One Moms Breastfeeding Experience

Look at this healthy, hefty, and happy breastfed baby!

After latch on issues, sore nipples, thrush, mastitis and some supply issues I'm happy to say I'm still sticking with it! Zane is nearly 5 weeks old and is a Mama's milk baby all the way.

With my first son the experience was just plain awful and we struggled every step of the way. I supplimented formula within the first two weeks, ended up using a nipple shield, had a low supply and just plain didn't enjoy it. I was so stressed and upset by how hard it really was.

I'm happy to say that this time around something is different...my attitude about it all. With my first son I was younger, inexperienced, and not willing to stick it out. This time around I knew it wouldn't be easy going at first. I knew it would be painful at first. I knew it wouldn't be something I enjoyed all the time.

But, I also knew that I wasn't going to give up. I was going to learn how to latch him on right. I was not going to suppliment with formula right away (if at all), and I was going to set REALISTIC goals.

I was so naive to it all with my first son and put so much pressure on myself to feed him until he was a year old. That goal was so daunting once I actually started feeding him though. This time around I'm taking it month by month. First goal was to a month (I've made it!), second goal is to make it to the second month, and so on and so on. If I make it to a year - AWESOME - and if I only make it to 5 months then I'll be happy too, because my sweetie will have received the best nutrition for that long.

So in closing, what I've learned about myself this time around is that I'm willing to fight through sore nipples, mastitis (ouch!), and the urge to quit (on those bad days), in order to give my son what I feel is best --- Mama's milk.

I hope new moms to be, that might be reading this blog, won't get discouraged reading my experience. I know some of what I've described could be scary. Just know that, although it can be painful and exhausting at first, it does get better in time if you stick with it. Hang in there Mama's - and find a great support system to help you along the way!

I've had great support from friends! I have to say a special thank you to Carrie Lauth for all her advice, support, and help during these past 5 weeks. I've gone to her more times than I can count and she's always been there for me...I can't thank her enough.

There's just nothing like making it through the tough days or weeks of breastfeeding and ending up on the better side of it all...looking down at your baby nursing and seeing that sweet smile.