The first time I tried breastfeeding it didn’t go so hot. My
daughter didn’t automatically latch by just placing her head up to my nipple.
Holding her was actually really hard for me. Not how I imagined it.
The next several times I tried breastfeeding was a fail
again. I think Izzy Mae only ate her first 1 ½ of life was the bottle she was
fed in “transition” from the NICU.
I finally got the nerve to ask for help from the nurse. One
thing we got sorted out was my milk hadn’t come in yet. Next I learned I had
inverted nipples. My sweet nurse the second day at the hospital got me a
lactation specialist right away.
The session with the specialist went great!
I was set using my nipple shield and breast pump. The nipple
shield helped my daughter latch to my breast. While the breast pump helped my
nipples not be inverted. It also helped bring in my milk supply. The
breastfeeding holds I got help from pillows and later on the Boppy.
Izzy Mae used the nipple shield till November. I kept trying
to get her to latch without the shield and then one feeding time she didn’t and
that was that. I can remember feeling ecstatic that we did it. This may sound
weird, but I felt like a real ‘mom’. I no longer had to worry about making sure
I had the nipple shield with me when we went out or where was the last place I
set down.
Looking back on my experience I’m so grateful for the
lactation specialist and my nipple shield. Breastfeeding was one thing I really
wanted to be able to do. I’m so grateful I was able to workout some kinks and
successfully breastfeed my daughter. Every day that passes I’m thankful that I
still can provide milk.
One benefit with using the nipple shield was my breast never
cracked or bled. I did use the same nipple shield that the specialist gave me
from the hospital. It’s important to wash it in soapy warm water. Having a
clean shield helps from it slipping. Here is an article with more information
about nipple shields.
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