The First Year

Sometimes it is hard to believe the first year is almost over but I am so excited to see where we are going to go.
This first year didn't start off easy; Ant joined us via c-section. After delivery we were separated for 24hrs before we had our first breastfeeding experience (I think I am finally over this a year later). This separation was due to my high blood pressure and Ant being hypoglycemic. After the c-sec and they finally released me to recovery I insisted that a lactation consultant meet me in our room to help me start pumping. I think she thought I was crazy for wanting to pump so soon after delivery but I was determined to be successfully. The first 24hrs I pumped ever 2-4hrs and hardly slept. My poor DH had to wake up every time I wanted to pump and then wash everything after I was finished (I have an amazing DH). Due to Ant being in NICU for the first week of his life it made it hard for us to develop our breastfeeding relationship. We were tied to the NICU schedule and to the fact that they were checking his sugar levels. So, this meant I did A LOT of pumping early on. If you want to know more about our early days I will be happy to write about them later.
After we returned home we got very frustrated because Ant wasn't gaining weight. It turned out part of it was due to Ant being a lazy nurser and him burning to many calories because of how hard he had to work while he was nursing. Out of utter frustration I gave up nursing and pumped and bottle fed A for the first month of his life. My thinking was I wanted him to gain weight so the Pediatrician would back off. Luckily, my MIL was staying with us and made it possible for us to survive this first month. After she left I found an AMAZING lactation consultant who helped us latch back on. After 5 ½ months of pumping, feeding, and nursing Paul FINALLY was exclusively nursing. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to breastfeed longer then 12months.
These last 6months have been absolutely amazing and I am excited for the new challenges of nursing a toddler. I love breastfeeding and wonder how far we are going to make it.
Mama Q