Breastfeeding a High Needs baby

I had decided when I was pregnant that I definitely wanted to breastfeed my baby. I knew it would be the best thing I could do for her. So immediately after my C-section, in a drug induced stupor I may add, the nurses kindly helped me figure out what I was doing.

I was fortunate, Madison latched on right away and, with the help of a few other nurses during my time there, we were well on our way. The weeks that followed were not what I expected though to say the least. Everyone had told me how important breastfeeding is and how much it can do for the baby, but no one told me how hard breastfeeding is. I mean HARD. It adds so much more work to the whole process.

I thought I was prepared, I had the lanolin cream, the pads, the bras. Everyone failed to mention that my nipples would end up with scabs on them (even with a baby that latched on correctly), that it takes forever to find a comfortable position, and that it hurts like hell!

And on top of things, I have a high needs baby. Which meant I was breastfeeding her non-stop. I would finish one feeding and she would be crying for the next. She used me as a human pacifier, it was one of the few things that would instantly calm her those first few weeks. I was sleep deprived beyond belief, in a ton of pain (both from my surgery and from my breasts). I wanted to give up so bad those first few weeks. I cried constantly, and begged my husband to get formula. But something always stopped me from giving up – and I’m glad I didn’t honestly.