Straight From the Bottle

Yay for you!! I hope to join the club in May. Please let me know any other recommendations on all nursing products!

Breastfeeding is an amazing experience for anyone who's open to it!

Congratulations! You do deserve a medal. It wasn't until 3.5 months that the breastfeeding started to go more smoothly for me. I also had the blanching as well as an allergy to Lanolin due to eczema. Ladies, if you have eczema, do not let lanolin get within a 5 mile radius of your skin! The result was like nothing my midwives had ever seen or hope to see ever again. There is an alternative product from Australia that you can get from the internet called Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment. It works like a dream and is even more natural and safe for your baby to ingest (being derived from pure fruit) than lanolin. You can also use it for diaper rash or any other chapping on yourself or the babe.

For the blanching, I found a couple of things that worked. First thing to try is drinking a cup of hot tea right before feeding. It dilates the blood vessels. If that doesn't work, then a sure fire tactic is to fill a really big bowl with salted hot water, as hot as you can stand, and dip your boob into it. No, that is not a typo, I said dip your boob into the hot salted water until your nipple feels relaxed, warm, and distended. It also helps to manually start the milk flowing a little bit into the water before starting to feed. If the baby has an issue with the salty taste, you can rinse a little before feeding.

Another thing I noticed was that pumping made all my issues worse, particularly the blanching. I think it had to do with the fact that my letdown reflex is very dependent on my baby's actual presence. I was much happier once I got rid of that torture device. It may not be an option for you, but it's something to think about.

Hope this helps! After getting through or learning to manage these and other irritating issues such as clogged ducts and milk blisters, I'm still breastfeeding at 1.5 years. It was kind of like, well, it's finally working and it was so hard to get to this place, so fuck it!

great work rebecca and fable!! congrats!

Yeah for you! Breastfeeding can be so painful and hard - I know, because I did it myself - I couldn't believe how much it hurt at first - it was really shocking! But it was worth it and, hey, it's free! I did it exclusively for about eight weeks, and wrapped it all up at five months (it was really hard to keep up w/the pumping and everything when I went back to work when she was three months). But I definitely felt like it was a big life accomplishment. You deserve that medal!

Way to go!  It is hard--I never realized how hard, but once it gets easier, then its hard to stop b/c it's way easier than making and cleaning bottles.  I work FT, so I had to pump after 4 months and that is so tiresome.  When he started getting cow's milk at a year, I was never so happy in my life.  Bye bye pump!  At 16 months, I'm still nursing about 3x a day (morning, when I get home from work, and night)--nursing the older baby seriously makes all the early torment worth it, especially once they start sleeping better and learning to fall asleep somewhere besides the boob.  By the way, just ordered your book (I was holding out for Xmas, but no one got it for me, so I bought it myself) and can't wait to read it--I love your blogs.  And again, a high-five right back to you b/c you are doing a great job!

Right on woman!!  I have been saying all along breastfeeding mommies deserve a ton of respect!!

Thanks for this.  I needed a boost today so I will congratulate myself for having nursed my son for a year (he's now 15 months).  Good for you Rebecca and all the other nursing moms out there for however long it lasts!

"It's hard out there for a nip!"

You crack me up.

Super adorable pic of you and fable. Love the anthropologie hat she's sportin' TOOO CUTE!

YOU GO, GIRL!

Super awesome for you!

GOOD JOB! The fact that your body is functioning so amazingly after two surgeries is a testament to your strength. And working through pain, sleeplessness, and other obstacles is a testament to your dedication and devotion. You go mama!

Moms don't congratulate themselves enough, so I'm so glad to see you high-fiving yourself. You sure as hell deserve it!

Yay!  It is hard, and you are awesome.

And Fable?  So adorable.  My teeth hurt from the sweetness.  

congratulations!  i have a six month old that i plan on breastfeeding until she reaches one year of age.  i had a lot of problems the first three months.  now that i think about it, they haven't gone away - baby and i have just finally learned to deal.  it has only been in the past month that breastfeeding has started to feel comfortable.  and i can tell you that there were many times when i wanted to quit.  i'm glad i didn't, though.  

congrats again!

You forgot LOPSIDED BOOBS!  I was bigger on the right side for MONTHS.

Nursing was harder mentally for me, than physically. I was really lucky not to have any pain or complications.  I breast and bottle fed for 8 months, 6 of those months I was working full time and pumping twice a day.  I was constantly feeling like I was either not working or not pumping enough or both.  Or else I was feeling constrained by being a living source of food.  In that way, it was hard for me, but I miss it now and I would SO do it again.

I guess I was lucky not to have much pain.  I also don't use lanolin, because I am allergic to wool and my skin is slightly eczemic, but I did use the Lansinoh lanolin without a problem.  If your eczema isn't that bad, you can probably use it.  It is quite sticky though...  Luckily I didn't need it a lot.

Great job!!!!! You are right it is hard work, very hard work. That whole "it shouldn't hurt at all think" is crap. My poor nips felt like there were on fire for the first 4 months then after that there were fine. My goal was 6 months and my super goal was a year and my boy will be 2 in April and he is still going strong. Wear your medal proud Mama you deserve it!!!

Good work!  I'm going to make a 2nd go of it this summer.  Effort #1 one was a bust (BUST, ha ha!).  I have a new plan.  The plan doesn't involve lactation consultants.  Sorry, lactation consultants.  The plan also doesn't involve guilt if it doesn't work.  :)  I'm so much wiser now.

Congratulations! I never expected it to hurt so much when I first started. My little dude actually bit (gummed?) off a little bb sized piece of my nipple when he was, like, 7 weeks old. But, eventually the boobs toughen up and the pain goes away.

By the way, do you have tips on fashionable nursing? I've spent the last two years in American Apparel deep v-neck shirts and wrap dresses because I can't bring myself to wear anything I'd have to pull up.  

Congratulations! I are my hero. Love the medal :)

congratulations on being able

to nurse delectable little fable

(i couldn't help it-sorry)

if you nurse as much as i do you can burn up to 300 calories a day.  my babe is constant at night and, like fable, goes to sleep avec breast.

Wooooooooooo!  You rock, mama!

And thanks for the reminder that I rock, too.  Westley's still nursing strong at 13 months, and is showing no signs of stopping.  I love that he loves it, and I'm glad I can do it for him, but...yeah.  It's hard.  And I'm looking forward to pretty bras (and a possible breast lift/reconstructive surgery because yikes).

just don't give up. I breastfed my son for almost TWO AND A HALF YEARS so three months sounds like a total joke to me (sorry, needless to say I'm European ;))

Breastfeeding is healthy for mother and child, keep on feeding your beautiful daughter and you will be super-proud of yourself! :)

Way to be judgmental and condescending, stephanie ;)) Three months isn't a joke, its an accomplishment, especially given the fact that the first few months are, for most woman, really freaking hard.

I am currently breastfeeding a 22 month old, and although I am proud of that accomplishment, I can also recognize that it doesn't automatically make me a better mom than a woman who only breastfed for a year, or six months, or was unable to do so.  

Rebecca-Try a heating pad on your boobs before you nurse. It worked for me. Congratulations for making it to 3 months! It seems for most people problems go away around this time so I hope it gets easier for you.

Esther- You can use a belly band (used to hold up your pants in pregnancy) available at www.ingridandisabel.com or motherhood among other places under your clothes so when you pull up your shirt your belly is covered.

Side note: http://www.zodee.com has some pretty and supportive nursing bras. They don't have underwire (underwire can cause blocked ducts), but still have a lot of support. The brands are Hot Milk and Womama. Zodee is an Australian site, but has very reasonable shipping to the US. Hot Milk is available in the US in a few boutiques so you might be able to find them in person if you live in the right city.

Congrats!  Another thing to keep in mind and help motivate you to keep nursing is how much weight you can loose.  I nursed/pumped til my son was 13 months and lost all my baby weight and then an extra 10 lbs.  Who cares if my boobs are saggy sans bra now that I can wear skinny jeans!

good luck.

holla atcha boy!

Way to go! I am still nursing my now 16 month old and forgot how big an accomplishment it really can be. Let me just say, somehow, without teeth mind you, my little man took a piece of my nip right off the second day he was born. Even at my 6 week check-up my doctor couldn't believe I had made it through and was still nursing since I still had a hole. One day, after lots of pumping and wincing and Newman's Nipple Cream (another good choice)it just got easier, less painful and worked smoothly. Good for you for sticking with it. Now, what'll you get yourself for 6 months?

Congrats!! That time was a huge turning point for me where it started to get much easier.

Amen; BFAR (breastfeeding after reduction) is rough; I can't believe I've stuck it out for 10 months!  Yea.  So, congrats to you, too!

I made it to 6 months,then to a year (which was my goal) and now we are at 16 months (2 times/day) and I'm wondering how we are going to "mutually" phase it out?????

CONGRATS!  and high fives all around.  breastfeeding was difficult mentally for me as well (re: melissa).  i was always thinking about it.  i actually hyperlactated for the first 3 months (producing enough milk for a small village).  i should have sought help, but felt like i could handle it on my own as a first time mom.  i decided to stop at 7 months and i felt horrible and guilty and still do occasionally.  i wish i would have kept going a bit longer.  it is hard but it wasn't so hard that i couldn't have done it longer.  sigh... next babe i guess!

Breastfeeding is a mega accomplishment! My fave nursing anecdote involves my hippy cousin who breastfed her son until age 4 or so. On one memorable occasion he started sucking and then exclaimed "Ohhh mama, you had Taco Bell!". Right on!!!

You TOTALLY deserve a medal. And maybe some metal. Platinum, perhaps? Seriously, you have every reason to be really proud of that.

I'm bf'ing my third son at present.  It does get easier after the first few months, and even easier than that once they start solids because they will nurse less often and for shorter periods.  That said, I have already started the fund to pay for my boob lift once all is said and done. Because there's a part of me that NEEDS to rock a sexy bra, and I can't imagine doing it with my saggy bananas.  So, breast lift it is!  And, shoot, a tummy tuck to nip out all the extra skin from having 3  - yes 3 - 10 or nearly 10 pound babies.  It's my own little medal for myself. :)

way to go!  breastfeeding is a commitment, and one that is so worth doing for your baby.  you realize all the things you cut out during pregnancy (caffeine, alcohol, certain sea foods, etc.) are *still* off limits (or at least, you need to be careful about eating/drinking them).  but with my son asleep at the boob right now, i wouldn't trade it for anything!

good for you!  that's quite an accomplishment.  my son was allergic to my breastmilk (((gasp))) and i had to stop after only 5 weeks.  we have been through hell and back with the battle of breast vs bottle, but i am always encouraged and happy to know of moms who succeed with breastfeeding.  for some reason, i never knew how challenging breastfeeding could be, until i was a mom and dealing with it myself.  congrats!  keep up the good, bloody work!  :)~

Just wait until Fable's a little older and not nursing as frequently, and you can drink again. The crazy amazing thing is that alcohol clears from your milk just as fast as it does from your blood. neat, huh?

I am posting this on all blogs that I read. I am very worried for all child resale shops, child book stores and little mom and pop shops. It is called Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act or CPSIA. Please look it up. We found out last night. I am sorry to use your blog this way GGC.

"Breastfeeding is an amazing experience for anyone who's open to it!"

Nice - real nice!  Because women who try and try for months at a time, including multiple lactation consultants fail because they aren't open to it.  Nice.

I think it's freaking great you've had this opportunity with Fable - rock on mama!  You definitely deserve a medal.

Thanks you guys! And I keep hearing all about this, Jessica. I'm looking into it for sure and please feel free to ALWAYS post about what is important to you.

Judith--there are actually a lot of people who are NOT open to breastfeeding. Sorry that you might have had troubles,but don't feel like you need to work out your issues here, k?

What an awesome, honest post.  All you ladies rule!  I didn't want to breastfeed and had a tough time but did it anyway (b/c) I knew my sis and bff would never let me hear the end of it!  I am so glad I stuck with it and especially I am grateful for the help I got.  

But I have news for you ladies.  Breastfeeding is more difficult, and therefore more painful, in the U.S. than elsewhere.  Why?  Because U.S. women are urged to bf but set up to fail.  Consider that only 3% (yes, that's 3 percent) of hospitals follow a protocol proven to result in breastfeeding success.  The first hour and first few days are so critical to a good bfdng experience and most hospitals do a poor job in getting moms off to a good start.  In essence moms are being sent to run a marathon with flip-flops.  This is just one of the ways moms are being "booby-trapped," and it is not their fault.  I started a non-profit because it really bugs the hell out of me that moms are being undermined--BestforBabes.com.  We would love to hear from you all!

@ Esther

I am sorry you interpreted my comment the way you did :( I definitely did not want to seem judgemental!!! I think this blog is great, and I think all mothers that breastfeed are great. And all mothers who chose not to breastfeed are also great! I believe that what's best for the mother is what's best for the child. I only wanted to say: if you managed for three months: don't give up!!!! :)

The first three months are the hardest! It does get easier. It's awesome that you've made it over the first hurdle.  My little guy is 7 months now and we're headed toward a year all too soon.

BTW: that hat is freakin' adorable... it's almost as cute as the baby underneath it.

I breastfed my 3 kids for 12 months EXACTLY (I had a countdown on my computer for the last 2). Besides the it's really great for your kid's IQ and immunity stuff, I was like, too cheap to NOT breastfeed. Especially after I saw how expensive formula is. OMG.

Yes, the first 3 months is soooo hard. And if you have any kind of life, like school or work, it is exponentially harder. Then throw in something like surgery, damn. Congratulations woman, for sure.

Something else tho that you haven't quite gotten to yet is the freak show AFTER the breastfeeding is done. I mean, the only way my sisters and I can describe it is National Geographic. As in, wait a minute, I have to roll up my National Geographic boobs and stuff them in the over the shoulder golf ball holders.

I was lucky that I had TONS of milk. I was unlucky that I live in California and couldn't sell it to pay for the lift and tuck I'm gonna need or alternately the fortune I'm gonna spend in EXTREME push-up bras that do nothing in the way of cleavage, but do give the illusion of boob shapes sitting on my chest.

Kudos to all moms, weather they BF for never, 1 month, 1 or 8 years.

Congratulations to you!  I just went from exclusively breastfeeding my 6-month-old to formula during the day and breastfeeding at bedtime and in the morning.  I am going back to work in a week and I don't have the time or desire to pump at work (I HATE HATE HATE pumping!).

Since this shift to formula, I am SO SO HAPPY.  I never had any problems with breastfeeding, but I love that I can go somewhere during the day and not have to worry about pumping or breastmilk.  I went skiing all day Sunday while my husband watched the babe and for the first time in a long time (as in PRE-PREGNANCY), I just got to have fun and worry about only ME.  It was delicious.

That said, I enjoy my babe's bedtime and breakfast breastfeeding sessions so much more.  It's been a win-win all around.  I was never married to the idea of breastfeeding or bottlefeeding- I just want to do what's best for my baby AND for me.  I never drank the kool-aid and became a breastfeeding fanatic.  That's just not the way I operate.  Several moms in my baby group criticized me for not wanting to pump at work (needless to say, none of them work outside the home) and not giving my baby breast milk during the day.  I was pissed.  I love my daughter dearly and she is clearly a happy, healthy baby.  I am proud that I breastfed her for her first six months, and I am not upset with my decision to switch.

Kudos to you- for being a great mom, for feeding your baby however you choose to feed your baby, and for having a lot of love in your house!  Because that's what really matters.