That's all you have to do.

5)  Pumping sucks (pun intended) and it can be inconvenient at work.  Yep, also true.  But really, who thought having a baby would be without sacrifice? 

I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, if you can call them that, by a mile. 

1)  Clearly the first benefit is that mother's milk is best.  It just is.  It is a perfect food created by you for your baby.  This would have been enough for me.  But there are plenty more reasons to nurse!

2)  Everything from reducing the likelihood of SIDS to possibly boosting baby's intelligence and everything in between. 

3)  You always have fresh milk ready to go at a moment's notice.  You never have to remember bottles or formula or worry about keeping it cold or warming it up. In the middle of the night when you're baby is screaming, there's no anxiously waiting for that bottle to heat up.

4)  When baby is crying and you you've tried everything but still can't figure out what's wrong, you have an instant way to settle them down. 

5)  Breastfed babies.....um.....smell better.  Yes, from spit-up to dirty diapers, what comes out of a breastfed baby smells a whole lot better than formula fed babies.  Just saying.

6)  Here's a really selfish one.....when baby is still new and there are lots of people coming over and wanting to hold them, you have a reason to say you need them back.  Hehe.

PB is almost 11 months old and is still breastfed.  I don't make quite enough milk each day for him to have only breastmilk so he does get a little formula each day.  6 ounces to be exact.  This will be our plan until he can have cow's milk at a year.  Then we'll only nurse at first and last thing each day until he's decided that's enough.  I feel like being able to provide him with this perfect nourishment is the best contribution I can make for him each day, especially when I cannot be with him as much as I would like.

It has been challenging at times and I cannot say I am not looking forward to hanging up that pump for a while.  But I cannot imagine doing things any other way.  It really is everything everyone said it would be and more.  And you just won't know...until you know.

P.S.  For any new or nursing moms and moms-to-be, here is a great Groupon to a nursing boutique in OC (it can also be used online).  Happy shopping!!