Breastfeeding

First of all I would like to say that breastfeeding is the absolute hardest thing I ever learned to do.  It was harder than learning to read, doing long division with double and triple digit divisors, and simplifying polynomials combined.  If you have never had the experience of breastfeeding, I hope that gives you some idea of just how tear inducing and frustrating learning to breastfeed successfully can be.  Yes, women have been doing it for thousands of years and women's bodies were designed to feed babies, but dammit it is not an intuitive process.

I remember the first time I attempted to breastfeed Linus shortly after his birth.  The nurse was there and I was like, "Um, okay. What do I do?"  The nurse made it look easy.  Of course, you take your baby home, you are by yourself, and suddenly it all seems impossible.  The baby won't latch.  If he does, all you want to do is scream every four letter word you know because of the pain.  Then your nipples crack and bleed.  You suddenly become skittish around your baby and dread the moment he starts to bob his head against you, indicating he would like another attempt at torturing you.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  And lets remember, this creature does not even have teeth yet.  Linus was advanced in this department and drew blood when he got his first tooth at two months. You quickly learn to identify the look in your baby's eyes that signals a bite is coming.

Lots of women struggle to produce enough milk to feed their babies and wrestle with the guilt of formula supplementation.  Luckily, there are support groups for breastfeeding.  After my first time at a breastfeeding support group, I quickly realized I could never go again.  As much as I appreciated help from the lactation consultant and the camaraderie of women, I could not handle my guilty feelings nor the evil eyes cast my way.  You see I am "blessed" with a different problem.  I overproduce milk, and not just a little.  My record is 9 ounces from one breast (most women might struggle to achieve this between feeding off of both).  Yeah, "lucky you" you might think until the reality sets in.  Think massively engorged breasts that burn constantly with pain.  I look like someone let a 14-year old boy loose on photoshop.  Breasts that prevent you from moving or sitting up due to pain, that leak constantly.  Each time your milk lets down, hot searing burning pain rushes down your chest.  And then because your baby with a stomach the size of a marble cannot possibly consume that much milk, you are left full and know that you won't get to feed off that breast for at least 4 hours, and maybe even 6 or more.  As your milk lets down, your baby gags and chokes due to the shear force.  You can't pump because that only tells your body to make more milk.  Instead you sit, crying in pain, and watch the clock (because you can't look at or think about your baby or your milk will let down) with your nursing bra stuffed full of cabbages leaves.  This is my life.

But this post is not meant to complain, but inform.  Over the course of three babies I have learned a lot about breastfeeding.  First I wanted to mention the brand new Lytle Center for Pregnancy and Newborns at Swedish Hospital.  This is a great community resource for new moms and babies.  I spent quite a bit of time with a lactation consultant when breastfeeding Linus.  I learned a lot about reducing supply.  If you are like me, here are a few things to try:

• Block feeding schedule (not always recommended). Basically, you put your breasts on a schedule and only nurse on one side for four hours no matter what.  The downside to this method is that I found it resulted in a lot of blocked ducts.
• Lecithin supplement -- helps prevent blocked ducts.
• Drinking sage tea -- reduces supply
• Cabbage leaves on breasts--gently cools and soothes sore breasts and nipples while drawing out milk.  Warning: do not go out in public with cabbage on breasts.  Cabbage leaves are a poor replacement for nursing pads.

I mentioned previously that Eileen was tongue tied.  To have her tongue clipped, I was referred to Dr. Mary Ann O'Hara.   I am lucky to live in a city that has a doctor who specializes in breastfeeding issues.  When I suspected that Robin was tongue tied the lactation consultant at the hospital made sure I left the hospital with an appointment to see Dr. O'Hara.  Dr. O'Hara found that not only was Robin tongue-tied but seemed to be suffering the residual effects of having a cord wrapped around his neck.  His jaw and facial muscles were all very tight.  She scheduled an appointment with us again for a few days later to check his clipping, do some massage work on Robin, and also address my oversupply issue.

My second appointment with her on Monday was a learning experience.  It was 3 hours long.  Robin loved his massage and it definitely helped with his nursing.  Then it was my turn.  Not only was I engorged and in excrutiating pain, but I noticed I seemed to be unable to pump effectively and one breast just seemed like it could barely empty.  Dr. O'Hara found that I did not have a blocked duct, but rather blocked nipples.  In case you were unaware, milk does not spray from one hole, but more like six.  Four of mine were blocked.  The doctor very gently did a massage and slowly unblocked me for which I am eternally grateful.

The doctor then referred me for physical therapy.  Who knew right?  Today Robin and I went to physical therapy for Lymphatic Drainage Massage.  The thought is that some of the chronic blockage I experience is in part due to a build up of other fluid.  In addition to a massage of the tissue surrounding the breast, ultrasound is used as well to direct an electrical current.  It was kind of cool.  Robin cooperated and slept the whole time.  The physical therapist showed me how to massage my own breast to help flow.  First, gently massage the way back of your breast, the part that's basically in your armpit. Then moving around the breast like spokes of a bicycle, gentle stroke backwards away from the nipple.  She also advised that when hand expressing, to be sure to gently massage the breast versus trying to just do a hard squeeze because that can just make things worse.  I get to go back for several more therapy appointments, but I am really excited about the prospect of having a more pleasant breastfeeding experience.

I am not a lactivist.  Women need to do what they need to do to feed their babies and help them thrive.  I merely want to inform and support.  Another great resource for breastfeeding is kellymom.com.  If you are at the mall and need to nurse, find a Nordstrom store.  The women's bathroom has a separate nursing room.  At U Village, Kids Club (the toy store/hair cut place) has a room in back with a rocking chair and toys for your toddler so you can nurse in privacy and not in a bathroom.

If you are new to the world of breastfeeding, I want to assure you that it does get easier.  You learn to nurse without killing your back and neck, breastfeeding in the dark becomes less of an obstacle, nursing in public stops being a sweat inducing experience.  At this point, I am finding that I can nurse in front of just about anybody and not care.  It's a lot like that Luvs Diaper commercial.