Got Milk?

Holy crap, have I ever been through the ringer with the ladies for the past month! Most of you know, I'm a breastfeeding mama. It's one of those things I was really set on doing with the baby, because you know, you can't really be set on all that much. You can try; but you will be shamed into submission (pacifier when desperate, anyone?).

Well, I was almost defeated by my own body. The girls and I got into battles of will, I tell you, over how to get this breastfeeding thing accomplished! (Ok, so it was more like I just didn't know how to get the baby to latch on properly.) Even though nursing is one of the more natural things in life, the technique must still be learned. Every now and then, there is some lucky bitch whom the rest of us hate because her baby gets on there easy-cheesy and the happy couple are nursing from hour one. Stormy and I were not that happy couple. But we make a great team and are willing to work together to do what we think is best. So, after a stressful first week of not nursing efficiently, if at all, and a second harrowing week of pumping (hand-held, manual pump, that is...pain in the ass!) and bottle feeding mama's goods, I had my heart set on trying to get him to nurse again. And with a little...scratch that...HUGE nudge from my good friend Justine, I called the lactation consultant at the hospital where Stormy was born.

Casey, the LC, was my savior. We spoke on the phone for 20 minutes or so, and she gave me some suggestions since he was due to eat and would be screaming any minute. We were semi-successful. sigh... She told me to come right in as soon as it was time for the next meal. I got the diaper bag and stroller and everything ready. This would be my first venture out of the house with the baby, alone. Talk about terrifying! Thankfully, he was pretty good and didn't cry most of the way there, and when he did, I reached back and stuck my pinkie finger in his mouth to tide him over (I still hadn't caved to the pacifier at that point—a whole other story...).

When we got to the hospital, of course, I couldn't get the car seat out of the freakin' car! I had never done it before. Not to mention how to put the stroller that it attaches to in the right position and all, sheesh. I was a hot mess by the time I got to Casey's office. I could see the pity in her eyes when she greeted me. So we got right to it. She weighed Stormy beforehand so that we could weigh him again after he ate to see how much he was actually getting. After lots of screaming and some crying (both me and the little guy), we did it! We actually did it. I thought I would pass out with relief. We spent about and hour and a half with Casey, talking and nursing, making sure I asked every single question I could think of and getting more information back than I ever thought possible. Calling and going to see her were the best things I've ever done for myself and my son. Afterward, the first couple days of doing it at home, by myself, were incredibly nerve wracking. And we still needed lots of practice getting comfortable with each other and with positioning, but we made it through! And a Boppy pillow helps. A LOT.

So within a couple weeks, with nursing down to an art, Stormy was eating well and gaining weight, and all was right with the world...

...until he infected my boobs!!!!

Seriously?, you might ask. Yeah! And it was the worst thing ever. I had read about it, but you just think that stuff happens to other people, right? Come to find out a lot of women I know have had this problem. Who knew it was so common? Basically, there is bacteria in the baby's mouth, and sometimes the icky just gets up into the milk duct (or seven...) when baby is nursing and causes the duct to clog up. OUCH!!

I had a fever running between 101 and 102 degrees for a couple of days, and my boobs ached, not to mention everything else! Stormy wanted to nurse, but it hurt like crazy; and the kicker is, when your boobs are infected, the best thing you can do is nurse as much as possible to drain them. I was trying everything I could to relieve the pain. Ibuprofen; warm, wet compresses; nursing when I could; pumping—finally got an electric pump! thank you, you know who you are : ). Finally, I went to the doctor to get some antibiotics, and my lactation station was up and running again by the next afternoon. But what a nightmare the whole few days was! I hope that never happens again, but at least next time, I'll know what the hell is going on.

Just when you think you're safe... Watch out! I seriously never thought I'd be scared of my own boobs and the possibility of them turning on me! Boobaphobia? I don't know what a person would call that... I'm sure there's a term...

Aha, found it! Mastophobia! Good old internet... you learn something new every day!