Today marks the end of World Breastfeeding Week and by now you all probably know that August is National Breastfeeding Month.
We know there are a lot of reasons why moms choose to or not to breastfeed. It’s not a decision that moms take lightly. This week is meant to showcase the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of breastfeeding!
I am in the midst of breastfeeding my 4th and final baby boy.
I am extremely passionate about breastfeeding, although do not judge formula mamas (not by choice but I use to be one). When I had my first son I was prepared for him in all ways except when it came to breastfeeding. I definitely knew I wanted to breastfeed and thought I knew all about it. He was a big baby at birth, over 9 pounds, and he loved to eat!!
I told the nurses I wanted to breastfeed so after him cluster feeding for 3 straight hours after a long day of birthing when the nurse asked if I wanted to take a nap and she could give him a bottle I thought that was normal and fine. No one told me that supplementing here and there would have a huge affect on my milk supply.
I rarely did it, but when I think about it now I get irritated. I also didn’t eat enough or drink enough water to keep my supply up, so after just 3 short months I had to make the switch to formula. I was devastated. I had no clue about the resources out there for us mamas or where to turn for help. I was the first of my friends to have a baby and my sister had a 1, 2, 3, and 4 year old at the time (she was a busy woman – in many ways HA!) so I just thought it was all normal.
Well when we were expecting our second son I knew better and knew things would go very differently. He was a little jaundice and I remember the pediatrician at the hospital wanting me to supplement formula to help him get past it, I refused! I told the doc I would simply just nurse him more and as often as I could, he argued but I held my ground. It worked. I knew it would ;). I nursed him until he weaned himself at 13 months. I nursed my 3rd son until he was 17 months and weaned himself.
The newest baby is just 4 months old and is a boob man just like his big brothers. I will breastfeed until he weans himself as well whenever that may be. I also feed him anywhere I need to and sometimes I am covered, sometimes not (I don’t ever let my boobs just hang out tribal style) and could give a flip what anyone thinks about it. I will not feed my baby in a bathroom or cover baby with a blanket. If anyone has an issue with that they are free to eat their meal in a bathroom or with a blanket over their head.
Nothing more natural to me than feeding my babes and am loving the bonding time it gives me with my littlest guy right now. I know these days will be gone before I know it!
Happy Breastfeeding Awareness week!
:: Do you nurse in public? ::