the one with breastfeeding the third time around

If you have been around these parts for awhile, you know I have struggled with breastfeeding in the past. With Tori, mastitis 5x in 4 months.. Ava mastitis once.. clogged ducts, cracked and bleeding nipples... you name it, it happened to me. I have also been across the board as far as how I have fed my babies. Tori, pumping exclusively for 4/5 ish months before switching completely to formula.. and to the complete opposite spectrum of nursing Ava for 18 months (and her NEVER taking a bottle). Now, it is Mila's turn to give me a run for my money with the nursing thing.

Lets start at week 1-2:
Latching an infant is NOT EASY. I do NOT understand how or why nurses, movies, social media and other Moms alike try to make it seem like the most simple thing ever. Nope. I have never once had a baby be born and her just camp out on the boob and never have an issue. Mila was the same as Tori and Ava in that it took legit training to get her to latch. The first week or so was terrible. I was in an intense amount of pain and my poor nipples.. oh man, those things took a beating. Cracked. Red. Painful. I couldn't let water touch them in the shower, I didn't like my clothes rubbing on them. I was using Neosporin and nipple cream every minute it felt like. I was NOT going to become a slave to breastfeeding. I was NOT going to make myself nuts with the pressure to make breastfeeding work. I have two other kids for goodness sake. I cant let them suffer with a stressed out Mom all because of breastfeeding. So just like I did with Ava, I turned to the lactation consultants at her pediatrician office (Eden park). And like with Ava, they were lifesavers. I cant describe how much more calm they make you feel. I wasn't crazy. There is nothing wrong with Mila. We just have to learn what works best for us. We also had to get my nipples healed. I had to use a nipple shield on my cracked nipple everyday for a week. I also had to use Neosporin on them to help with the healing process. I tried to avoid bras at all costs and kept the boobies out of the shower lol. After a few days I saw a major difference. Then I had a clogged duct (because you know, one thing after another lol). After a couple of days of massaging etc, it went away. It is so crazy how in the moment, the whole process seems SO HARD and SO PAINFUL. And while it is, you really can (and do) get through it... then all of a sudden, it seems like it was forever ago. I am so happy I didn't quit.

Fast forward to week 4ish
Mila is nursing AMAZINGLY. I cannot believe that it was only 3 or so weeks of pain and suffering (lol) this time around. Throughout the day shes nursing anywhere from every 2-3 hours.. and overnight shes anywhere from 2-4 hours (depending on how her gas issues are.. man I forgot how fun the first couple of months are LOL). My nipples are 100% healed, there is absolutely ZERO pain when she latches/nurses and I have even braved nursing her outside of our house a few times. She has only just started using a pacifier about a week or so ago so we have been focusing on getting her to use that for comfort (insert: gas discomfort) and then I am pumping here and there so we can introduce her to a bottle. As much as I love nursing her and am desperately holding on to these times (as it is definitely my last go with nursing and this whole infant thing).. I also do not want to be a slave to nursing the way I was with Ava. 18 months of never leaving your baby for more than 3 hours is a LOT. My poor husband lol.

In conclusion:
Breastfeeding (at least for me) absolutely was an easier process to start and stick with this third time around. I feel more confident (in general) with breastfeeding and what I am capable of. I am trusting my body and trusting Mila and together we are moving right on along with this journey.