Hopie, before I had my son my best friend from high school and my aunt warned me breastfeeding was the hardest thing they ever did. They are positive and encouraging people, and at the time their youngest kids were 30 and 12. So I really took it to heart they remembered so clearly how hard it was.
Thank God they did warn me, because it really is hard. I also had a big eater. My ped started to suggest at one of my early appts that maybe baby was using me as a pacifier, which happens so watch out for that, but then glanced down at his weight gain and was like nevermind, that boy really is non-stop eating keep up the good work.
It was non-stop the first week or so, then for about 4 weeks He ate every 60-90 mins, then slept. Meanwhile I pumped a few more minutes, froze milk, sterilized the pump parts, ate something, peed, whatever, and I'd maybe catch 20 mins of sleep, then repeat. 24*7 for weeks. The good news is that early part goes by in a blur, their little tummies get bigger, they are stronger so they eat faster, and before you know it you get 4 hours of sleep in a row and you feel like a super human from real sleep. The first few weeks are hard.
Just passing along what thankfully 2 people out of the hundred that gave me unsolicited advice actually told me. Breastfeeding after those first few weeks? Most awesome and easy thing ever.
One other thing, if you see a lactating specialist and a ped, and your ped has 4 of her own children like mine did, remember she might know what she's talking about too.
My LCs at the hospital and at the ped office had me so terrified to have Finn take a bottle that I didn't ever take a break. My ped told me I had a hungry baby, and he did try to eat anything within 3 inches of his face, so that if I had daddy give him a bottle so I could rest, he'd go back to the breast no problem. I was too scared to try that so Finn didn't have a bottle till he was about 6 weeks old. I wish I'd listened to my doc. I loved my lactation specialist and she did so much to help me at the beginning with latch problems and pain that I'm forever grateful. We were on track within a week with proper nursing and who knows how long I would've been flailing without her. But LCs can be a bit nutty and act like if that baby isn't from the boob only the world is going to end. I should have listened to my ped, a smart and experienced professional and mother herself, and my own judgement. Taking good advice and listening to yourself or tweaking things so that they work better is the way to find balance. I should've listened to my mommy instincts a little more. You know yours will kick in so I'm sure you'll do great.
Good luck on your test results. I'm so jealous you got to keep your workouts up. I really wanted to but I've had too many issues. Have a cardiologist appt in a few weeks bc I still have a high resting heart rate. Ugh.
Uni, I'm sched for my c section Sep 7. Maybe we'll end up on the same day.
Caz, sorry about the leg cramps and I hope they stay away.
Awe Finn had a print with PJ's almost exactly like that lower left set. So cute.
Afm, resting. We are going out I'd town in a week so taking it easy. Love my sister and her fam, but they're all spazzes so a week vacation at their house will be exhausting. Finn and his cousins adore each other so I can't wait to see them all together. Rainy and stormy non-stop this holiday weekend and it's affected our plans. Since we won't be doing outdoor stuff I bought things for Finn to help me make an apple pie from scratch. Should be fun and can't get much more American than that.
also making a home made Mac n cheese and sausage bake. Not my typical food but I thought it'd hit the spot with it rainy and cool. No swollen feet from heat so no complaints!
