50 Things I wish I Knew About Breastfeeding
This post was inspired by Thrifty Mommy’s 50 list Carnival. This is just a post of my experiences, not all the cases happen for everyone. (added due to a request)
1. That you get engorged in a matter of seconds.
2. You’d wake to a soaked bed, or night shirt.
3. Your baby would not want to eat when you wanted him/her to do it.
4. He/she will want to eat when it is inconvenient. (road trip)
5. You would grow twice your normal size.
6. You would shrink down to one size smaller than you once were when you stop breastfeeding.
7. It is easier to breastfeed then to wean.
8. That you should not diet while breastfeeding.
9. It is cheaper to breastfeed my baby then it is to bottle feed him/her.
10. Breastfeeding keeps him/her a little healthier.
11. Breastfeeding can cause tooth decay.
12. Everything you eat your child will eat.
13. Your child will suck the calcium out of you, make sure you take care of your teeth.
14. Breastfeeding delays “that time of month.”
15. Breastfeeding reduces the risk to breast cancer.
16. Your child may not like your breast milk and need something more. (yes this happened to me, I’ll write a post on it later this week)
17. No matter what, some will not be able to breastfeed.
18. If you work, expect someone to drink your pumped breast milk, if it is not in a bottle.
19. First time you experience blocked ducts you may think you have breast cancer.
20. You will leak at the worst of moments, especially when you have nothing to change into.
21. Everyone will tell you the joys of breastfeeding, but never the others.
22. Mastitis
23. Breast infection
24. Closed ducts
25. getting too much milk
26. Taking a shower does not mean you’ll stop spraying, in fact you probably will even more.
27. Your milk won’t dry up over night, weaning will be harder than that.
28. Breastfed babies can be colic too.
29. Men will be turned off by a breastfeeding mom.
30. Your doctor (male) will try telling you he has many new moms that leak in front of him. Eeek.
31. Many will argue that you breastfeed instead of the bottle.
32. Your nipples will crack, if you don’t use lotion of some sort.
33. There are breastfeeding websites to help you understand it all.
34. Men will be turned on by a breastfeeding mom, there are two types of men.
35. Everyone will give you advice on how to breastfeed your child, even after you’ve already had a few.
36. You will probably answer the door at least once with your breast hanging out. (my UPS man saw too much one time)
37. Your child will try breaking in his/her new teeth on your nipple. It will hurt.
38. Expect to show everyone your assets at least once in a grocery store.
39. It really is up to you if you want to breastfeed.
40. You will begin to release any time you hear a baby cry.
41. Even when you try to hide that you are breastfeeding someone will come up and begin talking with you.
42. Tossing a blanket over you while breastfeeding won’t stop onlookers from taking the blanket off and oowing at baby until they see his mouth is attached to your body.
43. Someone will be frightened that you breastfeed.
44. Someone will call you a pervert that you breastfeed, ignore them, they are the perve for ever going there.
45. One of the best ways to make your child quiet in a movie is to let them eat.
46. You will be warned not to feed your baby inside a museum.
47. Someone will ask you to cover up while you breastfeed.
48. You might get kicked out for breastfeeding your child.
49. You will definitely save a lot of money breast feeding, however shirts may cost a bit more.
50. Breastfeeding will bring the two of you closer.
Can you add to this list?
Tags: , babies, blog-carnival, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding tips, Colic, humor, lactation jokes, mastits, new-mothers, tooth decayRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Breastfeeding
24 opinions for 50 Things I wish I Knew About Breastfeeding
Louie
Mar 3, 2008 at 1:39 pm
My wife definitely hit a few things on this list. She had the cracked nipples, thrush, and even the bit about thinking she had cancer the first time she found a blocked duct. After weaning it took 3 weeks for her breats to stop being lumpy, and over a month for the tenderness to go away.
My wife’s big thing about breast feeding is that she felt like she was on a “three hour leash”. Every three hours she had to feed the baby and this impacted what she was able to do.
Maria
Mar 3, 2008 at 1:49 pm
It’s too bad that not all of the items on your list are factual and/or do not state the entire “story.” Especially troubling is your presentation of 11 and 13, and 29 and 34 should have been presented together.
This blog has taken a total turn from when Kate was authoring. I’m disappointed.
Gayla McCord
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Maria, while I’m sure your comments are appreciated, I don’t see the purpose of the attack in the last portion of your comment. What purpose does that serve exactly?
And when it comes to breastfeeding, everyone is both an expert and an idiot - it all depends on who you talk to. Sometimes the best opinions are those left unsaid.
If the comment isn’t on topic, what’s the purpose if not to hurt?
Maria
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Your email and my response.
“On Babylune you posted a comment and I must say you are right, I should’ve put the two together and added two more. Very sorry about that. For me all that on the list is actually true, there were no myths for me, I wish I could say there were. Hope you will visit again.”
Breastmilk does not cause tooth decay, and while initial dips in calcium have been found, studies have also found that bone density returns to normal and sometimes increases.
Minimal research… your title is “50 things you wish you knew,” and with minimal research you would have know. Furthermore, you present these items as fact, when according to your email, they are your experience. It’s a shame that you feel it is acceptable to mis-inform new mothers on a blog for new mothers.
Maria
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Gayla– I hold nothing personal against the new author of this blog, but I am disappointed in the changed direction. That being said, you’re right. I should have emailed her personally, and unsubscribed to the blog. As such, I will do just that and personally/publicly apologize to Eliza.
Eliza– I am sorry for making my feelings about this blog public. I should have addressed them with you in a more private manner. Best of luck.
Eliza
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Thanks for the comments everyone.
Louie- Yes I had such a scare we’d been traveling and one got closed. I had no clue that type of stuff happened but I’d heard enough about breast cancer having lumps so I freaked. Thankfully the on call nurse was able to talk me through it over the phone. took a while to get better, but that’s one thing I hate…mastitis.
Maria- For myself all of the above has happened, this includes two of my children getting tooth decay (according to their dentist) from breastmilk. I had no clue this happened either until they told me it is rare. I ended up the rare one that has children that get it.
For everyone else that comes here, this blog post was suppose to be a fun thing with a few facts (they are from my experience) of things that happen to me while breastfeeding that I wish I knew. Laugh along will ya’ll. :)
Have a great day! More to come, so enjoy.
Natalia
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I just weaned my 18 month old a month ago. And I could totally relate to everything that you said. All things considered, I still am very proud that I put up with all the “fun” to give my little one the best start in life possible. Thanks for sharing!
Eliza
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Natalia- I agree 100%, even though I’m trying to stop weaning I’m glad I did it and wouldn’t change anything. Okay I lied, a few times when my shirt got soaked in public, I think I’d change that.
Natalia
Mar 3, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The only regret I have is not stopping the all night nursing sessions sooner!
Domestic Divapalooza
Mar 3, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I like how you stated right from the beginning that everybody was different and just because it’s listed doesn’t mean everybody will experience it! Kudos to you for that!
I personally enjoyed reading the list that was put together. I get a kick out of hearing what others go through and find it even more amazing that not everybody will go through those exact circumstances.
I also wanted to commend you for doing such a great job taking over this blog Eliza. I’ve noticed that you’ve been getting picked on quite a bit and think it’s a shame when peeps out there are quick to jump because they are not able to adapt to necessary changes.
You keep up the good work!
Gayla McCord
Mar 3, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Maria, you’re a trooper. Thank you! It’s always so hard bringing a new technique into a worn pair of shoes - there’s bound to be change that some like and some do not. I know Eliza personally so I suppose that’s why I took the comment personal - but you are truly a good good person for your comments following.
I think this blog is awesome. I only wish I’d had post partum support following the birth of my twins. I would love to see more community here in drawing on the various difference in post partum that women experience.
I wasn’t able to breast feed because I had C-Section and my twins were premature and due to complications from surgery and their extreme small weight - it was impossible for me. I have had people tell me I’m a terrible mother for not insisting. I was ONLY 25 and my first pregnancy - I was terrified when I looked at the little 3 pound babies and wanted them to do all they could to save them - my feelings of detachment weren’t even a concern at that point.
Today my babies are wonderful young men. They’ll turn 15 this month and have caught up to the national average. They are on honor roll (most times) and play sports, very social and love their mommy :) I couldn’t be more blessed. Nothing seemed to fail us because I didn’t breastfeed.
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Thrifty Karen
Mar 10, 2008 at 1:42 pm
No one told me my mother not having milk might be genetic. No one told me that no matter how much I nursed, pumped, tooked Regalin, took Fenugreek, how many lactation nurses I saw, and how many blisters I got that I would not have milk. It was a depressing mess. Then I was told that with my second child, there was no reason to believe that I wouldn’t have milk again. So, there I went again, getting my hopes up and driving myself and my husband crazy trying all the tricks all over again. I said I wouldn’t be disappointed the second time around, but there are some things you can’t talk yourself out of. It is still a hard subject with me sometimes, but my children are growing and learning and they’re ok. That’s what matters.
P.S. Sorry you’re taking some heat. Everyone has different writing styles. This is a blog, not a scientfic research paper. I’ve seen similar comments on other blogs. Don’t let it get you down. You have your own style and some will like that and some won’t. You’ll develop your own ways and your group of followers.
Eliza
Mar 10, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Thank you Karen. So sorry things didn’t work out, I have a friend that had the same thing happen and was crushed when things didn’t work for her. I never could pump, I think that’s why I have such a hard time weaning.
Blog Carnival of the Top 50
Mar 10, 2008 at 3:41 pm
[…] the new writer for Babylune, gives us 50 Things I Wish I Knew About Breastfeeding. Some people can tell you what breastfeeding is like. You can read books and educate yourself […]
jess
Mar 10, 2008 at 8:05 pm
breastfeeding in a museum is one of the most relaxing experiences ever and the perfect first place to feed in public. my son was feed in a history museum, science museum, and aquarium :-)
Eliza
Mar 11, 2008 at 5:58 am
I went to a museum before finding my house, the receptionist tried so hard not to be rude. She saw we had an infant but no bottles so figured out that I was a breastfeeding mom. She responded, “We have no food or drinks in the museum….Umm, you can feed your son at the benches.” I couldn’t help but laugh when we got away, I wondered if she’d even let me go in since I technically had both food and drink on me, even if it was for my son. But you are right, it was very quiet and peaceful feeding him in there.
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Mar 11, 2008 at 9:41 am
[…] the new writer for Babylune, gives us 50 Things I Wish I Knew About Breastfeeding. Some people can tell you what breastfeeding is like. You can read books and educate yourself […]
JHS
Mar 23, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Yes, I can certainly add to that list:
Not EVERY woman can breastfeed.
That’s the point that the nurse at the hospital refused to acknowledge to the point that I was a wreck. I simply could not do it. My kid would have starved. It is genetic. It is a fact. Therefore, continuing to try to breastfeed until your boobs are so sore and red that you want to scream will not change the fact — confirmed when they tell you that you have to extract to dry up and there is absolutely nothing TO extract.
You not less of a mother or woman if you just don’t produce enough milk to breastfeed. You are just the unfortunate recipient of non-breastfeeding genes. So there is no reason to feel back about yourself. Tongue clucking nurses, doctors, other mothers, etc. need to just stop making those judgmental noises.
Thanks for contributing this post to this week’s Carnival of Family Life hosted at Beauty and Personal Grooming! Be sure to check out the other wonderful entries this week! And if you would like to host a future edition of the Carnival, you can check out the schedule here and then let me know the week you are interested in.
Have a wonderful Sunday — and Easter (if you are celebrating)!
kellys
Apr 2, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I loved each and every one. Waht a great way to share. After having breastfed 2 kids now, I am more than willing to go again!
Don’t forget to add lots of public stares. I do have to admit that JC Penny has the best dressing rooms for nursing.
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Apr 2, 2008 at 3:45 pm
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