Hellobee Boards

@artbee: oh boy. I'm not sure I"m ready for weird looking nipples...

i wrote a post about things i didn't know about breastfeeding here:

http://www.hellobee.com/2011/12/13/things-i-didnt-know-about-breastfeeding-and-breastmilk/

When I started BF'ing I had NO idea what I was doing and ended up with scabs on both nipples because of improper latch. My lactation consultant told me to rub breastmilk on the nipples and let them air dry when DD was done eating. It helped a lot!

^ totally! It sprays!!!!!!! All over! When LO was young, she would suck and suck but then lose her latch and milk would be spraying all over her face and she's have her mouth open trying to catch it! LOL.

And letdown hurts a little.

@Mrsbells: I did that sometimes, esp in the first few months since I had a manual pump. It can be quite a bit especially if you start pumping while they're nursing. My left boob started being hard to get milk from, though LO gets milk from it because I can hear her swallowing, and pumping while nursing from my right side helped that out.

@Maysprout: i just ordered those!

i still leak quite a bit. i could probably get at least an ounce. multiply that by several nursing sessions a day and i have a full feeding without having to pump!

@mediagirl: Even though breastfeeding is the most natural thing ever, the shape of your nipple just doesn't seem natural.

I don't really leak out of both breasts... I guess I'm weird. I also don't feel letdown.

I never had a strong let down so leaking was only an issue in the first few weeks. Everyone is different so don't expect your experience and body to match what you read or hear all the time. When pumping, I encourage anyone to use a lubricant (EMAB's Natural Nipple Butter, Motherlove's Nipple Cream, Lanolin, olive oil) on your aureola so the friction with the pump flange isn't so rough. Also, when pumping, try massaging your breasts first to help set the stage and encourage let down, particularly if you are not with your baby. Also, if you don't have a strong let down when pumping like me, massage your breasts during pumping and then hand express to fully empty the breast once the pump stops getting milk out. I was amazed at how much more milk I could get when hand expressing after pumping (over a full ounce sometimes).

The easiest way for me to latch him on was to sit in our big fluffy recliner, lay him across my lap with his head on the same side I want to feed him on, (feet on the opposite side of the boob I want him on) and to take that boob in the hand on the SAME SIDE and make the "boob sandwich" (squeeze it flatter) and his head in my opposite hand and rub his nose and chin with the nipple.

He still has times where he acts up at 12 weeks (too hungry, too frustrated, too tired), but if I do that move, he always latches perfectly. Latching was my biggest challenge, it took me about 8 weeks to start even liking the breastfeeding process.

@LivsMama: Wagon Jr. never did that but he did once put his hand up (still not making eye contact) and touch my cheek for a minute. I thought I was going to explode with happiness.

Some things I didn't expect:

Taking a decongestant dried up my supply almost overnight!

Well after weaning (we're talking YEARS) I still feel the sensation of let-down when I think about nursing. Sometimes even seeing the title of a thread about nursing here on HB gets my boobs tingling! SO WEIRD.

@Rubies: haha literally lol'ed! It sometimes sprays on my LO's face but he's never tried to catch it haha.

My breasts were EXTREMELY. Itchy. You're not supposed to use lotions on your breast because of baby (not even supposed to wash you nipples in the shower cause it can dehydrate them). So I used natural coconut Oil for the itching, it helps and smells good!

I second the porn star comment lol my breasts were rock hard and enormous for two days. I couldn't even get LO to latch cause they were so big.

@LivsMama: aw, that is so sweet! I love hearing the good, as well as the bad.

I'm definitely subscribing to this thread for access later!

@regberadaisy: This one is very important and I thought of it today. Nursing strikes may happen. You might think your baby weaned himself, but if it happens very suddenly, its a strike, and it will test your patience. Livs two strikes were both associated with teething. As frustrating as it is, dont use it to wean unless you know you are done. For me, it was emotionally devastating to think that she might be done BFing because I wasnt ready. But she went right back both times as if nothing had happened =o)