You Can Take a Break During Breast Feeding

So, the most liberating piece of advice ever given to me as a breast feeding mom was that I was not locked in during a breast feeding session.  Someone said to me that when I was feeding, I could stop.  The baby may get upset but my needs are equally as important as his.  This advice was particularly freeing in the middle of the night or when I was home alone.  It is for the silly things, like needing desperately to pee while trying to feed, or being so parched with thirst the sound of the baby sucking and quenching thirst is literally painful.  This advice does not mean that you can deny your baby for simple things such as answering the phone, or turning the TV on.  It means that while feeding your baby is important, breaking during a feeding every now and again will not permanently scar your child, it does not mean you are a bad mother and it will not lead to any return to breast feeding issues.  Your baby may need to suck for a subsequent let down, but it is not the end of the world.  This advice was so wonderful to me because I really felt trapped while breast feeding.  After get this advice, I also realized that, if needed, I could even walk around while breast feeding or do it standing or with two children on my lap.  These scenarios are obviously not ideal when feeding your child for several reasons, such as comfort and ease while swallowing but, when necessary, it is okay.  The most important thing about breast feeding long term and without relying on breaks with formula or stopping before your child is ready would be to make it equally as comfortable and manageable for you as for the child, and this means methods and solutions to prioritize the Mom's well being, such as breaking when feeding.

Bobbing for Boob!

So this title is very important for breastfeeding Moms.  It can save you a lot of stress in attempting to decode what your baby wants from you.  Babies bob for food, literally.  No matter how young, a breast fed baby has the instinct to search for that nipple when hungry.  They literally take their heads and start bobbing, like in a pecking motion, some also nuzzle and dig.  They generally do this before they cry and get upset, assuming the cry is food related.  When I heard another breastfeeding mom use the statment 'bobbing for boobies' it really stuck.  I had a little chuckle and then I could not stop thinking about it.  That is when I realized how many women probably have not noticed their babies doing this.  Until I heard the expression and took note of my own breastfeeding baby, I hadn't realized how important noticing this was.  It changed my world.

Great Ideas and Deals

So, I was writing an email to my friend who is about to have a baby and she asked for some advice.  I gave her two pieces of advice that I wish had been given to me.  Stock up, but not on what you think.

 

Baby Clothes- let every one else buy you the under 1 stuff because that is the stuff that every thinks is sooo cute.  You will have mountains of baby clothes that your baby will likely only wear once.  What you need to buy is the 1, 2 and 3 year old stuff, but only buy it at change of seasons.  This is when the stores will be selling their selections for 50% off, but the fun thing is, they sell it before the season is over.  In spring they are already putting out summer clothes and selling off the spring clothes so you can swoop in and buy this year for next year at 50% off!  It saves huge dollars!

 

I have another great piece of advice... Diapers.  Sign up at the diaper websites under your married name and maiden name so that you get the coupons they send out twice... You will be very grateful.  Diapers can really add up.  When they are on sale, buy the bigger sizes, like 3's and 4's because they are likely what you will use in the future.  The coupons are for wipes and diapers, so make sure you stock up on sale wipes.  I try and coordinate with groceries or errands.  So when the diapers are on sale, this is usually when all of the other baby stuff goes on sale so I go and take a huge hit on my CC buy buying lots and then I budget to pay it off over the next 3ish months when I don't have to buy anything. ;)  If the diapers are mega on sale, save 1 or 2 of your coupons for when you run out and can't wait for the sale to buy new.

 

That's all for now... just had to make sure to share the wealth ;)

The Endless Night!

I thought I would start with a blog relevant to my most recent breast feeding experience, which was a very sleepless night.  My three month old son, we will call him (2), decided he would breast feed as often as possible last night to make up for a busy day where he slept  more than he fed.  Sometimes he does this and I assume it is a growth spurt, but other times, the 'why' doesn't matter because I am too tired to care.  I feed, and I feed, and I feed some more and simply hope it will end soon.  Last night was one of those nights, where the morning came before the end to breast feeding came.  I was, and am, exhausted but it comes with the territory.  At least with this child I do get some nights where I am able to sleep for six or seven hours straight because with my first son, we will call him (1), a full night sleep didn't come until after he was a year old.  Every kid comes with a new struggle and a new breast side manner.  The trick is not to compare or hope for something, but rather to accept what is happening and deal with it the best way possible so that you can be a happy healthy Mom for your kids.  Check back tomorrow from some tips and tricks to get through the first three months.  I will also explain the choice of the title "Bobbing for Boob!"  Stay tuned for more. ;)