Is he going to sleep himself to death the first week? Will every nursing session last more than 30 minutes? What is going to happen when he has teeth? When will I get to where a normal bra again? Is now an okay time to have a glass of wine? (just one)
Pumping is worse than breastfeeding. After 20 minutes, I'm luck to have 1-2 oz. We have a huge stockpile of milk now because of the hospital stay and intravenous feeding. That stuff is liquid gold. I better be doing something pretty damn amazing if someone is giving him a bottle of pumped milk. That represents so much time that I didn't sleep or I didn't sit at Gerald's bed side or hold him.
Also, when do I find time to pump? I bought one of those hands free bras, and maybe it's user error but I still can't get it to work. I do plan on getting up at night to pump once he gives up one of his night feedings. Getting up isn't that bad for me and I understand my supply is supposed to be great at night.
Oh, and THE single most annoying question asked at the NICU: "Is he on a 3 or 4 hour schedule for feeding?" Schedule? Every single thing you read about nursing a newborn says to feed on demand. (Unless you're reading books condemned by the AAP). And speaking of lactation literature, I'm not exactly clear when we get to start to try to establish a schedule. That may be because the books I have are from Dr. Sears and La Leche League who would like me to give my child access to my milk until his student loans are paid off. It seems like there should be a lot of ground to cover between Ecco and Sears that would result in a healthy, happy baby (and mom).
There are all of the health benefits. There is this convenience that I never have to prepare a bottle or worry I don't have food with me. I don't have to pay for formula. A friend loaned me her pump so I only had to buy accessories. I've spent $170 on four bras (one being the hands free one....that I could never actually wear any place).
3 comments:
Great post! My view is that breastfeeding gets better, much better, but pumping always sucks.
One of my Dec mom friends said it best: breastfeeding a baby is love. Breastfeeding a NEWBORN baby is hell.
sooo true.
and I don't think I have ever, EVER known a newborn who breastfed every four hours so I really don't know why they would ask you THAT, good night.
I still feed Katie on demand. Mostly because she doesn't eat very much overnight, even when she wakes up a lot, so I feel like she needs to make up for lost time, and maybe she sleeps better if she does most of her feeding during the day. But really, just do what YOU think is right. you're his mom. and if you feel like you don't know what's right, just do whatever works right now, because THAT is what's right.
Soo true. I can totally relate. I just did a blog post called 'Breastfeeding Sucks' too and put a link to this post on it. Thanks!
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