Sweet Success

by L. Boswall

Our story is one of perseverance.

This was our fourth child. There was no question we would breastfeed. We had breastfeed our first till he was 3, our second till he was 2 and 1/2 and number three till he was 20 months old (sadly his choice).

When Ethan Jordan was born he wasn't interested in anything but sleeping. So he did. While at the hospital, I attended the breastfeeding class and found myself feeling unsure of how to do it. I felt as if I had never ventured this territory before. During the next day I found myself feeling more and more unsure.

He would not latch on. He would place his tongue on the roof of his mouth and press for all he was worth. I was sure it was something I was doing wrong. The nurses at the hospital advised me that we should feed him a bottle as he needed to eat. We should not let him go any longer without something in his system.

So he began bottles. He came home downing Similac with iron like a true champion. I continued to offer him the breast but he wasn't interested. The brothers were thrilled that the baby was taking bottles and took turns helping feed the baby. There is nothing sweeter than watching my almost 3 year old feed his baby brother with directions from his much older and wiser 6- year-old brother. The 5 year old was not to be left out, quietly standing in line so he could be next to feed the baby.

I was trying to latch baby to no success. I was getting engorged. My right nipple hurt and was cracked and sore. I faithfully pumped with the manual pump the hospital gave me every three hours. The men continued to feed baby and I continued to feel doubt that I would ever be a good mother, that I would ever nurse this baby.

I called my friend for advise on nursing, and she advised me to try a different position. She advised me to call the doctor. She gave me moral support when I really needed it. I developed a breast infection. I got antibiotics, but the pain did not go away. I tried the Web and found my symptoms and a solution - yogurt on the breast and a name for my pain: yeast infection. I went right then at 3 a.m. and got yogurt and applied it. Within six hours I was feeling much better. Within the first day I was nursing baby and he was latching on with much success.

The men informed me that it was good that baby was nursing because this bottle stuff wasn't so neat anymore. They now enjoy helping hold baby after nursing and cooing and singing to him. I have told each one stories of when they nursed and they just beam with pride that they were so loved that mommy let them use her nursers.

My husband kept telling me I could do it. He championed my attempts and assured me it would all fall into place if we just gave it time. He reminded me that I had the strength to overcome these few roadblocks and that’s exactly what happened.