Breastfeeding Issues

Patrick is like a car. When you take them to see the person who can fix it, they don't act up. I have been having pain when feeding Patrick. When talking with a friend and doing some searching on the internet I figured he wasn't latching on deeply or correctly. My left breast hurst the worst and was at times made me cry. One night, I was hurting and so frustrated that I considered just pumping from now on and using bottles. My left nipple looked kind of funny and I was worried that I had a crack. I made an appointment to see the lactation nurse at the hospital. When there, he latched just fine and if I did have to relatch he did fine and didn't fuss or scream. Patrick still doesn't open his mouth very wide, so getting a deep latch can be find of hard. Sometimes he will latch just fine and feed well and other times it's a battle to get him to latch on correctly. He tends to fight me on latching correctly, pulling away with the nipple still in his mouth and then screaming sometimes when I try to relatch him correctly.

I only have pain if he doesn't latch correctly on the right breast. The left, I can't seem to feed without pain. The nipple is kind of deformed, so I'm wondering if it's always going to hurt. I think his tongue rubs on the nipple during feedings because of the way it is formed. My milk lets down kinda fast also, so I'm wondering if he sucks just the nipple so he can clamp down and slow the flow.

I did ask the nurse when I should start to introduce a bottle to help him prepare for when I go back to work. She said I could start any time and to feed him once every other day or so using a bottle. I tried tonight after a frustrating nursing session, and he took it just fine. He ate 2 oz plus what ever he ate during our session. There will be no problems with him taking a bottle, which is a relief.

Birth Day of the Week Poem

My mother likes to quote this poem and says it is true for all her kids.


MONDAY'S CHILD
by Mother Goose


Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath Day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.


I was born on a Monday, as was Patrick, and I think we are both fairly "fair of face" (especially Patrick). Michael was born on a Saturday and he does work hard at his job. He goes above and beyond to do what ever they ask of him. How about you? When were you born and does your description fit you?

Almost 4 weeks

Life has changed a lot in the past four weeks. My nights are now broken into feeding sessions and sleep. Napping is now the best thing I can think of doing! I usually sleep when Patrick does, which means the house isn't always the best looking. Laundry is pilling up, dishes have stack up, and don't even look at the floor. Thankfully Michael is a big help with everything when he is home. Michael's work was changed and that has put some extra strain on me which Patrick, I'm sure, picks up on. Michael now works 12 hour shifts at night, then comes home to sleep during the day. This does make it hard for Michael and Patrick to bond but I try to make sure Michael holds him and is able to bond with Patrick.

Breast feeding is going well overall. I'm glad to say that I don't have to use a breast shield anymore to help Patrick latch on to my flat nipple. Now I just need to toughen up that nipple, it's sore and will hurt when he latches on but the pain goes away once he starts to nurse. I'm a little concerned about when Patrick starts to get teeth since he already seems to "bite" me when he latches on. Patrick is eating well. I still have to wake him up every once in a while when he is eating, but normally he eats without any problems.