Great. Question.
After thinking on it for a few minutes, I decided my answer was breastfeeding. I also decided I should write it here on my blog, so I always remember what I truly felt was so different than what I expected.
In my head I always knew breastfeeding was what I wanted to do for a number of reasons. I always told myself "I'll breastfeed if I can". I'll never be that woman to judge another woman because she is or isn't breastfeeding. To each their own. Each momma knows what is best for their little one.
Nate & I took the breastfeeding class since I wanted to be prepared. Ha--prepared, I laugh at myself for saying that. You're never prepared for anything in regards to mommy hood :) Learning to roll with it is KEY :) However, I fell like I had a good idea of what nursing would be like...but I think in my head I simplified it.
When Jacoby was born and was laid on my chest, he almost immediately started giving signs that he was hungry and actually tried to make his way down my chest. I looked at Nate and thought--woah, what a natural instinct he has! Jacoby is a champion sucker. So he, from the get-go, was very interested in nursing. I know some moms who work so hard to nurse and the baby just has no interest, so I'm thankful that Jacoby and I were on the same page.
My lactation consultant at the hospital made me feel so inadequate as a mother--which is SO dumb. I knew I could rock this mom thing, but having someone make me question it within a day of having him, was not my idea of encouragement. I wish someone would have told me to take what she said with a grain of salt. She was so intense about everything. There is so much expectation and judgement that goes along with it, and I don't think that's fair.
You should nurse for 12 months or you're not doing what's best for your baby.
No pacifiers for at least the first month.
Don't give baby a bottle for the first month either.
You shouldn't hurt AT ALL if you're feeding "properly".
Ugh...such big statements.
I plan to nurse as long as it works for Coby & I. I don't want to put a timeline on myself or him...life is a roller coaster and you don't know what to expect. I don't want to set myself pointless goals, just to make myself disappointed if I don't reach them. Coby will be healthy AND smart {thanks to his daddy's brain}, regardless of how many months I nurse.
No pacifiers? I think this is the worst advice I've heard, if I'm being honest here. I think it's a good point to make to be aware of nipple confusion. But to just flat out say "no pacifiers for the first month", is just not fair. All Jacoby wanted & still wants, is to be comforted by having something to suck on. Why would I not give him comfort when that's all he wants? The pacifier never led him to have nipple confusion {probably because he would literally suck on anything...bless his heart}. For some babies, yes the pacifier might cause confusion, and some babies refuse it. BUT...to just flat out say no pacifiers without getting a feel for what the baby wants seems a little unfair to me.
As far as no pain? I laugh at that too...every new mom is learning & adjusting. Yes, it shouldn't hurt terribly bad...but {realize check here} you are a little sore. It's not something that's happened to your body every 3 hours previously...so your body has to adjust. I was in pain for probably the first 2 weeks, but Coby and I eventually figured it out together. Making a general statement of "no pain at all" is just for the birds. Most women it takes a little bit of time to figure it out, and that goes for all things "motherhood".
One other thing? Nursing is e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g. Seriously. I thought waking up in the middle of the night was going to be the hardest, but I find that feeding every 3 hours during the day is just as exhausting. 3 hours sounds like a long time, but it's not. It goes by so quickly and then it's time to feed again. I remember the first 3 days while in the hospital, I was so exhausted AND thirsty from nursing. I literally thought, I don't know how long I can nurse, it's a lot of work! It's a full time job. A full time job that has turned into something that I love doing. I love it, now. {key word = now}
Don't get me wrong...I am extremely thankful for the blessing of having my own healthy child and being able to provide for him. Thankful actually doesn't even cover it. Blessed is a little better.
xox,
Naomi
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