Edit’s by: Kenzi Peterson
So I am switching it up a tiny bit today and sharing a little glimpse into my journey with breastfeeding on the blog! My 7 month old baby, Kai, is helping me showoff the most amazing invention ever! The NursElet! It serves as a reminder bracelet (so you know which breast you last fed on) and also keeps your shirt from falling down while your nursing and/or pumping. Seriously so GENIUS! It comes in a ton of different fabrics and is secured with velcro so it’s easy to get on and off by yourself. I wish I would have known about NursElet back in those early days. It would have made my life easier! Rupal from NursElet also sent Kai this handmade knotted beanie! She is the sweetest. If your a new mama, or mama to be I would be sure to check out NursElet’s website. They have a ton of other products that will make your life easier, and if you use code: krychelemama at checkout you’ll get 15% off your purchase!
Breastfeeding is hard enough without having to worry about your clothes getting in the way. When Kai was a newborn I cried just about overtime he would latch. It hurt SOOOO bad. Not to mention I had a clogged milk duct so my boobs were insanely engorged and Kai refused to eat off one side, making me even more engorged! It was rough. I DREADED each feeding and when your baby nurses about every 2 hours, It made for a pretty miserable time. Roman couldn’t even give me a hug without me wincing because I was so sore.
After about a week I finally had to give my body a break and just pump bottles. It was really hard for me to give Kai that first bottle because I felt like such a failure. Even though It was still breast milk and not formula, I felt like something that was supposed to come natural to me just didn’t and that I wasn’t a good mom because of it. Looking back, I know that those crazy postpartum emotions had a lot to do with how I was feeling. The baby blues are no joke but luckily I had the support of my family to recognize that I was struggling and do whatever they had to do to snap me out of it. If you ever think you might have postpartum depression and/or anxiety, ask for help! It affects so many women and there are a ton of resources out there to get through it.
After a few days of no progress on trying to get my milk situation figured out, I knew I needed some professional help if I was ever going to get Kai back to nursing. Since he was introduced to a bottle so early on, I was afraid he would get too lazy to breastfeed since the bottle makes the milk come out a lot faster. My sister recommended I see a lactation specialist and it was the BEST decision I’ve ever made. She was so knowledgeable. I went and saw her about twice a week for a month or so and she taught me a lot about breastfeeding and just newborns in general. The best part was that since she was in a doctors office my insurance covered it so the visits didn’t cost me anything. Holla! If you’re in Utah and want her information let me know!
So anyway, after about 2 months of exclusively pumping, I was able to get Kai back to nursing and now it doesn’t even hurt (except for when he bites me with those new teeth of his.. OUCH)! I am really glad I didn’t give up on breast feeding even when It was so hard. I am really proud of how far Kai and I have come and I know I’m giving him the best possible nutrients for his growing little body.
If I could give one piece of advice for a new mama struggling with breastfeeding, it would be to seek help. There are professionals out there that can help you and give you all the right tools to help you succeed. If breastfeeding is something you want to be successful at, it’s going to take a little work and a lot of patience, but you can do it mama!
If you ever have any questions with breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to ask me! I have been through it all and would be so happy to help If I can.
Xx
-Krychele