Let's Talk About Boobs

This whole breastfeeding business is no walk in the park. I'm not saying it's the hardest thing I've ever done, or even that it's necessarily hard, but I doubt anyone would ever say it's easy. I feel like by boobs are now their own sovereign nation! They've made up there own rules and now run themselves! They go to war with my body and my life turning off and on when ever they want, I have no say in the matter. They decide to hurt for no reason causing difficulties with sleeping, wearing clothes, and taking showers, among other things. This should be manageable with nursing pads right. Well yes it is but even those come with their own set of issues. The disposable ones get smelly. Wake up in the morning and they smell of sour milk. So I decide to be environmentally friendly and economically smart and use the washable reusable ones. Well those don't exactly trap in the moisture the same way the disposable ones do. They just soak it up and then they dry out. When they dry out my nipples stick to them! It's like ripping a band aid off your nipples. Oh joy!

Also being a working woman I've got to pump so my baby can have this magical breast milk. I thought I'd just pump after each feeding and build up enough supply to start working. HA!! Maybe there are women out there who produce enough milk to do this but little Croix and the sovereign nation of my boobs have a great trade agreement going. Supply and demand is just perfect! After a few days of gleaning about half an ounce after each feeding, maybe 3 ounces over the course of 3 days I realized at that rate it would take me a year to get enough milk built up to go back to work! So I decided to supplement with formula for one feeding a day until I had enough. Deciding to do this I had to just stick with my decision and not second guess myself. If I did I'm sure I would convince myself that I was lowering his IQ, decreasing his health, etc. Well this worked pretty well. I'm now working again and Croix still gets the benefit of breast milk. I just get to feel like old Bessie being milked. That has got to be the most unattractive thing ever!

A word of wisdom for those of you who have yet to have children. There are some things that most people don't talk about and therefor you don't have a clue about when you experience them. So let me step out of the social norm and discuss one thing for just a sec. When you finally get the ok from the Dr. to do the mattress mambo again, wear a bra! Remember they turn them selves on! Awkward!

On the bright side breastfeeding is truly a beautiful thing! I love the bonding time I get with Croix! I love that through the great design of a Heavenly Father I have exactly what my child needs! I also love the fact that I'm saving hundreds of dollars by doing something wonderful! And let us not forget the new girls! The other day for the first time in my life a friend of mine said I looked voluptuous! NEVER in my life has that word been used in reference to me. It made me smile! Although I'm glad to have lost the porn star boobs that appeared about 5 days after he was home! Ridiculous not to mention painful!! Engorgement is not my friend!

So here's to boobs, the good, the bad, the ugly of it all!