Become a contributor and register to submit your story!
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers

    Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers

    Yawning baby

    Tongue tie in babies

    Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

    Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

    Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

    Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

    The boobingit podcast – 2022 year in review

    What to expect for World Breastfeeding in Public Day 2023 – live interview with The Breastfeeding Mentor

    Yorkshire Shepherdess: ‘Gnarled old farmers’ have better breastfeeding attitude than city dwellers

    Yorkshire Shepherdess: ‘Gnarled old farmers’ have better breastfeeding attitude than city dwellers

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • All
    • Being prepared
    • Covid19
    • Doing it longterm
    • Products + Reviews
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Sleep
    • Style
    • Support
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers

    Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers

    Yawning baby

    Tongue tie in babies

    Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

    Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

    Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

    Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

    The boobingit podcast – 2022 year in review

    What to expect for World Breastfeeding in Public Day 2023 – live interview with The Breastfeeding Mentor

    Yorkshire Shepherdess: ‘Gnarled old farmers’ have better breastfeeding attitude than city dwellers

    Yorkshire Shepherdess: ‘Gnarled old farmers’ have better breastfeeding attitude than city dwellers

    Trending Tags

    • breastfeeding
    • covid vaccine and breastfeeding
    • breastfeeding and Covid19
    • Hypnobirthing and breastfeeding
    • boobingit podcast
    • Latched breastfeeding bra
    • breastfeeding support
    • diy breast milk soap
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

Boobingit
No Result
View All Result

“I’ve embraced every breastfeeding struggle knowing it would be worth it in the end”

in Breastfeeding And..., Mama Stories, The challenges
Home Mama Stories

If I could describe my breastfeeding journey in one word it would be “powerful”. I never knew how much the woman’s body was capable of until I gave birth to my daughter Lavender, who is now six months old. I’ve learned so much and educated myself as much as possible as a first-time mom. My breastfeeding journey has had its ups and downs but I believe “where there is no struggle, there is no progression”. I chose to have a positive outlook and I believe this has helped me in overcoming the breastfeeding struggles I’ve faced.

I’ll always remember that first latch

The first few days in the hospital went by so fast…but that first latch I remember so well. It was amazing and I felt so connected with my daughter. I didn’t want anyone to talk to me, I just wanted to be left alone with her in that moment. Her latch wasn’t perfect and, in fact, I bled for the next three weeks and groaned in pain during nursing sessions. I kept trying to get my nipple shields to stay on until I finally decided that something was not right.

The first few days in the hospital went by so fast…but that first latch I remember so well. It was amazing and I felt so connected with my daughter.

Alexus

I started to exclusively pump for about two weeks (thank you lord for pumping bras). My daughter was given a bottle for every feeding. There were so many sleepless nights pumping and mornings waking up feeling like I had just peed on myself because of how much my breast leaked. It felt like I was pumping 24/7 nonstop. And don’t get me started on trying to find something to wear that was breastfeeding friendly. Like come on, I don’t have that big ole belly anymore and I still can’t wear what I want!

I started to feel sad and lonely

overcoming breastfeeding struggles

Breastfeeding and new parenthood started to get overwhelming. I felt sad, because I no longer had the life I was used to. I was lonely because I felt like I was the only one putting in all this hard work to do what I felt was best for Lavender.

My husband couldn’t understand what I was going through, but he did his best to be there for me and listen. 

My birth control hormone side effects and symptoms weren’t making the situation any better either! But that’s a whole different story.

I tried my best to keep a smile on my face and be happy for my daughter, although I knew she could feel my sad energy anyway. I knew I needed to get out of this rut I was in.

Once we improved the latch, we turned a corner

Once my breast healed I tried again to latch Lavender. I used all types of resources online to make sure I was doing everything right and putting Lavender in the right position. Finally, we were able to get a good latch and I knew it immediately because it didn’t hurt while nursing!

I learned so much about getting a good latch from Youtube videos. It got me thinking how strange it was that no one in the hospital asked if I was breastfeeding. It wasn’t talked about and no lactation specialist came to talk to me or help either. I feel as though a specialist should be in the room right after birth to help and I believe this is why so many women don’t breastfeed because there isn’t that much support like there should be!

Did I need to start supplementing with formula?

Once my daughter got a good latch it felt amazing. I had finally figured it out! But of course, things don’t always go as you expect them to.

One night I remember trying to breastfeed my daughter but for some reason, she would not latch. I started to have this horrible feeling that I wasn’t producing enough for her. I was worried, confused, and angry. Over and over I’d whisper in her ear, “please baby stop crying”. But nothing would settle her and she wouldn’t latch on.

I started to have this horrible feeling that I wasn’t producing enough for her. I was worried, confused, and angry. 

Alexus

I felt tempted when I looked over at those “just in case” formula bottles (what my nurse called it). Asking my husband “baby, should I?”, quickly followed by “I really don’t want to”. Of course, he didn’t understand why I didn’t want to use formula.

In the end, I found she was so fussy because she had bad gas and was over-tired. I was so glad I didn’t give in to those bottles in the moment, and instead listened to my baby’s signs. I knew that if I ended up giving her formula that my breastfeeding journey would come to an end. This would have left me so sad, especially after we were starting to get the hang of things.

My pumping sessions resulted in 2000 oz of milk

I got used to my routine of pumping sessions and had even got used to the sleep deprivation. I would pump on one side and nurse on the other. I did that until I had almost 2000 ounces in my deep freezer! I had built up an amazing milk supply that could be used for when when I had to go back to work (which ended up being postponed due to Covid). Then four months later my pump broke and I started hand expressions, until after a while Lavender was big enough to just feed on both sides and I didn’t have to pump anymore. This was such a relief.

I had built up an amazing milk supply that could be used for when when I had to go back to work 

Alexus

My journey at this point was amazing! I felt “powerful”. I had accomplished something that a lot of women can’t accomplish. I never gave up when I got let down and only was able to pump two ounces in a whole pumping session. I never gave up when I couldn’t sleep (while everyone else slept), or when my nipples were blistered and bleeding!

What’s next for us?

overcomign breastfeeding struggles

Now I’m just so pleased to have established a good amount of supply, and pumping is no longer necessary. I literally just pull my boob out and feed Lavender wherever we are!

However, the latest struggle is that at five months old my daughter now her first teeth and has started to bite down on my nipples. I keep telling her not to bite my nipple off!

I know we still have a long way to go but I am staying positive. I’m so grateful I even got this far, and the journey continuessssssssssss. 

You can follow me on Instagram for all my updates 😊 @lexicx_

Would you like to inspire and empower other mamas by sharing your own breastfeeding story? Sign up today to add your story! We’d love to hear from you.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tags: getting a good latchovercoming breastfeeding challenges
Alexus Escalante

Alexus Escalante

Related Posts

Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers
The Podcast

Ep. 37: How Fraupow is improving breastfeeding support for new mothers

January 26, 2023
Yawning baby
The challenges

Tongue tie in babies

January 25, 2023
Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe
Style

Breastfeeding tattoos you need to see to believe

January 23, 2023
Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over
Breastfeeding And...

Study uncovers protein that kick-starts milk production after breastfeeding is over

January 20, 2023
Please login to join discussion
Boobingit

Boobingit is here to inform, inspire, and empower you as you navigate your own unique breastfeeding journey.

Follow Boobingit on social

Be part of boobingit.com

Become a Partner

Become a Contributor

  • About boobingit
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Mama Stories
  • Breastfeeding and…
    • Sleep
    • Covid19
    • Being prepared
    • Returning to work
    • Self-care
    • Showbiz
    • Style
    • The benefits
    • The challenges
    • Doing it longterm
  • Resources
    • Guides
      • Breastfeeding after giving birth
      • Breastfeeding after a caesarean birth
      • Breastfeeding a baby in NICU
      • Breastfeeding the unsettled baby
      • Breastfeeding and Down Syndrome
      • Breastfeeding positions
      • Responsive feeding
      • Breastfeeding and teething
      • Breastfeeding in public
      • Breastfeeding at Christmas
      • Breastfeeding multiples
      • Expressing milk
      • Breast refusal
      • Bottle refusal
      • Tongue Tie in babies
      • Mastitis
      • Relactation and Induced Lactation
      • Breast milk soap
      • Babywearing
      • Weaning a nursing child
      • Transitioning baby to solid foods
    • A-Z Glossary
  • The Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Shop
    • Baby & Breastfeeding Essentials
    • Boobingit Merch
  • Buy Our Book

Sign up today to become a contributor and share your story!
Sign up now!

Copyright © 2020, Boobingit - for breastfeeders everywhere.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create a boobingit account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Breastfeeding for Beginners – Latches, letdowns & leaky boobs

Out Now!

Shop Now

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?