I love having another baby even though some might question my sanity now that I am in my 40's. But I can't begin to tell you how much joy our little Isabella Rose has brought our family. She has made the boys fierce protectors and playful companions and our girls sweet lovers of hugs, cuddles, and singing to our new little gift.
With her presence in our home of older children I get to get a glimpse of what my children will be like when they have their own children one day. It makes me tear up just thinking about them as parents one day and seeing how they play with Bella, might just be how they play with their future son or daughter. That just brings such joy to my heart and I hope I will get a chance to experience my grandchildren along side them one day. Oh my soul longs to see that day and I pray that the Lord would be kind enough to me to allow me to see it!
Now my sweet new baby Bella is the 9th baby I have breast fed. Let me just say right off the bat that I had my ups and downs with nursing and had to even bottle feed when I got really sick (that's a whole other story). But I usually tried to breast feed everyone for at least a year or more, and one child I nursed until she was almost two!
Then there was Joshua. He was my sixth child. Little pleasant Joshua Marcus who smiled and barely made a peep ended up had trouble latching on. I remember taking him in for a wellness checkup and they said he wasn't gaining enough weight and I had to visit a lactation nurse to help me.
What on earth? Was she serious? I couldn't believe that after nursing that many children that now I was actually having trouble? But my little baby was, so thus began the daily trips of heading over to the hospital every day with my little ones in tow and sitting in front of a trained lactation consultant watching me nurse with my wee son to make sure he latched on correctly.
Humbling, yes. Fun? No.
But nursing can be such a wonderful experience and eventually little Joshua did latch on. It can be such a wonderful time for mom and baby to bond! So here are 8 important tips that I would like to share with you to make it go easier and smoother.
1. Use a good nursing pillow. This is very important and can make all the difference in nursing a very young infant. I had used some boppies in the past but they did not offer the support I needed like My Brest Friend nursing pillow. Once I tried it I was sold and never went back to the others.
They have them in all kinds of different colors and you can even buy different covers for them too. I am telling you that they are worth every. single. cent! I am so thankful for whoever invented this pillow because in my opinion it really is the best and gives you amazing back support as well. I even used their nursing pillow for twins. You can find these wonderful pillows here.
2. Drink plenty of water. I can't emphasize this enough. Sometimes I would get so busy and forget to always have water or something by me which would eventually lead to me getting quickly dehydrated and affecting my mood. The great thing about the pillow above is that it can even hold a bottle of water in the pocket with ease so you have it right next to you when you are nursing if you are in a rocking chair without a table nearby. Staying hydrated in so important I even always make sure I have a case of bottled water with me in both of our vehicles when I go out shopping too!
3. Invest in a nice nursing cover. I actually went a while without using a nursing cover and used a blanket instead, I didn't know what I was missing. But I love my nursing cover as it gives me the ease of nursing a baby in public discreetly without worrying about being exposed. I really love these from Amazon:
I actually own the exact one pictured above. It is so comfy and the top has an opening that makes it easy to look down at baby and for baby to look up at you. This is especially important if you need to see your baby latch on.It also has an adjustable strap for comfort.
4. Get a good supportive nursing bra. I picked mine up over at Motherhood Maternity over at my local mall. But you can find good ones anywhere, just make sure they are your right size and fit comfortably.
5. Don't forget the extras. Be sure to pick up nipple guards, nursing pads, burping cloths and some lanolin in case you end up getting sore nipples. They are a lifesaver and help you to heal quicker.
6. Get plenty of rest and eat right. You are producing valuable milk for your baby so be sure to get the rest that you need and eat a healthy diet. Try to eat many fruits and vegetables and have a balanced diet of protein, dairy, and grains. Lay low on the junk food and caffeine.
7. Pray over your child- I love using this extra down time while I nurse to pray specifically over that particular child from head to toe. You can read about how I do that here.
8. Don't stress the small stuff--it can all wait so enjoy this time. A clean house is not more important than that precious little bundle that is snuggling in your arms. Enjoy this time because they are only young once!
I hope this helps you enjoy a lovely nursing experience with your little one!
*This post contains affiliate links--thank you for your support!
6 comments:
Thanks, June. And what a wonderful family you have!! I nursed my three boys each for a year, too. A godly gift and privilege to have been given that opportunity. Blessings...
I am 44 and am currently nursing our 4 month old son, Jesse. He is our 7th but only the third that I have been blessed to nurse. I nursed our oldest (25) but then we adopted two. Then, much later, God blessed is with twins but they were in the NICU for awhile and never did learn the fine art off breast feeding - no matter how many lactation visits we made those first months. After a 13 month deployment, God gave us a baby boy they, while he still spent time in NICU, he nursed for 17 months. I LOVE NURSING MY CHILDREN AND IT IS A GIFT TO DO SO. Don't take it for granted. Thank you for the tips.
I am currently exclusively pumping as #9 isn't able to nurse. After the others I thought it would be a piece of cake. However, God had other plans. Our baby was born with significant lip and tongue ties, a high palate, and low facial muscle tone. It's a lot of work pumping every 4 hours and doing the feedings, but giving my daughter mama's milk is so important. I'd much rather be nursing, but I am thankful that there are other means for me to give her my milk and all it's benefits.
Three boys--what a blessing! Yes, it sure is a gift and one that I don't want to take for granted either. Thanks for visiting!
So glad you were able to nurse your baby boy---we had baby twins too and I nursed them until they were about 4 months and then I got really sick and had to be admitted to the hospital. While I was there the doctor advised me to stop nursing. I was sad but glad that I had the four months with them.
Sherry, I can't believe all that you had to go through. Thank God it all worked out now but I am sure it was trying for you. I will be praying for you to keep at it. The benefits are huge and so worth it!
Post a Comment