Newborn, Three-months, six-months....

For everyone who ever offered a class or written a book, article or website about breastfeeding should be drop kicked and punched in the face. No one can fully understand breastfeeding fully until the actually commit to it. To many, people think its simple to just "put baby/latch on boob"... to be honest there is much more that goes into the whole breastfeeding thing.


Now that I’ve been breastfeeding for six months, I can see that there are many different stages to breastfeeding. And I’m sure there are many more to come in the months that follow!

Here is what I’ve experienced so far…
 
Having a newborn baby:

I remember when I first started this nursing venture when my daughter was immediately born.. and man she knew exactly what to do. I never had any problem with her feeding but for a beginner that business HURT like a mo fo. It starts out extremely painful and uncomfortable, engorged boobs, cracked nipples, and milk is spraying everywhere. For new moms like me, you get confused and you have no idea if the baby is getting enough milk or how long you should feed them at a time. Your body is slowing trying to get back into the change of returning to normal, your hormones are out of control and you become emotional when you stare into your new child's eyes. And at that moment being able to provide the nutrition your child needs gives you so much satisfaction as a mother. When I was on maternity leave all I did was pick my nursing spot, my bed; and I had my water, cell phone, remotes and lights off and enjoyed my whole day doing nothing except bonding with my little milk monster.



Having a Three-Month-Old:

When having a three-month old you kinda sorta get the hang of nursing on demand, night time, at dinner and even in church... for me anyway. At this point you got more of a schedule down and now were doing anywhere between 15-20 Min's on each boob. I think we got this whole breastfeeding down.. did me and little girl master this? I think not... but I do love is when she occasionally looks at me with the most biggest smile on her face... she knows how to melt my heart like no other.



Having a Six-Month-Old:

Wow, its now turning into a bit of a challenge. With teeth coming in, her grinding is becoming a nightmare!. I think she thinks I am now supposed to be used as a teething _ _ _ _ ? something? haha. She has obviously become way more mobile meaning I have to watch for her pinching, scratching and her moving her legs.  Right now she has a thing with pulling my ears especially my NOSE! By moving legs I mean she now does this thing where she has to grab her foot and shake her leg. It is quite funny to watch. Also I may add that any noise will cause her to have to see what happen which results in her often yanking me with her.. not cool at all. Now days we have to have all TV's off and more in a darker setting for her to keep her mind on eating. oh and if she hears her dads voice she looks for him, waiting for him to come up so she can smile at him.



This is all I got for now. I like to make people smile and giggle... because I know I am not the only one who experiences these things while breastfeeding. :) My next post will be in another 3 months! :)

My Love, Hate relationship with Breastfeeding & Pumping

I'm beginning to get quite irritated with all these pumps, bottles, nipples, bottle caps, pump bottles and all those other accessories that are needed to feed and supply for my daughter. I get annoyed defrosting milk, storing milk, pumping milk.. figuring out if milk went good or bad... that's all too much for me, especially when I work full time, as does Derek AND he goes to school full time. I took an extra day up at church, now going Weds to be apart of the prayer team.. WHILE doing things throughout the week AFTER work gets a little exhausting.. I kid you not. Sometimes I wish I could be a stay at home wife/mom... but the other part of me thanks GOD that I have the ability to work and provide and pull my own weight.



When it comes to pumping I literally feel like a cow being milked when I sit down, but I know it is something that I have to do.. frequently. I take my pump with me EVERY PLACE I GO!. it gets tiring sometimes, but it is something that I have to do, for this girl right here. (Hence the shirt, which I LOVE).

Zyana-Lee is growing everyday, and by growing I mean mentally and physically. And it SCARES me. Today marks my almost-to-five-months-for-breastfeeding. ALMOST SILVER BOOBIES... For those of you who want to know what I mean by 'Silver boobs' find out HERE And I must say that I am so excited that I have made it thus far. The first few weeks of Zyanas life made my womanhood a nightmare. I had no problems latching.. just producing. Almost to the point of me just giving up and giving into the EVIL. Formula. It was heartbreaking, to say the least to think that I'd have to give up and find other means of feeding her.

Pride is something that I feel like I can allow, considering that every day is an awesome milestone in breastfeeding. Recently my breastfeeding relationship has become very.... love-hate. One minute I love it and the next minute I am pissed off about something having to do with it.  Like.... time, and leaking boobies. LOL Am I going to stop? or give up? Nope, but man some days it just feels nice to vent a little about it... right?





HATE: Leaking

Some days.. I leak. Mostly in my sleep. Those stupid breast pads don't work for nothing. Mostly, I just hate them.

HATE: Pumping

I really hate pumping, its so freaking time consuming. Throughout my day I pump. Just at work I pump 4 times, sometimes at home I pump about the same. I mostly hate it because I have to lug this big ol black leather over the shoulder bag.. When people ask me what it is, my response is, "its a laptop bag"... Not to mention it totally makes me feel like a cow. Literally. :)



LOVE: Bonding



There is absolutely nothing more precious to look down and see my little girl get chunky. :) I'd have to say that nursing is one of the best feelings in the world.




LOVE: Stored milk.

The inventor who made storage bags for milk should be given a nice hefty check! The fact that I can pump and freeze it for a later date is just amazing to me. Or when I'm not with Zyana, Derek can feed her with that stored milk. Recently, we began mixing cereal with it. and she HATES IT that way. :)



LOVE: Weight Loss
For me, thankfully I was all belly.  Although still a little squishy my face SURE has shrunk.  Other areas are still in progress :)

I know this isn't true for all breastfeeding moms, but man...Breastfeeding for me has been one of the most easiest ways for me to loose weight. without doing anything! It's been 4 months since Zyana has been born and I've lost close to 40 pounds. :)



LOVE: I MADE ALL THAT CHUB!
My daughter has rolls, rolls, and more rolls.  I just don't see why there are skinny babies, FEED THE BABY! (I know there are some health problems that prevent babies from gaining weight. ) ~ :) lol.  It is OKAY for a baby to be fat and chunky!.

Here's Zyana-Lee.  Hence the leg ROLLS. :)  Don't mind the scary face. LOL

Knowing that I AM the reason that my daughter is healthy motivates me to continue to breastfeed. Those adorable little rolls and baby cellulite was made by me! I MADE THOSE ROLLS! My breast milk made those adorable little roles of cuteness. BEST FEELING EVER!