Breastfeeding 101

Let's face it, breastfeeding is hard work.  You can read all the books you can get our hands on, meet with Lactation Consultants, talk to your pediatrician, talk to other mommies, and still you will encounter breastfeeding situations that puzzle and confuse you.  It all boils down to these 2 rules:

1.) There is no "right" answer
2.) Do what you've gotta do to make it work. 

Simple, right?  (I wish it were!)  Kailyn celebrated her 3 month birthday yesterday and as my present, she decided to throw me a curve ball.  Ok, truth be told, its been brewing for several weeks now.  The problem: the letdown on my right side is so forceful that it makes her gag, choke, and swallow large amounts of air.  Kailyn's solution: pull off and cry (inconsolably).  Well, that's not much of a solution if you ask me! 

Having had a similar problem with my first, I set about trying the "techniques" supplied by professionals: sit in a reclined position to let gravity do its work and/or form a 'v' with your index and middle fingers and press on breast (with nipple/child's mouth in the middle of the 'v') to limit flow, varying the position of the 'v' to prevent clogged ducts.  Guess what...no luck. 

So, keeping in mind that there is no "right" answer, I set about experimenting.  I quickly realized if I nursed while laying in bed, Kailyn had significantly less difficulty.  YIPEE!  Oh, wait, that's right, I cannot run to my bed every 3 hrs.  So, while I had a solution for night-time and morning nursings, I still did not have a good solution for a busy mom.  After several days of experimentation, lots of frustration, and hours of crying later, here's what I came up with: nurse baby in an upright position. 

Since Kailyn is only 3 months, this requires that I become a bit of a contortionist. Picture this: I prepare to nurse as though I am going to use the classic "cradle hold", and then tilt my body and pull my arm (and baby) up until Kailyn is almost sitting upright, with her butt rested in the crook between my legs and her legs dangling off my lap.  Its a bit tough to maneuver depending on where I'm nursing, but it definitely falls into the "do what you've gotta do" category.

So, I encourage you to research, read, and talk to others, but don't forget to experiment with breastfeeding to see what solutions you can discover!  You have more answers than you realize.