Iām writing this post with Indy munching awayā¦ again! Itās been quite a difficult few nights, but Iām feeling over the moon that Iāve reached a month (almost five weeks, in fact) of breastfeeding.
You can read my early days of breastfeeding post here.
Every week I think to myself āif I just get to the end of this week Iāll be happyā, and at the end of that week I give myself a big pat on the back and a large slice of cake.
Itās not been easy; he is eating a lot. And I mean a lot. He seems to be permanently attached to my breastā¦!
Luckily the cracked, bleeding have stopped now, and latching on doesnāt hurt anymore. I had a blocked duct a week ago, which was insanely painful, but a hot bath followed by a long feeding session seemed to unblock it.
We had a weigh in with the Midwife at three weeks, and after a slow (but steady) increase over the first two weeks, Indyās weight shot up from 8lb 1oz to 8lb 11.5oz in a week!!! This means that, not only had Indy hit his birth weight (and some more) of 8lb 7oz, we were also discharged from the Midwife.
Hurrah!
I am so so proud of myself. It may seem like a very silly thing to say, but after the struggle I had breastfeeding Busby, and how distraught I was when it didnāt work out, I feel overjoyed to know that Indy is putting on weight, and that Iām the one supplying him with that milk to keep him growing.
He tends to cluster feed for a good few hours in the evening, and weāve had to start supplementing him with a bottle because after three-four hours, my boobs are running on empty and are pancake-flat! However, this gives Nick the opportunity to have some bonding time with him, and allows me to lie in the bath for half an hour, before he decides he wants me again! The bath seems to be a magical breast milk regeneration location ā I think the hot water helpsā¦
I do wonder what my boobs are going to look like at the end of all thisā¦ and whether Iāll have to powder my cleavage shadow in a la Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean. Although, at the rate that heās eating, all that will be left of me is a pile of bones with two nipples.
Hannah
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Youāve done so well to keep going with such a hungry baby lovely! Great to hear you have been discharged too! Xx
Go Hannah! You have done so well and you give me hope for any future babies. I had an horrendous experience trying to breastfeed Jasmine and I fear that history may repeat with any subsequent babies, However, you have shown me that thereās a chance I may have a better experience next time round.
You enjoy that big slice of cake, you deserve it. xxx
YAY go you!! Youāre doing so well, especially with such a hungry little one on your hands! You definitely deserve that slice of cake! I laughed out loud at the image of you being breastfed to a pile of bones with nipples! xx
Youāre doing a great job Hannah and itās great to hear youāre having a better time of breastfeeding this time round (even with a very hungry baby!). I didnāt have a great time breastfeeding with Toby so Iām hoping we manage a bit more successfully this time.
I know that breastfeeding is meant to be the most natural thing in the world, but in my experience it was one of the hardest things I ever did both physically and emotionally. With my first I managed only 6 weeks, and my second I reached 8 weeks. I applaud anyone that is able to persevere so a huge well done for getting this far.
Oh well done you!!! Itās not easy at all and I remember the pain of a blocked duct and trying to ease the horrible pain in the shower. I think you deserve cake at the end of each long day, not just week š
Well done you on getting this far š The best advice I got from a support worker first time round was to āstick it out to 6 weeks, and youāll get to 6 monthsā and she was so right. The cluster feeding is so tiring though isnāt it (my little man has just conked after feeding pretty much constantly since about 4pm) so I feel you on the pancake boobs but it does get better! Thank the lord for Lansinoh š
L x
Well done! You should be super proud, I didnāt manage long at all as Aria was just loosing too much weight. It can be a real battle and you should be proud that you are succeeding!
Thatās amazing! Bloody well done. And yes, you most definitely deserve cake xxx