Hey Y’all!
Welcome to World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7)! I thought we would kick off the re-launch of the blog with something I have become SUPER passionate about! Breastfeeding!
PLUS- A giveaway on Sunday!
My breastfeeding journey has been a long and super crazy one. With Layla, we had a traumatic delivery that resulted in her getting fed formula and a pacifier before I could even attempt to nurse. I was too young back then to even know what or how to remedy that situation. On our second daughter, Charleigh we ended up nursing for a week or two then I switched to exclusively pumping for around five months. My supply was low (despite medications and supplements) and we supplemented one or two bottles a day even when I was pumping.
This time, with our third I decided I was going to bring my A game. Because this time it was breastfeeding or formula, though I firmly believe fed is best I wanted so badly to have that bond with one of our babies. I knew I could not handle exclusively pumping this time so I read EVERYTHING I could on how to jump-start my supply, what to do if it was low, and accepted that I would be making visits to the lactation consultant regardless of how good it went. I started pumping once or twice a day after I hit 38 weeks (we were also trying for a VBAC so I was told it could help labor progress). When Savie was born she latched and ate like a champ. But when we got home it still took five days for my milk to come in, I began pumping after every single feeding even if only five minutes. I was determined to get my milk to come in as we watched her weight scooping down. Several visits to the lactation consultant, a few days of supplementing with formula, and many nights of promising to make it to morning and here we are four months later.
Pumping so much early on was HARD. I literally got zero sleep and syringe feeding was not enjoyable but once my milk came in on day five I felt so much relief (and engorgement Haha). The biggest push for me in those dark 3 am feedings was reminding myself not to give up on a bad day or in the middle of the night. Everything looks different the next day so I made many small goals. First was a week, then a month, then six weeks, then three months, and here we are working on making it to six months. I had an oversupply for a few weeks from pumping and feeding so much which had its own challenges too but it allowed me to regulate to normal when I started back on allergy medications and went back to work. I still pump one extra time before Savie eats in the morning because I started to donate my extra milk and I like having that cushion if things stop working for us (I typically have about 1000-1300oz in the freezer).
On Saturday I will be posting about my essentials that have made this breastfeeding journey and my life easier! It has definitely been a learning curve for us but I strongly believe that the support system I had that lifted me up when I needed it and gave me confidence to make this a priority was huge.
Her chunky thighs and belly make this journey incredibly satisfying and fill my heart 
with gratefulness that we have been on it so far!
See ya soon!
An Honest Mama
An Honest Mama's Blog 
Good job Mama! 🏆
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