It’s difficult to imagine just how hard breastfeeding can be. When I was pregnant, I thought I knew everything I needed to know on the subject. I had all the literature from the hospital and had researched all the best pumps, pillows and bras. I thought I had it sussed.
It’s only after two bouts of mastitis; one round of antibiotics; eight months’ worth of breastfeeding; some conflicting medical advice; and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears later, that I can fully appreciate just how complex it can be.
Sure, breastfeeding is best, in fact it’s
the best – once you find your groove. But for many, it takes time to establish and can be far from straightforward.
My issues started in the delivery room, when my daughter wasn’t latching on properly. Even when she did, it hurt like hell. “You should feel a pull rather than a pinch,” I was told several times by the midwives.
The hit-and-miss latching at the start left me bruised, battered and bleeding; but I made a great show of looking like everything was fine, because I didn’t think that something so natural should be so difficult.
By the time we got home from the hospital, I was in so much pain on one side that I started to only feed from the other. Within a few days, I had mastitis – something I had heard about but thought was one of those things that nobody
really got.
Under the instruction of my Public Health Nurse, I made an appointment with the GP to get antibiotics that would help clear the infection, and continued breastfeeding to help clear the blockage.
The GP, however, had other ideas and told me to stop breastfeeding immediately because it wasn’t safe to continue while taking the antibiotics. Luckily, I was well informed by that point and knew that it was not only safe to do so, but that stopping is the worst thing to do when it comes to getting rid of mastitis.
It took about six weeks before things really calmed down and I breastfed my daughter for a total of eight months. Despite the tough start, I loved the experience and even missed it when it came to an end. Although I’d never have believed that at the beginning!
If I knew then what I know now about it, I would have swallowed my pride and asked for help earlier. While it’s true that some mums don’t experience any problems with breastfeeding, many do.
Some things I learnt along the way
- Attend a local Cuidiú Breastfeeding Group. If possible, start going when you're pregnant so you are clued up from the get go. The help and information is invaluable and it's a great way to meet other like-minded mums. Not attending a breastfeeding support group is my biggest regret.
- It's normal to feel some pain when you first start breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding plays havoc with your emotions.
- Set achievable targets along the way rather than putting too much pressure on yourself.
- The Medela breastpump is a great investment. Or you can hire a hospital-grade pump that you can use on both breasts, it's faster, but noisier. Medicare in Kilmacanogue rent them by the month.
- Consider using nipple shields if you're having latching problems, or if you're in a lot of pain. I was given a pair by one midwife in the hospital, but had them taken away a short time later by another. However, the real breakthrough in my breastfeeding journey came after four weeks when I tried them again.
- Get Multi-Mam Compresses and Lansinoh HPA Lanolin nipple cream in your life.
- Get measured correctly for nursing bras while you’re pregnant. There are some really nice ranges around and they are SO comfortable.
- Buy a pregnancy pillow that will double up as support when you’re breastfeeding.
Most importantly? Do what works for you - a happy mum equals a happy baby.
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