Breast Feeding

Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding has been the aspect of having a child that surprised me the most. It’s the most emotionally taxing aspect of having a child on my wife. The first couple times my wife tried to breastfeed the kiddo was not coordinated with his suck. He also has a high pallet. He ended up chomping my wife’s nipple and bruised both sides. This made it a traumatic experience for my wife. I think the emotions of having a kid, the peaking hormones, and this experience lead to the most tears to date.

We ended up staying the extra day in the hospital to get additional lactation consultant appointments. Since the discharge we’ve had two outpatient lactation consults. I think getting expert opinion on this task is highly valuable.

When she started breastfeeding colostrum is made and it’s only a couple of drops. We had to hand express this material as well as tried pumping. It was discouraging to my wife as she was set on breastfeeding for the health benefits. Given the initial low output we elected to supplement with formula to let her nipples heal and to get him adequate nutrition and hydration due to his elevated bilirubin.

This also started the pump process. Pumping takes place every 2-3 hours and is also uncomfortable. Starting to pump is important for when my wife returns to work in a couple months and if we have to do breast feedings when my wife is at work.

The breastfeeding and pumping is all taxing and probably the most emotionally taxing part of this first week of life. The bruised nipples have started to heal with nipple cream, nipple gels and the occasional rest.

Things that have helped are the breastfeeding pillow, nipple shields, the lactation consultants. Things that have also helped – a good relationship going into the experience and the desire to breastfeed.

I don’t think I expected this. People kept mentioning that there is a false preconception that because breastfeeding is natural, it’s going to be easy and happen right away. It takes practice from the mom, it takes practice from the baby, and the dad can use his finger to help the baby learn to suck.

We’ve chosen to have me do a feed in the middle of the night to help my wife rest. I’m more tired, but it’s nice to allow her to have some sort of reprieve from the process.