My Breastfeeding Challenges

When I was pregnant with my daughter I took a basic breastfeeding class. It covered the benefits of breastfeeding, how much milk to expect at first and a few tips for pumping. I wasn’t confident I’d figure it out when she’d arrive so the few formula samples we received, I kept just in case.

Lemme tell ya, we started off very rocky. There were things I learned after struggling for a while that could have spared me time and pain.

In today’s world, we aren’t taught these skills like we used to by our grandma’s, aunts, moms, etc. And breastfeeding is not something that comes naturally to most of us.

First, Some Pros

You may be asking yourself “Why breastfeed if it’s so difficult?” Well, breastfeeding has many many benefits. Below are just a few off the top of my head:

• It is cheaper than formula and saves time too
• The bond you get with your baby from breastfeeding is incomparable
• Breastmilk has all the right nutrients
• Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
• Helps mom recover faster post-birth
• Reduces the risk for ovarian and breast cancer in mom

This is not to bash formula in any way as that also has its benefits. But because I didn’t choose that route I don’t feel as though I’m equipped to speak on it.

My Story

We got a pretty good chunk of time to have our ‘golden hour’ once my daughter arrived. You can read all about our birth story here.

My daughter was very sleepy from the epidural medicine that was still wearing off in my body. She had almost zero interest to start rooting (when a baby opens their mouth and bobs their head against the person holding them).

A nurse attempted to help me latch my baby onto my boob, but my nipples were a bit inverted. This proved to be a bit difficult and was only making my daughter mad. So the nurse left and came back with a small silicone nipple shield.

To use a nipple shield you place it over your areola with your nipple inside the center dome. A shield should only be used as a tool to get you started, as it is a bandaid fix.

In my case, my daughter would only latch when I used the shield. If I took it off she refused to even try.

The hospital’s lactation consultant came to visit us on the 2nd day of our stay. I remember not being able to understand her (due to her very strong accent). She tried to help me latch my daughter without the shield, but to no avail. She told me to just keep using the shield and I’d be fine.

We were SO not fine.. lol

In the beginning, you produce a golden colored milk called colostrum. It’s not very much because babies have stomachs the size of marbles. But on day 3-5 your milk changes and becomes white/light yellow and increases in amount.

Well, that day happened for me and milk started getting all over when I’d feed her. The shield was no longer forming a skin-tight seal with my boob because the milk was coming out faster.

So I tried to latch my baby without the shield. She latched, albeit not well.. and I thought we had it figured out.

We kept going like that for a few days until I couldn’t take it anymore. It hurt so bad I bawled my eyes out at every feeding. My daughter was always fussy and frustrated. I knew if we were to continue, we needed help.

Luckily, a friend who’d recently given birth told me to find a lactation consultant off the La Leche League website. The site lists board certified lactation consultants for every state and also includes tips, frequent questions and concerns.

I was in contact with a consultant who offered to visit me in my home the very next day or so. She evaluated my daughter and determined there were 2 ties (the frenulum under the tongue and under the upper lip) that were restricting my baby’s ability to transfer milk.

My baby was gaining weight despite the issues. But she had so much gas built up in her intestines and I was in horrible pain.

The consultant was a godsend. She went with us to a chiropractor so my daughter could get some bodywork done. There was another Dr there who specialized in oral function. Baby girl was evaluated by both drs and we chose to have her ties revised.

After filling out some paperwork and scheduling an appointment, we went for the revisions. My daughter’s ties were released via an O2 laser so she wouldn’t have pain or bleeding. It took less than 5 minutes.

I was coached on proper latching techniques so my daughter could develop the right muscles to nurse. And we also had to do specific stretches for her tongue and lip so the tissues wouldn’t reattach. This wasn’t fun, but it was only for a few weeks, 4-6 times per day.

I thought we were finally out of the woods.

About a week later, I began noticing a different kind of pain. The only way I can describe it is as if a bunch of razor blades were being pulled through my milk ducts.

At first, I only felt it during nursing. Then it started occurring at random times. My daughter also had a white splotches all over the inside of her mouth. We both had thrush.

Thrush is a fungal infection. It is most commonly seen with infants and toddlers, but can affect anyone with a weakened immune system.

My daughter’s pediatrician simply gave me a cream I was to rub on my nipples between feeds. It did not help at all because both mom and baby need treatment for it to go away.

One thing to note: Thrush can theoretically survive in frozen milk and cause reoccurring infection. So for moms going back to work and babies heading to daycare you may want to wait until treatment is completed before freezing milk. The KellyMom site has more info on what your options are in this case.

Once again, my lactation consultant saved the day. She contacted the Dr. who revised the oral ties and I was prescribed a cream from a compound pharmacy. For my daughter, I was told to apply OTC gentian violet to her mouth.

Beware, gentian violet STAINS. Clothing, skin, you name it! My daughter had purple/blue lips for probably an entire week once the dosages were finished. But the thrush was finally gone!

After that, breastfeeding was AMAZING. We kept going until my daughter was about 2 years old. Every time she got hurt, sick, tired, sad, you name it. I just whipped a boob out and all was right with the world again.

Would I jump through those same hoops again to be able to breastfeed? 1000× you bet I would! It was well worth it for a hundred different reasons.

Closing Notes

If breastfeeding is what you want to do, absolutely go for it! Learn what you can to prepare yourself for the journey. Ask for help; from someone who knows what they’re doing, please. And above all else, give yourself grace.