When I was pregnant there were two things that were important to me outside of having a healthy baby: give birth in the water and breastfeeding. After I missed out on my water birth, I was determined more than ever to try whatever I could to breastfeed my daughter. Well let’s just say it hasn’t been an easy road. In the beginning of my breastfeeding journey I had such trauma to my perineum I couldn’t sit up to feed her. I am SOOO grateful to my lactation consultant who taught me how to feed her in the side lying position. For the last almost 7 months that is how me and my sweet babe have nursed. On the occasion we would leave our home I would bring expressed milk with us and feed her from a bottle. When she was 1 month old I had found out she had a bunch of allergies along with silent reflux. I had to go on a strict elimination diet which I am currently still on. So many tears in the beginning stages of that. As a newly nursing mom, you’re sleep deprived, in pain everywhere, and starving. The last thing I wanted to do was try and learn a completely new way to cook. Once I began getting more comfortable with the diet and side nursing my babe she started going on nursing strikes. I came to learn she was still in severe pain from her birth trauma and she was unable to turn her head. It was devastating. I could only get her to nurse on one side lying and had to pump the other to keep my supply solid. We took her multiple times a week to the chiropractor. After 6 weeks of multiple weekly sessions she was turning her head both ways like a champ. As I began to heal physically I really wanted to try and feed her from an upright position. Laying down every 3 hours for months on end can be brutal on the neck and back. When we attempted to feed sitting up she would not latch. It was foreign to her and she would scream. We met with my #ibclc and she taught us some exercises to do with her, and told me to keep offering her the breast. For about 3 months we tried everything and I continually offered it with no luck... finally... THIS WEEKEND... I offered it to her while we were sitting in the pool and she LATCHED sitting up and did a COMPLETE FEED!!!! It brought tears to my eyes, because it has been such a long, hard road to get there. Since then she’s fed about 10 times and loves the idea she can access her food at any time, kind of like a soda fountain. I share my story, because when I was pregnant I saw so many gorgeous nursing photos, of mom’s making it look so easy. It has not been an easy road for us, but it has been so worth it. I absolutely love nursing now. We are officially 7 months in and going strong. For any mamas out there that need encouragement and are in one of the difficult seasons. You’ve got this! It won’t last forever. I see you and I’m always here to talk!
ABOUT THE BALANCED URBANITE
Through essential oils, diet, and sustainable, healthy life choices, I found a natural health and wellness solution that enabled me to take control of my health and elevate the quality of my life. My mission is to share my wellness process with others and to make it easy and accessible for anyone to implement.
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When I was pregnant there were two things that were important to me outside of having a healthy baby: give birth in the water and breastfeeding. After I missed out on my water birth, I was determined more than ever to try whatever I could to breastfeed my daughter. Well let’s just say it hasn’t been an easy road. In the beginning of my breastfeeding journey I had such trauma to my perineum I couldn’t sit up to feed her. I am SOOO grateful to my lactation consultant who taught me how to feed her in the side lying position. For the last almost 7 months that is how me and my sweet babe have nursed. On the occasion we would leave our home I would bring expressed milk with us and feed her from a bottle. When she was 1 month old I had found out she had a bunch of allergies along with silent reflux. I had to go on a strict elimination diet which I am currently still on. So many tears in the beginning stages of that. As a newly nursing mom, you’re sleep deprived, in pain everywhere, and starving. The last thing I wanted to do was try and learn a completely new way to cook. Once I began getting more comfortable with the diet and side nursing my babe she started going on nursing strikes. I came to learn she was still in severe pain from her birth trauma and she was unable to turn her head. It was devastating. I could only get her to nurse on one side lying and had to pump the other to keep my supply solid. We took her multiple times a week to the chiropractor. After 6 weeks of multiple weekly sessions she was turning her head both ways like a champ. As I began to heal physically I really wanted to try and feed her from an upright position. Laying down every 3 hours for months on end can be brutal on the neck and back. When we attempted to feed sitting up she would not latch. It was foreign to her and she would scream. We met with my #ibclc and she taught us some exercises to do with her, and told me to keep offering her the breast. For about 3 months we tried everything and I continually offered it with no luck... finally... THIS WEEKEND... I offered it to her while we were sitting in the pool and she LATCHED sitting up and did a COMPLETE FEED!!!! It brought tears to my eyes, because it has been such a long, hard road to get there. Since then she’s fed about 10 times and loves the idea she can access her food at any time, kind of like a soda fountain. I share my story, because when I was pregnant I saw so many gorgeous nursing photos, of mom’s making it look so easy. It has not been an easy road for us, but it has been so worth it. I absolutely love nursing now. We are officially 7 months in and going strong. For any mamas out there that need encouragement and are in one of the difficult seasons. You’ve got this! It won’t last forever. I see you and I’m always here to talk!