Breast Feeding Woes

  First things first. I knew long before I had Caden I wanted to breast feed. I was breast fed my husband was breast fed and my dad swears that's why he is so messed up, cause he wasn't breast fed. So I had a ton of support. I read books and blogs and thought it would be so easy. June 15th our little boy Caden arrived. I had a wonderful delivery. Caden was given to me and I immediately started to nurse. It took some time well, a lot of time actually. I wouldn't call him a natural. I continued to try and get him latched and, he continued to fall off. Super frusterating! Later I was moved to a regular room. I was still groggy from pain meds and hooked to IV meds. I tried again to nurse with the same results. Later, after Caden spent some time in the nursery he was brought back to our room to eat. I asked the nurse if they had a lactation consultant on staff. She told me she was a lactation consultant. So I asked her to help with getting a good latch. She had me squish my nipple to the shape of his mouth. Finally!!! We had a good latch he had my whole nipple in his mouth.  A day later and many feedings later it was time to go home. My nipples were killing me!!!! So I asked a nurse to come in and watch me nurse. I also had them check to see if my nipples were blistered. They weren't. So, home we went. The first few days were beyond rough. They were a nightmare! I didn't sleep neither did Caden. I thought my nipples were gonna fall off. The days turned into weeks and I threatened every day to quit. I told my husband if this doesn't get better in four weeks he's getting formula. To which he replied "What happens in 4 weeks?" I told him that's as long as I could see myself giving it as a fair try. The good husband he is he got on the phone and called the hospital we delivered at to find a lactation consultant. You wouldn't believe it but, they don't have one!!! (they were trained in breastfeeding. That is NOT the same thing) I couldn't believe it. So he called the next town over and they had one on staff. I made an appointment as soon as she could see me. Caden was exactly 6 weeks old. The nurse was amazing! It was his latch and, she helped me to correct it. She also gave plain black tea bags to get wet and wear in my bra for a few minutes everyday for 7 days to heal the damaged tissue. I also got gel soothies to wear from feeding to feeding. In a weeks time my nipples were better and I couldn't be happier that I stuck with it. Caden is happy and thriving at 14 weeks and i feel a sense of accomplishment being able to nurse. I will say this in the defense of all the mommys who gave breastfeeding a chance. There is no shame in formula feeding. Breast feeding is hard and it is a one person job. It is time consuming and it doesn't always come easy. You have to do what is best for you and your family.  So if your breastfeeding and you encounter a problem get help early. Contact your area Le Leache League leader  or a lactation consultant. Most problems can be fixed and you can continue breastfeeding. It gets easier everyday.... it does for me. :)