We are just about to start TheLittleGuy on solids (food other than breastmilk) and in fact today I gave him a couple of small pieces of banana on a whim. I thought I’d jot down a few of my impressions of breastfeeding as yet another story/voice out there in the Google-verse for women who are curious about it. I learned a lot by reading other women’s stories, after all. (I kept a pregnancy journal password-protected, but may edit and move some of that public at some point as well, for the same reasons.)
First, some caveats: I tend to ascribe to AskMoxie‘s motto of by any means necessary. She often uses it in the context of sleep issues with children, but here I mean that how anyone feeds their infant is, obviously, up to them. While I personally tend to resonate most to the La Leche League point of view regarding breastfeeding, I recognize it’s not for everyone and formula is not poison. (I was a formula-fed baby myself and was absurdly healthy as a kid and don’t think I’m particularly dumber than my peers.) So, do whatever works for you and your family.
That said, I think the science is pretty clear that, all things being equal, breastmilk is a superior food for infants. Before I was pregnant I had heard many horrible things about the big formula companies dissing breastfeeding in an effort to get mothers to buy formula. I’ve found the complete opposite, however. I somehow ended up on the “mom” list for the formula companies and they send me samples now and then and quite a bit of literature and, from what I read, are scrupulous about always pointing out that breastmilk is preferred. There are plenty of criticisms to be made of the Big Food conglomerates, of course, but this isn’t one I’ve seen evidence for. Similarly, I’ve heard people complain about LLL ‘lactivist nazis’ and I’ve been to a few LLL meetings and that’s not been my experience there at all, either. Like many parenting issues, this is clearly a religious issue for some, but I haven’t run into any particular nastiness either way.
Another caveat: TheLittleGuy and I have been really fortunate and found breastfeeding incredibly easy. He’s almost 5 months old and we have had basically no issues so far (I emphasize so far as I know this could change at any moment). We had a little bit of an issue with foremilk/hindmilk imbalance early on that block feeding easily cured. No mastitis, no thrush, only the occasional slightly plugged duct (that nursing and warm baths cure) and, as mentioned before, he is growing like crazy – off the charts – so clearly something about breastmilk agrees with him. I point out all that to acknowledge that we’ve had it easy and this undoubtedly colors my views about the topic. As I’m transitioning back to work and he’s transitioning to childcare, things may change (I’ll be pumping at work (Moooooo!) as we want him to stay on breastmilk as long as possible – ideally until he’s at least a year old) – so this rosy picture may not remain for us, but so far, it’s been good and I wanted to jot some notes down now before it all changes again. I haven’t had any supply problems either, so far. When he was about 4 weeks old I started pumping for 10 minutes every morning and freezing whatever I got to have as a back-up supply. I now have a freezer full of breastmilk downstairs, and I joke that the child will be having breastmilk pancakes when he’s 12.
Before TLG was born, the advice I was given was to try breastfeeding for a day, then 2 days, then 2 weeks, then 6 weeks, then 3 months – that at each stage it gets easier and not to get too discouraged too quickly. While we didn’t have much trouble, that was my attitude – to just get through the next timeframe and see how things were at the end of it. So I’d pass the same advice along. At around 4 weeks we tried a bottle with TLG and he took it fine – another way in which we have been lucky. When he was about 3 months old he started being willing to take breastmilk straight from the fridge, without the need for warming. So now if we’re going to be out for any length of time, I just pack a bottle in a little chillpack and away we go.
I’ve no objection to breastfeeding in public and think anyone who complains about it has some serious issues. But, after I had some minor healing complications from the c-section my midwives told me to nurse TLG laying down. We’re still most comfortable nursing that way. Add that to the fact that TLG is huge (and still can’t sit up by himself) and we find nursing while out and about to be a bit of a logistical challenge. I’ve done it, but since he needs practice with the bottle to get ready for when he’s in daycare, we just tend to use excursions as an excuse for him to use a bottle.
As for pumping, that’s gone fine, too. Did I mention: MOOOOOoooo! Whenever he takes a bottle, I just pump the amount he took from a bottle and freeze it, so that proper signals about what supply he needs are sent. I get varying amounts during my 10 minute sessions in the morning, but invariably it’s between 3 and 7 ounces – usually 4 or 5. Enough for a bottle to take with us on an excursion if needed, otherwise I freeze it. I have a little system where there are always 2 bottles worth of milk in the fridge, a dozen or so bottles worth in the freezer upstairs, and then rest of the stash in the freezer downstairs. We try to use frozen milk in a FIFO (first in, first out) fashion and haven’t actually had to use that much of it yet. Once he starts daycare, I expect to be dipping into that stash.
The obvious side effect for me of exclusively breastfeeding a kid who’s decided he’s in a huge hurry to get big (did I mention he’s off the charts and looks about 18 months old?) is rampant hunger and constant low-grade tiredness. If I didn’t eat constantly, I’m sure I’d lose a lot of weight, but I’m also sure I’d feel like crap and it wouldn’t be good for my milk supply or quality. So I’m drinking pint glass after pint glass of water all day long and trying to focus on protein and high-quality food. I’ve also got a little vitamin supplement regimen going. I never took a pre-natal while pregnant (they made me ill) and instead concocted my own combination of vitamins to take. I’ve done the same thing post-partum, and each day I take: multivitamin, C, folic acid, iron, calcium, B-complex, and a fish oil supplement for DHA. I also take a probiotic daily to try to fend off thrush – so far it’s working. *knock wood* If I start to feel even the slightest bit stabby or sore, I take an extra probiotic that day.
I had mentioned La Leche League. I’ve been to a few local meetings. I had read enough that I didn’t really learn anything at these meetings – except to reinforce that experiences vary widely – but it was nice for the support. I won’t be able to go much now that I’m transitioning back to full-time work, but I’m on the mailing list, at least. Speaking of support: while worry about breastfeeding was never a source of anxiety for me during the pregnancy (there were plenty of things I was anxious about, but breastfeeding wasn’t one of them), one of the things that helped me was a network of friends far and near who were encouraging about it and could offer tips. To anyone thinking about breastfeeding, find women who’ve done it who can help you. I even brought a lactation consultant in during TLG’s 2nd week because I was worried (needlessly it turns out) about his latch. Good LCs are invaluable – if you’re local and want the name of the one I used, let me know.
Finally, apart from the nutritional, health, and logistical aspects of breastfeeding, there is the emotional one. I don’t find it a transcendent experience, as I’ve read some people describe it. But I do enjoy the quiet time it gives me with him and the fact that he finds it so satisfying, not to mention the fact that he’s clearly thriving on it. He’s not a kid who nurses for excessively long periods of time – he’s always been pretty efficient about it – but it is not merely nutrition to him, as nursing can often settle him down and be comforting if he’s distressed or overtired.
We are beginning the process of introducing other foods-just tiny bits of banana so far and maybe we’ll try some sweet potato soon-but his main source of nutrition for awhile will be breastmilk – assuming we succeed with me pumping at work. I don’t have any set schedule in mind for weaning. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding at least until the child is 2, although I wouldn’t be surprised if TLG decides he’s done before then.
So that’s one person’s experience – at least a few highlights anyway. I’m sure I’ll think of more things to say about it, but if anyone has questions or wants tips or advice, just drop me a note. The best resources I’ve found whenever I’ve had a question, in addition to my buddies, are KellyMom and La Leche League International.
