My Breastfeeding Story

by Megan Dunn

Towards the eighth month of my pregnancy my obstetrician asked me how I planned to feed our baby. Although I had given it no previous thought or talked to my husband about it, I answered, "I plan to breastfeed." "Good." Is how my doctor answered. At that time I didn't know that my daughter would be born 3 weeks earlier than and that I would need a cesarean section to deliver her. On June 3rd, a Monday, my Braxton-Hicks contractions started becoming more regular and stronger as I worked at my desk. I talked to my husband at lunch and told him I was going to call my doctor to see if they could get me in to check if I had dilated any more since my Friday appointment. The nurse from the clinic called back and told me they were booked solid for the day and to go to the hospital. So my husband and I headed to the hospital at 3:45. When we checked in the nurse at the hospital informed me that I was 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. She said, "You are going to have your baby today." We had our beautiful daughter at 5:37 pm that evening. She and my husband were whisked away just moments after she was born to the nursery while I was stitched up.

In the recovery room I told the nurse that I wanted breastfeed right away and asked when my husband and baby could join me. She had them come back as soon as possible so we could begin. My husband says that he will always remember the look of shock on my face when she first latched on. I remember it as a wonderful moment when I first connected with my daughter. She was so content lying in my arms nursing. She latched on right away without problems.

Later on she developed a lazy latch that caused me blisters. A lactation nurse was present most of the day at the hospital and she came to help me several times to show me how to position her and to help me with her latch. I wanted so bad to be successful at nursing so I followed her pediatrician's advice to the letter. I woke every 2 hours and nursed her for at least 15 minutes while I was in the hospital. She slept in my bed, because of the c-section I couldn't get up easily so this arrangement worked out well for us.

When we left the hospital she was a nursing pro. However when we got home something happened and she wouldn't latch on correctly and I was hurting really bad. The nurses that the hospital had given me a nipple shield. My husband suggested that I try it. So we did and it worked. I cried though, I wanted to nurse my baby "naturally". I made an appointment with the LC at my daughter's pediatrician's office. I couldn't see her for a week so we continued to use the shield.

The LC at the clinic was a great. She helped me wean her from the shield and showed me a better way to hold her. After that appointment we never used the shield again.

When my daughter was two weeks old I developed my first case of mastitis. I had been feeling run down all day and my husband noticed my head was warm. So we called my obstetrician and she said it sounded like mastitis and I began antibiotics right away. Within 24 hours I was feeling better. It wasn't the end of mastitis for me however. I developed another infection in my other breast just weeks later. Again I treated it with antibiotics. Twice more I developed mastitis and decided to let it pass naturally because I recognized the symptoms early. I treated myself with extra rest, frequent nursing on the affected side, and lots of water.

Now at four months nursing is a breeze. We have discovered co-sleeping which has afforded me lots of sleep during nighttime feedings. Life with breastfeeding is good!