"For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."
Isaiah 66:11

Mama and Hannah (June 9, 2001)

Ok, call me old fashioned, but I have never planned on bottle feeding. I can't see any other way but breastfeeding. Unfortunately, desiring and doing are two very different things!
When I was pregnant with Jacob, I didn't do any research on breastfeeding whatsoever. I mean, you just 'put them on and they nurse, right?' Well, sometimes. For the lucky few! Then, after I nursed him the first few times, I couldn't believe how sore I was! That went away in a few days as I 'toughened up' just in time for a new problem to present itself! The word of doom...MASTITIS. Aside from childbirth, I have never experienced pain quite like that. You don't want people near your breasts. In fact, you don't even want people LOOKING in the general direction of your breasts!!! I saw a lactation consultant (I can't believe she even had the nerve to call herself that!) and she showed me the proper way to latch him on, the various holds, etc. 'Try a few of these changes,' she said, 'and it will go away.' Well, I did and it didn't. I called my OB and he said the same thing and told me to treat the fever and chills with extra strength Tylenol. Hmmm...ok, I'm new at this, I trust you, I'll try that.

Well, for 3 weeks I suffered through a steady 103 degree fever, one entire body ache, chills and unbearable pain. The result? I stopped nursing. I read about binding your breasts to stop the milk production. So I did. For the next few days I just wept. I felt like such a failure! Why couldn't I do something as simple as breastfeed my child?? Isn't that what my breasts were for?
Two years later, I became pregnant with my second son. While pregnant, I joined a wonderful group of ladies on Parents Place, a website for parents of all different types and stages. I vowed to ask every question I could about mastitis and breastfeeding. I found out all I needed to do to treat it was to take antibiotics!! WHAT?!? Why on earth wasn't I told that in the first place?!?

Mama and Hannah (June 9, 2001)

Well, this time around I was seeing a group of midwives who patiently explained from the beginning how to get a good start breastfeeding and how to treat various problems if/when they arose. Once I had Jamie, man was I READY!!! Ok, I've got it now, here I go! Sore nipples?? Noooo problem! They'll stop hurting after a few days! Done! The pain was gone...oh yeah! This is going to be easy! WRONG!!! Jamie was less than two weeks old when one morning I actually woke up with full blown mastitis. Normally you have pain and tenderness for a day or so first to let you know that if you don't massage the plugged duct and nurse nurse nurse on that side, you're going to be having problems. Nope, I actually WOKE UP with my left breast almost twice the size of my right breast. The skin was so stretched, you could see every pore in vivid detail. It was really strange! And hard as a rock. So I went in right away and received antibiotics for it. Within 24 hours I was feeling SO much better!

Within a week, I was fine. That's not to say it wasn't excruciatingly painful (to put it rather mildly) to nurse on that side but with antibiotics and perserverence, I was able to beat it! Less than two weeks later, upon returning home from a brunch, I noticed more pain and tenderness on the other side. By the time I got home, I was in so much pain, I went back to the dr and was told, yep...mastitis again! Sheesh! Where are the warning signs for crying out loud! I just HAD this!! So back on the antibiotics I went. I had full blown mastitis 3 times in the first 6 weeks of Jamie's life! I got it again when he was around 6 months old but it was much milder. I nursed him until he was 18 months old. I was 4 months pregnant with our (currently youngest) child, Hannah at the time. I had morning sickness so badly with her that the same midwives who delivered Jamie said, 'you either stop nursing the toddler or you'll probably lose the baby.' I was bedridden and on 1,000cc's of IV fluid daily delivered by a nurse. It was horrible. I felt so sad 'cheating' one baby for another and didn't want to give up the nursing ralationship I had with my son but I knew I needed to keep up my strength. I simply couldn't support 3 people on what I was taking in. I also knew that in a few months, I would be nursing again anyway!

February 2001, the birth of our first daughter!! She is now (as of this writting) 4 months old and I have YET to see a case of mastitis! I have had a few cases of plugged ducts which can also be quite painful, but I've been able to keep them at bay and rid myself of them without the use of antibiotics.
So I think I can safely say that not only is each individual's breastfeeding experience different, each of the babies of each individual is different! What didn't work for one just might work for another! Don't ever think that you can't do it. With the right help and encouragement and of course, the ever-present grace fo God you CAN do it!!!
I think going through the trials with nursing each of my children has given me a new respect for women who also nurse. I find it awesome to think that I am giving each of my babies the BEST possible food I can and by the grace of God I will continue to do so. :)
**UPDATE! Hannah is now 8 months old and we are still enjoying a happy and healthy breastfeeding experience! She still mostly nurses during the day with one 'meal' in the evening with the family.
**UPDATE! At just shy of 11 months, Hannah is still about 80% breastfed. I have had a few problems with plugged ducts from time to time (especially during colds or when I recently had the flu) but still no mastitis! Hannah and I are both recovering from a tummy bug and it was during her illness (throwing up/watery diarrhea) that I was SO thankful to still be breastfeeding her. I knew if for no other reason then for comfort that my breastmilk was keeping her hydrated. I would have to nurse in short spurts as she couldn't keep much down at a time.
*Update April 25, 2002~I've had my first and Lord-willing only bout of mastitis. I ended up in the hospital with a fever of a hair over 105 degrees and had to get a shot of an antibiotic in my right hip. Man, that hurt!!! It started working almost immediately though. I was also put on Keflex for 10 days. I'm fine now but that was not a pleasant experience! Despite all that, I can proudly say that at almost 15 months, Hannah's still happily nursing away! (comfort nursing only at this time as she gets all her nutrients for the most part during regular meals~I just nurse her before her nap and once or twice briefly during the day)
*Update May 9, 2002~ Last week was an incredibly stressful week with my hubby having his radiation so far from home. I was so panicky and anxious all week (NOT of God, I know!) Anyway, I wasn't taking very good care of myself on top of it all and found that within the first 24 hours I wasn't having anymore 'letdowns.' I 'shrunk' about 2 cup sizes and I was really dehydrated. I was so frightened my milk would just 'dry up' so I started drinking more and trying to eat more and gradually noticed I had more milk but still no 'let downs.' I have never wanted to leak through a shirt more in my life! I called a lactation consultant who suggested I go to a health food store and take fenugreek (8 tabs a day), marshmallow root and red raspberry leaf tea. So I did. It worked wonders in increasing my milk supply but still no let downs. Finally, last Sunday my hubby came back home and all systems have been "GO" ever since. Major 'letdown city' over here. I knew I just needed to try to force myself to relax last week but it was almost impossible. God brought me through it and I praise Him for that. Also, because my husband is still radioactive we all have to be on a special medication to protect us from him and the only way Hannah can get it is through my milk because it's concentrated in breastmilk. Sooo there's the happy ending to my frustrating story. God was faithful (as usual!) once again! I figured as long as I continue to stimulate milk production by at least trying to nurse it wouldn't all just go away but I simply don't know?? It was very frightening and frustrating to think I wouldn't be able to have that special 'nursing relationship' with her anymore.

As of this editing (November 19, 2002) I am still breastfeeding my "not-so-little" Hannah. She is now 21 1/2 months old and this is the longest I have ever nursed a child. I am trying to "self-wean" her, allowing her to let me know when she doesn't want to nurse anymore. We are only nursing first thing in the morning and occasionally right before bed so it really isn't interfering with my monthly cycle which is a blessing as James (my husband) and I are praying that God will bless us with another child soon!

Update!!
June 30, 2003 ~ we are expecting another blessing (another GIRL!) on August 19, 2003!! So it looks like I'm gearing up for another round of breastfeeding! I stopped nursing Hannah when I was about 3 months into this current pregnancy due to severe (as usual!) morning sickness. I am sure looking forward to having that special bond with another child. Although Hannah (2 1/2 years) is going to require a little adjusting as she is still quite attached to the "boobies" and likes to hold them as I rock her to sleep, when she's really upset, etc. We'll see how it goes!! I'll upate again when our little Sarah Lynn arrives!!

I hope this helped someone by reading this. I wish I had known a few more things when I first started nursing my children!

Breastfeeding Friends

~ Alexandra's Noonie Page~

Here are a few links which I have found helpful:

~Breastfeeding God's Way~
~How Breastfeeding Honors God~
~Cyndi's Breastfeeding Page~
~Breastfeeding Online~
~Promotion of Mother's Milk~
~La Leche League~
~Bestfed.com~
~Nursing Mothers Inc.~
~Breast is Best~

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