- That I would wake up in the morning with my shirt completely soaked the day my milk came in, and for several days afterwards.
- That I would go from a size B to a D, and back down again in a matter of hours.
- That the first two weeks of nursing would be very painful, even though my technique was right.
- That I would get so cracked and sore that my curious 3 yr. old would ask me if the baby was drinking blood!
- That these two products would save me tons on agony: Lanolin
and Soothies
- That I needed the baby to nurse, just as much as he needed me! Can you spell ENGORGEMENT!
- That there aren’t many public places that will accommodate a nursing mother. Try nursing your baby in a public restroom with no chair to sit in. Fun!
- That at first, trying to pump milk was like trying to get juice from a banana! You’re lucky if you get a few drops!
- That my entire day would revolve around this one person’s hunger.
- That I would be able to sleep nurse successfully!
- That I would learn to twist my body into uncomfortable positions at times in order to nurse my baby in cramped spaces (try an airplane seat!).
- That my long hair would come in handy to cover embarrassing leakage in public. I suggest you keep nursing pads close by!
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But most importantly: That I would never feel such a fulfilling, rewarding joy as knowing that I was able to personally sustain and nourish my beautiful child. I wouldn’t trade it for all the formula in the world!!
I’m dedicating this post to my friend Kim, who just had a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations you guys!
Roxanne says:
Breastfeeding is such a wonderful experience! I nursed my son and wouldn’t have it any other way!!! The long term benefits are so worth the trouble that comes with nursing!!
April 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Sashwhy says:
I’m so glad you told me these things before I had a baby, otherwise I would have been absolutely shocked! I wouldn’t trade breastfeeding either. I am so thankful that the Lord designed it the way He did.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Mike & Kim says:
Thanks Kendra! That is so nice… Kim started crying… she was touched and still in pain from the last feeding, with only minutes to go before the next !!!
April 12th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Candace says:
It really is disheartening that you almost have to feel ashamed to nurse when you’re out and about.
I have to admit that we don’t go out much for this reason. I have a 2 year old boy and the combination makes it very difficult to spend the day out of the house.
But, it is worth it to have such a special bond with my baby and to see her so healthy.
All you wrote is so true.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Velveteen Mind - Megan says:
Another great article. So simple, yet so few new mothers are aware of these simple facts.
Stumbled this one, too. More new mothers should read this. Just a little education goes a long way to increase the chances of successfully sticking with nursing.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Hillary says:
Loved this post! I’ve been nursing my daughter for 7 months now. Good to know I’m not the only one who has had to nurse in a public bathroom haha had to laugh at that one
April 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
LaDonna says:
Perhaps it is more difficult now than when I nursed my youngest who is now 22yo, but I went anywhere I wanted to go and discreetly nursed. I never nursed in a restroom as I would never eat in one myself. We lived in Hawaii for the decade of the 80’s when our children were born, so maybe it was a cultural difference. I just lived in skirts and blouses and expected to have someone under my shirt sooner or later:) I had La Leche League as my ally from 1982 until the younger son weaned himself 8/89. Although there were lots of troubling things going on around us, we had the calm and joy of the nursing relationship. Praise God for His grand design!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm