• Fed Is Best •

Hey there Mama’s, on the blog today, let’s talk about this Breastfeeding Topic that everyone hates to talk about.

Every mom I’ve talked to in the past, have all said that breastfeeding was such a tough experience for them. Than why does everyone say it’s the most “magical, natural experience”?

It was far from magical or natural feeling for me.

I’m a second time mama, and each experience was quite different.

With my first pregnancy, my son was born early, at 36 weeks with no complications. We spent three days in the hospital, and in those three days I thought I was doing great. Little did I know, it wasn’t going well.

Because he was a preemie, the doctors and nurses continued to tell me that I had to “teach him how to suck”. Due to him being premature, preemie babies don’t know how to latch, suck, and breath all at once and it was up to me to teach him.

SAY WHAT? How on earth do you teach a baby to suck?!?!

It was a whole other story once we got home.

We checked in with the doctor two days after discharge and Ezra had lost some weight, (which is normal after birth) but the doctor wasn’t happy with the results. We were asked to come back for weight checks every other day. And with each weight check, there wasn’t much improvement. We were then told that going to a Lactation Nurse could help, as she could help with latching and making sure that he was sucking properly. With no improvements, being stressed out and getting different opinions from lots of people, I was ready to give up!

I just wanted to give him formula, but had so many people tell me that formula wasn’t good, and that Breast is Best. I cried day and night. I questioned myself, and I stopped BF because it wasn’t what I wanted. I needed to see him gain weight to know he was growing. So I started supplementing and topping him up with formula. I was waking him every three hours to make sure he was eating (which didn’t work out, cause he just wanted to sleep).

We were then referred to a pediatrician, and he finally calmed my nerves and told me that my baby was healthy and gaining well. Finally, after trying to breastfeed and supplement for eight weeks, I was able to exclusively BF, Ezra soon became a chunky monkey and I BF for 18 months.

With many different opinions, I was so confused and had me doubting myself. But with motivation and constant reminders that I was doing my best, I was able to get through it.

The second time around, my twins were born at 32 weeks and spent 26 days and 31 days in the NICU. In the beginning I was exclusively pumping. Both babies had a feeding tube, and I was using my breast milk to feed them. This made me happy knowing I was able to feed them with my milk. Soon they were on the breast, once a day and were latching and feeding for 5-10 mins at a time and then were topped up. By the time we came home, Ezekiel was gaining so much weight and he was a pro on the breast. Emmy on the other hand was not as efficient and was not gaining enough. She wouldn’t latch, and her sucks weren’t strong enough to get lots of milk. She dropped from the 10th percentile to the 3rd. I was questioning Breastfeeding again and just wanted to give her formula. I didn’t feel connected to breastfeeding like I did the first time. I was tired and it was a lot of work having to feed two babies on the breast. I just wanted to give them a bottle and leave it at that.

But then again, I kept getting responses like “why formula?” “She’s doing fine.” “Just keep breastfeeding.” “Don’t stop giving her the boob.”

This made me doubt myself again, was I a bad mom for not wanting to breastfeed? I was tired from nursing and pumping so much. I just wanted to stop all together and give them both the bottle. I’ve been pushing through it and still doing all three. Some days are better than others. I pump, I breastfeed and I give them both the bottle.

No matter what people say or think. No matter what

you decide to do. If you chose to breastfeed, pump, or formula feed. I’m doing all three!! It takes a lot of commitment, hard work, and when your hormones are just out of wack, you gotta do what works and what is best for you! It’s your body, and your child. You know what’s best for you and your baby!

Breast isn’t always best, fed is best!!

-The Pink Mama xo