Confessions of a New Mum - Guest Post by Renee from Mummy, Wife, Me | Motherhood
This is the ninth guest post from other bloggers about their memories of being a new Mum. If you would like to write a post for this series let me know in the comments or send me an email to kylie(@)kyliepurtell(dot)com
My latest Confessions of a New Mum Guest Post come from the lovely Renee who blogs at Mummy, Wife, Me. She has kindly agreed to share some of her experience of breastfeeding the second time round, which is appropriate seeing as I am dealing with exactly that right now!
If you were to drop around unexpectedly to my house between 6pm and 7pm you would most likely find me sitting on the couch topless.
It is nothing out of the ordinary for my husband Dave to come home from work and find me with
one or both boobs hanging out ready for action.
one or both boobs hanging out ready for action.
Not the action Dave would like I can assure you. I am sitting there like a bare breasted milkmaid, desperately trying anything and everything to get my baby to feed.
I found breastfeeding my first daughter a dream. We both seemed to get the hang of it straight away and it was a beautiful experience. I would look down at her with adoration, her tiny perfect features mesmerizing me as she contentedly suckled away.
Before I had kids, my mum told me how much I would love breastfeeding. I was not convinced. I just couldn’t get my head around it. I know this will sound strange, but it kind of weirded me out. I promised mum I would give it a try though and when I did I loved it.
Feed times would be one of my favourite times of the day with my first, Curly-locks. I found it so relaxing and such a special bonding experience. I especially loved the late night feeds when the house was quiet and it was just me and my baby nestled up in my arms.
When my second bub, Smiley, came along I expected the same. I was an old pro at breastfeeding. Things would surely be just as easy and beautiful.
They weren’t.
Like Curly-locks, baby Smiley has a tongue tie. While it didn’t cause much of a problem with Curly-locks, it caused major complications for Smiley.
Every feed was excruciating for me. Her tongue tie would lacerate my poor nipples. Instead of looking down at her in adoration, I would close my eyes, grit my teeth, and yelp in pain. At the end of my tether, we tried the bottle. She couldn’t seem to get the hang of this either, so back to the boob we went.
Things got so bad that I developed a blister on one of my nipples and my expressed milk was tinged with blood.
Because I had no problems with Curly-locks, I wasn’t really sure where to go for help. I spoke briefly to the local midwife, but ignored her urges to seek professional help. Like the stubborn person I am, I powered on convinced it would improve.
It didn’t.
It reached crisis point one mid summer’s afternoon. I bawled my eyes out on the phone to mum. I was hysterical, stressed out, and acting very unlike myself.
Mum raced over to the rescue, as she does.
As soon as she walked in the door she scolded me.
‘It’s sweltering in here,’ she said.
She opened every window and door in the house as I walked behind her protesting vehemently. I was frozen to the core.
I sat down in exhaustion as I realised I was shivering. I was overcome with nausea and had a headache. My right breast would often pain me during the day, but I realised that the pain had gone up a notch. It was hot and tender to touch.
‘I think I have mastitis,’ I told my mum.
So off I went to the doctor, popped my boobs out once again, and came home with some anitbiotics and a cabbage.
After this, things magically looked up. My beaten up boobs mended and with a lot of time and patience Smiley and I found our rhythm.
It is never going to be like it was with my first though. While Curly-locks would contentedly suckle, Smiley is nosy and easily distracted.
She will take a few sucks, pull off, and look around to make sure she’s not missing out on anything. Feeding in the evening is especially bad and can take at least an hour.
We are definitely making progress though. She is getting better at the bottle and I hope that in the next couple of months before I return to work I can fully wean her off the boob.
My career as a topless milkmaid is almost at an end. I can’t wait to retire.
You can find Renee's blog by clicking here, and you can follow her on facebook over here.
Confessions of a New Mum Part One - Learning Curves and 'Un'Enjoyment
Confessions of a New Mum Part Two - Stitched Up
Confessions of a New Mum Part Three - The Part-time SAHM
Confessions of a New Mum Part Four - Mum Appreciation
Confessions of a New Mum Part Five - Losing My Confidence
Confessions of a New Mum Part Two - Stitched Up
Confessions of a New Mum Part Three - The Part-time SAHM
Confessions of a New Mum Part Four - Mum Appreciation
Confessions of a New Mum Part Five - Losing My Confidence
Confessions of a New Mum - Kelly from Handmade Tears and Triumphs (Guest Post)
Confessions of a New Mum - Bron from Big Brother, Little Sister & the Baby (Guest Post)
Confessions of a New Mum - Jenn from Mountains & Musings (Guest Post)
Confessions of a New Mum - Sophie from iSophie (Guest Post)
Confessions of a New Mum - Housewife in Heels (Guest Post)
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Comments
I'm now breastfeeding my third, but still remember like it was yesterday the 'blood, sweat & tears' (literally) trying to feed my first. So important for people to share their experiences, so new mums can know that it's not always smooth sailing and as simple as its made out to be.
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
Thanks for sharing!
Kylie, this is an excellent series, hope it's all going well for you and bub x
Thanks for being so honest, Renee. It helps to know that we are not alone in this journey!
Hello Tom #teamIBOT
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