...the milk is not.
Most mama's know that a sleeping newborn is priceless. It's something you can't plan or predict for, you just have to take it as it comes. But when you are a breastfeeding mama, this can have a backfire effect.
ENGORGEMENT!
It's that wonderful feeling when you want your child to nurse and they are sleeping peacefully so you wouldn't dare wake them. No way! And what's worse, is you wish you were sleeping but for some reason you have two rock hard melons preventing you from getting comfortable in ANY position.
You debate, should I get up and pump? If I get up, will they wake up? And let's just be honest, the pump is not the most comfortable feeling in the world. Plus, finding it at 3 a.m. and putting the pieces together for the first time sounds like ALOT of work.
So you lay there in pain. Desperate for sleep but so thankful this little one is asleep.
Finally, he wakes! Relief. But it's like trying to nurse a watermelon. If only the rock hard feeling would let down. Finally after tears, pain, and yet ANOTHER let down, he latches. No it's time to break out that pump. Mama's got LOTS of milk.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
when sleep is good...
Posted by kate at 8:18 AM
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9 comments:
I remember "that" night! Nobody had prepared me for it and it freaked me out a little. I remember several times thinking, "PLEASE be hungry!" Soon after we invested in a pump!
Well you know my history with breast infections, so I'm always a huge advocate of pumping. And of never waking a sleeping baby. :) I'm glad he's sleeping for you!
oh Lord, how I remember those nights. Don't worry Kate, if you're really lucky you'll get one like Norah who decided to stop sleeping long before I decided to stop getting easily engorged ;-)
Ugh. Breast discomfort is the worst. I only continued to breastfeed because it was less expensive than formula and it was burning calories!
I'll be bringing Martha's macaroni and cheese over before dinner time. It's made and sitting on my stove. -Emily : )
What a blessing that you are able to provide all (and then some) that he needs.
Never underestimate the power of a hot, hot shower. Those things will squirt like little sprinklers & the feeling is so much better! :) I hated pumping too. Yuck. Nothing makes you feel more like an actual cow. And, in my experience, nursing in the night, Benj would just "sleep nurse" me back to a better place & he'd never really wake up entirely... as long as I just kept him swaddled throughout the whole thing. :) Who knew something so painful could also be so precious? Ha!
Hang in there Kate!!! This stage doesn't last long as you well know. Thinking of you often.
This is the very thing that makes me question what in the world was God thinking here? The baby needs to learn to eat, and we want that little mouth to go around that big ol' boob? Honestly, the rest of the breastfeeding blows my mind with its coolness, but this part?!?!?!
Good luck, and know that everything will be falling into place so soon!
oh man i remember those nights.
thinking of you friend and hoping you have made nice with the pump once again!
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