Our Breastfeeding Journey
December 16, 2020
I didn't realize what an emotional rollercoaster breastfeeding would be. Our experience has been amazing and beautiful while also challenging and hard at times. Let me tell you about our journey.
From the very beginning I knew I wanted to breastfeed Easton or at least try. Breastfeeding seemed to be such a beautiful experience and I really wanted to try with him.
I shared with you guys that our breastfeeding journey ended a a little over a month ago. November 13th to be exact. We made it 1 year and 10 days. It wasn't easy (physically or emotionally) at first but it's been better thankfully.
When Easton was born he immediately latched but the pain in the beginning was extreme. I became engorged very quickly and I remember crying and telling Justin I thought my boobs might explode. I went and saw a lactation consultant and she was so extremely helpful. She showed me more comfortable ways to hold him, introduced me to nipple shields and everything started getting easier. I had a friend tell me just get through the first two weeks and it will get easier.
Before I go any further, I want to say no matter how you fed your baby- you're amazing. Feeding your baby is a full time job. Whether you are unlatching your nursing bra and praying you are producing enough milk or exclusively pumping and listening to the "er er er er er" sound 6x a day or stressing over which formula to give, you are a ROCKSTAR. You have to do what is best for you and your family and also your mental health. Your baby will sense if you are stressed or anxious and feed off your energy.
Breastfeeding is so many things. It's leaving in the middle of a holiday get together to nurse in the spare bedroom or pumping during a wedding reception so your boobs don't kill or (if you're like us) planning any and everything you do around your baby's eating schedule but also rocking and nursing to sleep and being so relaxed. I dealt with all of these. I was engorged, had mastitis and multiple clogged ducts but would do it all again in a heartbeat.
There's so much pressure put on it and I find a lot of women saying "I was only able to do it a month" or "I had to stop at six months." I whole-heartedly believe it is one of the most emotional things I've ever experienced. I read an article recently that said everyone talks about the firsts; the first smile, the first words, the first steps, but no one talks about the lasts. The last newborn onesie they wear, the last time they fall asleep on your chest or the last time they nurse. I was not prepared for the last time Easton would nurse.
I didn't have a "end plan" for breastfeeding but I was guessing we would probably stop around one year. Easton has always been a great eater so I thought I would probably have to wean him. Then one day he wouldn't latch. He didn't want anything to do with it. I wasn't sure what to do but didn't want to force him so I figured we would just try again at bedtime. At bedtime he latched and nursed but for a shorter time. I didn't realize that would be our last time.
The next day I tried to nurse him in the morning, at lunch time, in the afternoon and at bedtime and he wouldn't. I knew he was telling me he was done. As I rocked him that night I bawled. I wasn't prepared for the emotions I would feel the next few days. I felt broken, useless and unwanted.
I only knew one of my mama friends that had ever talked about the end of their breastfeeding journey. I was feeling very sad and depressed and she sent me an article that made so much sense. The article said "when some people wean they experience a depression similar to postpartum depression because of the drop in the hormones oxytocin and prolactin." I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety and was so nervous to have these feelings again.
I have read that the best way to wean is to gradually do it. But because Easton stopped cold turkey and weaned himself I didn't really have a choice. My body and hormones kind of didn't know what to do. I cried for two straight days. I felt like he didn't want me or need me anymore and that made me feel like a failure. Thankfully these feelings only lasted a few days and I started to feel normal again. I know it sounds crazy but I had never given Easton a bottle before so it was like we were starting an entire new journey.
As far as the weaning process goes I started pumping twice a day just to relieve the pain. Then after a few days I went down to once a day. I started taking sudafed a couple times a day, rubbing peppermint oil on my nipples and putting cold cabbage leaves in my bra. I am also self expressing in the hot shower. It's been a few weeks and I'm almost all dried up. Everything I'm doing has really been helping. Other tips you guys gave were: avoid oats, wear nursing pads to dry up leaking milk, drink peppermint tea, take vitamin B, put ice packs on your boobs, ibuprofen, earth mama no milk tea and pink stork tea.
We transitioned to whole milk by doing half breastmilk and half whole milk. We slowly did less and less breastmilk. Now he is on just whole milk and does great.
I wanted to share this post for a few reasons. It wasn't easy but breastfeeding Easton is one of my biggest accomplishments and I am really proud of myself. I knew that writing my feelings out would make me feel better and I hope to help even one mama. Know that your feelings are valid no matter what you are experiencing though motherhood!
I love being a mama and love the bond Easton and I have created. I know that our bond will continue even after breastfeeding. He still needs me and I'm so grateful I got to experience so many firsts with him - my first baby.
15 Family Christmas Traditions
December 2, 2020
Now that Easton is one I am so excited to start some new (and old) Christmas traditions with him. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year and now that we have a baby it is extra special!
If you or your fam try any of these traditions, make sure to tag me so I can see! Xo
15 CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
1) Wear matching Christmas jammies! My mom always gave us a new pair of pajamas Christmas Eve!
2) Go to the Zoo lights or drive around and look at lights
3) Make Christmas cookies
4) Watch Christmas movies
5) Adopt a family
6) Wear ugly Christmas sweaters & take funny pics!
7) Make a gingerbread house
8) Decorate your tree as a family
9) Do a white elephant gift exchange at your family Christmas celebration
10) Play games on Christmas
11) Take Holiday photos
12) Give one present to each other on Christmas Eve
13) Read a Christmas book everyday through the month of December
14) Make hot chocolate
15) Attend a Christmas Eve service & celebrate Jesus
Uppababy Vista Stroller Review
October 21, 2020
10 Road Trip Travel Tips with a Baby
August 27, 2020
Hi mamas! I know road trips may seem overwhelming with a baby but I deemed myself the guinea pig and am sharing what worked for us on our 14+ hour road trip! We recently traveled to a cute small town in Florida called Cape San Blas (check out my Instagram stories highlight VACA for tons of videos (HERE). Between COVID and knowing how much stuff we were bringing, we decided to do a road trip. The total drive was about 14 hours but because I am breastfeeding we had to make a few stops making it longer (17-18 hours). |
Easton is almost 10 months and has always been great in the car seat but just to be safe we broke the drive up in two separate drives. On the way there and on the way back we drove 6 hours the first day and 9 hours the second day. Here are my top tips:
10 ROAD TRIP TRAVEL TIPS WITH A 9.5 MONTH OLD BABY
- Have one parent sit in the backseat with them (I did the entire time, Justin likes to be the driver lol)
- Dress them in comfy clothes
- Pack tons of toys, books and things to distract them with. We packed new toys he had never seen before and brought them out on the way home!
- Don't overdo it, make stops to let them stretch out. We would take out his pack and play to let him crawl around in! We have this one and love it!
- Know that YOU are their ultimate favorite. So if he got bored and we had already cycled through toys, I would nibble on his hands / toes, sing to him, play with his hair, make funny faces, play peek a boo, etc.
- Let them play with (safe) things they typically don't (ex. water bottle)
- Have a backseat organizer like this so you aren't stressed. Example- have a spot for the toys, a spot for food you bring and a "changing station" (diapers, wipes, etc.)
- If you are planning to do naps on the road, pack a portable sound machine (we love this one), their lovey and a car seat cover (we have this one) or blanket to put over their car seat to create darkness. You can also purchase sun shades (these had great reviews!) for the windows to help darken it for naps!
- Food/water! Easton is eating solids 3x a day now so we packed food for him and fed him in the car. This helped keep him happy! He loves to eat lol.
- We had a mini cooler bag (like these) we kept teethers in! We had a large baggie full of ice and would refill it every few hours.
Easton's Nursery Reveal
June 14, 2020
Memorial Day Sales 2020
May 23, 2020
Easton's 4 month favorite things
March 26, 2020
EASTON'S FAVORITE THINGS
Easton's 3 month update
March 8, 2020
I linked a few products below that have really helped us too. XOXO
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