BOOBIE, MOMMY, BOOBIE!!!

I think its time I did a blog about breast feeding! I am very pro-breast feeding! It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. My 10 1/2 month old has never had a drop of formula and never will! If you have to use formula because of unavoidable reasons I think that's fine and I also believe a bottle given with love is better than a boobie given resentfully but let's call it what it is, artificial baby milk. Babies were not meant to be given this stuff, they were meant to be given their mother's milk!
Ok, now stepping off my soap box to tell you about my breast feeding experience! An hour after my emergency c-section I was handed my little bundle of love in recovery. I held him for a little bit, he was given his first bath by my bedside and I was asked if I wanted to nurse or give him a bottle.
Before I even knew I was pregnant I knew I wanted to breast feed my babies. It is just so much better for them! I had heard horror stories about latching on and the nipple pain(not to mention cracking and bleeding), but I read all I could and when Cooper was born I was educated enough in the subject I thought I could tough it out for the sake of my baby.
I told the nurse I wanted to breast feed and she helped me unsnap my hospital gown and attempt to get him latched on for the first time. For about 5 seconds his mouth stayed clamped shut and all those horror stories flashed before my eyes. About then he opened his mouth wide and started nursing! I was so excited! When I asked my husband to take a picture he looked at me with a look of horror on his face and said "you want me to do what??!". The nurse convinced him you wouldn't be able to see anything and he took the picture for me.
I am pleased to say my nipples never hurt. They did get a little sore but my doctor prescribed Newman's Nipple Cream that worked wonders! I believe if you always make sure the baby is latched on correctly you won't hurt. Breast feeding should NEVER hurt!
The first couple weeks Cooper, Boppy, and I stayed in a recliner/rocker in the living room. Because of my c-section I couldn't lay flat in bed so we slept there too. I never tried to put him on a feeding schedule. I don't eat on a schedule so I didn't see why he should. Because of this I have never had a problem with milk supply. Breast feeding is a supply and demand thing. If I don't let him demand it when he wants it the supply won't be there. Schedules with artificial baby milk are fine and dandy but not with breast feeding.
I borrowed a Medela breast pump from a close friend. It worked ok for me. I got between a half ounce to 2 ounces when I pumped. When we got our income tax money back I decided I wanted to invest in a pump of my own. I did a lot of research and decided on the Avent Isis Duo. It is an electric double pump that remembers your pumping rhythm. You do two pumps manually and then push a button. It continues the suction and interval you did with the first two pumps. It has the comfort of a hand pump without all the work! It also has massaging petals so the pump uses not only suction but compression like a baby nurses. It feels just like Cooper nursing! With this pump I get 8 to 10 ounces almost everytime I pump! I ordered mine from www.breastpumps.com. It was $80 cheaper than anywhere else. It is not a cheap pump. I got it for $270 but it is usually $350. If you look at what you would spend on formula,however, it is well worth it!
I can't tell you how much this has bonded me and my little booger. He is definitely a Mama's boy! My original goal while I was pregnant was to nurse for 6 months. Then after I had nursed him I couldn't bear the thought of giving him artificial baby milk so now our goal is 1 year! After a year old I will leave weaning, for the most part, up to him. I will not breast feed until he is 3, but within some reasonable limits I will wait until he is ready. I dread weaning! Breast feeding is such an important part of my life now! It has become part of who I am; I am a nursing mother! Not only that, but whenever anything is wrong with my little man I know I have something to make it all better! I don't know what I'll do when we don't have this anymore! I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there!
If anyone has any questions about breast feeding, I would be happy to answer them! There is so much more to it that I didn't have time to cover in this post! If you would rather not post it publicly, my email address is kmriden1@msn.com. Feel free to ask!

*DISCLAIMER: I realize this post is very opinionated. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings or make anyone mad. They are just my personal opinions! (Although most backed up by lactation consults and doctors) please don't take it personally :)