Boobies and Babies

George and Emilie's first visit together at the hospital. Picture doesn't really go with this post, but I breastfeed both of my children, so I think it's close enough. ;) Breastfeeding group went a whole lot better than expected at Sharp Mary Birch (than a previous breastfeeding group where the lactation consultant couldn't help much). I'm ecstatic to say that Emilie latched on toward the end of the class for 3 whole minutes (really depressing when I say it to the world, but it was exciting for me at the time and still is! You know why? She took in 30 ml in 3 minutes! That means that Emilies 5 minute feedings are ok and I don't have to push her to stay on at least 20 like the hospital said was necessary. She only needs about 50ml per feeding, so with 10 ml a minute is fine. Anyway, so excited. Now I just have to get her to latch on, and if she's drinking for a full 5 minutes, she's doing good! So thankful for the weigher at the breastfeeding group!!!! Now, it's down to practicing the "deep latch" and not "jumping the gun" when she barely opens her mouth (waiting till it's big and open and being patient). And have you seen how newborns sway their heads back and forth dramatically and you think they might be having a mental breakdown or just not knowing what to do at the boob? That's called "rooting". It's a good reflex ;) At the group there were about 20 women, and 3 husbands. Um, I was starting to wish I had brought my cover, lol. I had to go hippy style, and be like "Yep, I have boobs. What's it to you?!". I actually wasn't that bold, and was very concentrated on not making eye contact. I did glance up once or twice, and I think the husbands might have been as uncomfortable as I was, except that one walking around the room burping his baby. I was unconsciously thinking, "um, go burp that baby in the corner, there's breasts hanging out here!". After about an hour, I finally got some good help from the lactation specialist, and boy did it help! She really instructed me and helped me to wait for her mouth to open wide enough, and at group, she opened her mouth the widest she's ever opened. Such an awesome experience. With both breast feeding consultants, they suggested the nipple shield, which wasn't working. I'm sorry, no matter what they say, Emilie cannot open her mouth wide enough for that huge shield, and on top of that cover the entire areola (even if I pried her jaw open all the way. I'll go for "yawn sized open" instead). With George, I loved the nipple shield, but in this case with Emilie, it was totally not helping and she was getting mouth blisters. Despite recommendation of it being easier to switch from bottle to breast with the Shield, I went with my instincts and went without it and got her to latch on for that 3 precious minutes that I needed to determine how much milk she was getting. Mommies, trust your intuition (the gut feeling deep inside you)! Anyway, I'm hopeful we can get through this and become breastfeeding champs, Emilie and I. She's a little heroine and I know she can do it. <3