I really struggled at first to breastfeed. I was supplementing with formula from a cup at first so that Rooster wouldn’t get used to the bottle and would take to the breast eventually. It was so rewarding when we both got it right eventually. I never thought he would latch on for another seventeen months and beyond. My theory was, give him until a year and then we’ll see. Up until that time he was having four or five feeds a day. Realising that he was enjoying these feeds more than needing them I started tailoring down.

I first started skipping the midday feed, then I lost the second morning one, then the mid afternoon and now I’m left with the two most difficult ones to abandon. I realised distraction from it wasn’t such a big deal and never to deny it when I knew he really wanted it.  My next task is to tackle the morning feed which he wakes me at about 5am for. It was wonderful losing the day time feeds. I felt liberated wearing non-feeding bras again. I was surprised the milk stayed. It’s amazing how my body creates the stuff. It’s the best long life milk ever: sitting just warmer than room temperature for hours at a time without fermenting. Marvellous!

Even though we’re weaning, it truly does amaze me how obscure it is to people, even to those who have breastfed, that there’s no hurry to get him off breast milk. Sure, I don’t want to still be breastfeeding in six months time. I just don’t see the point at this stage to get him attached to a bottle rather than the breast when he’s still so happy and I’m still ok with it. I don’t want to have to wean him twice. My husband also feels that it’s actually what the “mammers” have been made for and it’s keeping Rooster healthy so why not.  High five to that buddy.

More then weaning him, I’m going to have to wean myself from that close time together. On the upside, we can paint dad into winding down picture and not to forget sleepovers at the Grandparents. This is sounding promising!

I was given eglonyl as a preventative measure. My gynae did not want me dealing with post caesar pain and baby blues at the same time. My prescription was one pill, 3 times a day for three months. I did not seem to have a problem with milk supply as a result. I felt an unnatural happiness at times which I did not feel comfortable with and after 6 weeks I reduced my intake and and eventually just stopped taking the pills. My gynae had previously said that I could stop when I felt comfortable to. Others who have taken eglonyl felt a need to rather wean off this medication. My milk supply did not decrease after I had stopped the medication. There seems to be a natural “settling” in my breasts where they didn’t feel to explode or leak as they did in the beginning although there was still sufficient supply. 

After some research it seems that this medication can have an effect on menstration although the absence of menstruation can be as a result of breastfeeding itself and not the medication. Some women have expressed little difference in their milk supply after taking eglonyl. Others express concern over renewal of prescriptions and when to stop. Consulting with your gynae or doctor is the best idea here.

Interestingly, it seems you can be penalised when applying for a life policy if you’ve been on eglonyl because it is an anti-depressant commonly used for post partum depression.

I had read all there was to read about breastfeeding in books and magazines before giving birth but breastfeeding is just one of those things where there is no “pre-race warm-up”. I had been to a breastfeeding workshop which was really informative. I knew breastfeeding was what I wanted to do especially with the draw cards of possible prevention of allergies and the cost effectiveness of this nutritional diet.

As luck would have it, this eager breastfeeding beaver gave birth to a 4,4kg boy who had no idea what a sucking reflex was. The next few days were not pleasant. I tried to express the colostrum and fed it to him with a spoon. The amounts were insuffcient and his blood sugar began to drop. By the third day, we began to supplement him with formula (NAN HA). I used a cup which was a great because he never got used to a bottle and later accepted the breast with ease. 

Although the attempt to breastfeed was at first, truly trying, with the help of a breastfeeding clinic and sound advice from friends and family we progressed! My babe eventually took to the breast once we were home from the hospital. Everything seemed better after we arrived home from the hospital! I was determined to not supplement anymore. I tried expressing but the pump I had added to my frustrations. Then, two weeks after his birth, my baby had to be readmitted to the hospital to be put under lights because he looked a bit like Julio Iglesias after a few too many sun bed sessions(i.e: jaundice). 

This is the dramatic part! I want to warn all keen breastfeeders against the following: The pediatrician attending to my baby said my boy was not getting enough milk from me and that I needed to put him on formula. I went with my gut on this one. Even though with every visit he commanded me to suppliment, I didn’t listen. He even came into the breastfeeding clinic and in front of all of the other mothers,( in what seemed like a booming voice) said: “Are you giving him formula yet?” He then huffed off when I said “no”.  I phoned a friend and after her encouragment, I gave up going against my gut and just breastfed. I showed him!

At six months, my tiny tot weighs in at about 10kgs, mainly due to my “insufficient” breastmilk. I can hear the triumphant tune of chariots; although there was no pre-race warm-up and there was some tough competition, I won the breastfeeding race! Sure, at times it feels like you’re a cow being milked and that your breasts are going to be empty teabags when it’s all over,  but it’s “udderly” worth it!

Now, I personally was in denial. I thought, great- he’s getting teeth; that and a few wakeful nights, was as much as I thought about it. Then it happened- he bit me. I shrieked, he cried. It was not pretty. I thought I was bleeding to death. I was not amused at my husband’s reaction that it wasn’t bleeding that much- I didn’t care how much it was bleeding and it was my nipple- possibly the most sensitive area on one’s body.

So, what is a mother to do? I hopped onto the Internet, googled what to do when this happens and was not all that satisfied with the results. What I decided to do, as suggested by many sites, was to say a firm “NO BITING” when there was a nibble and for safety sake, I keep my finger close to his mouth to break a “jaws lock” if I need to.

I’m sure you’re wondering if this story has a happy ending? Time will tell but for now there are no further serious injuries. If it’s happening to you, let’s hang in there together and be positive- at least it’s better than being attacked by a shark.