When I was pregnant, I was 100% sure I would breastfeed. Why think twice when midwifes, leaflets, other women and most importantly, internet, all say it's much better for your baby?
B had no trouble latching on the first time, within an hour of being born, which was great.
I lasted 5 days.
What I can't remember in the booklet or in any conversation, was the pain being mentioned. My nipples were blistered and/or scabbed as well as being purple and extremely painful, our nights were sleepless because B wouldn't stay on or he'd ask to be fed hour after hour.
I cried so, so much, there was no bonding and I was scared of getting my newborn fed.
I was a wreck.
So not only your lady parts have gone through war, not only you are tired and sad of missing your cute belly, not only you try to feed yourself if you have time, on top of all that you suffer from the breastfeeding pain.
B's dad ran to get me nipple cream but it never was on long enough to be efficient. So we called the midwives, and I desperately waited for a call back.
In the meantime I had made up my mind, but B's dad -by trying to be supportive regarding breastfeeding as he thought that's what I wanted- was making me feel like I had failed.
He would say "How about we get formula and then you try again?" which terrified me so much I was angry and upset. I felt like I couldn't try anymore. I'd see other people I knew on social media breastfeeding and being so happy, it was like something was wrong with me and I couldn't even stand the pain to make sure my baby was fed.
Within a few hours we were back from the shop with a microwave steriliser, some bottles and some formula. B's dad said my mood radically changed as quickly and by the time the midwife came (either that afternoon or the next day), I was done breastfeeding and that was the best decision I could have ever taken.
It still makes me cry just typing it all and I wish I had managed. But I am glad we all got some sleep, B had food and B's dad could/can enjoy feeding our baby.
I always saw the problems of people breastfeeding in public places and just thinking about doing it I don't thing I'd have been strong enough to be judged anyway, but not enough people talk about being judged if you don't breastfeed.
I cried so, so much, there was no bonding and I was scared of getting my newborn fed.
I was a wreck.
So not only your lady parts have gone through war, not only you are tired and sad of missing your cute belly, not only you try to feed yourself if you have time, on top of all that you suffer from the breastfeeding pain.
B's dad ran to get me nipple cream but it never was on long enough to be efficient. So we called the midwives, and I desperately waited for a call back.
In the meantime I had made up my mind, but B's dad -by trying to be supportive regarding breastfeeding as he thought that's what I wanted- was making me feel like I had failed.
He would say "How about we get formula and then you try again?" which terrified me so much I was angry and upset. I felt like I couldn't try anymore. I'd see other people I knew on social media breastfeeding and being so happy, it was like something was wrong with me and I couldn't even stand the pain to make sure my baby was fed.
Within a few hours we were back from the shop with a microwave steriliser, some bottles and some formula. B's dad said my mood radically changed as quickly and by the time the midwife came (either that afternoon or the next day), I was done breastfeeding and that was the best decision I could have ever taken.
It still makes me cry just typing it all and I wish I had managed. But I am glad we all got some sleep, B had food and B's dad could/can enjoy feeding our baby.
I always saw the problems of people breastfeeding in public places and just thinking about doing it I don't thing I'd have been strong enough to be judged anyway, but not enough people talk about being judged if you don't breastfeed.
There is no right way to feed your child - whether you breastfeed or formula-feed, there's a way that works for you and as long as you're happy, stick to whichever way.
Women are brilliantly standing up to bottle feed shaming.https://t.co/Bf5Y3lvElK
— ATTN: (@attn) June 19, 2016