The Truth About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is no joke. Before I had Paige, I was told that the first few weeks of breastfeeding would feel like someone was rubbing Brillo pads over my nipples. And I can tell you this - they weren't lying! A Brillo pad combined with a vice grip with super human power. The first week I must have been in a new Mama fog - it hurt, but I figured it would get better. By the time I realized something was very wrong, my nipples were bloody stumps (literally). SO GROSS! A normal person would seek help - I decided this was the process I had read about of my nipples "toughening up". Week 2 came and went, and reality set in - this is pretty much the most painful thing EVER. I literally had tears running down my face every time. I didn't want to throw in the towel, because I know how important breastfeeding is for the baby. But, at the same time, I knew I couldn't go on like this for much longer. After talking with my mom and sister, I figured out Paige was latching on wrong... yikes! When I went to the pediatrician for the 2 week check up, I also found out Paige wasn't gaining as much weight as she should be. Basically, a combination of not latching right paired with severe pain on my end (causing me to tense up and not let the milk down) was causing her to not get enough food. So for the past week, I've started a new feeding routine that has been working MUCH better for me. I do a combination of breastfeeding (with a revised latch), pumping and formula. It's not what I had thought I would be doing - especially the formula part - but I have to say that it is working out really well. Everything is healing up, and its becoming a much more pleasant expereince for mama and baby.

December 26th - The Best Day of my Life!

December 26. After 39 looooooong weeks, THIS is the day I had been anxiously anticipating. Going into the induction on Christmas day, I had a feeling it wasn't going to work. Not sure why, but I just had a sneaking suspicion that my baby wasn't going to come out the traditional way. And needless to say, after 42 hours of labor - 2 rounds of Cervadel, and many bags of Pitocin IVs, the doctors decided it was time for a C-section. Despite relatively strong contractions, my baby wasn't dropping, and my cervix wasn't dialating AT ALL. Luckily I wasn't in pain during this process. The contractions hurt, but not the kind of red-faced, screaming, Lamaze breathing pain by any means. That also clued me into the fact that I probably wasn't progressing the way I should be. So at 5 pm on the 26th, the doctor checked and said we needed to move forward with a C-section. The next thing I knew, my room wad filled with nurses and doctors prepping me. Ends up the day after Christmas is pretty slow at the hospital, so they were all ready to spring into c-section action. Daniel said that when they called him into the operating room, my face was white as a ghost. I guess I was shaking and panicing. I honestly don't remember much after they began wheeling me from my labor room to the OR. It's all a blur. But the next thing I DO remember is hearing the beautiful cries of my baby. Daniel lifted his camera over the curtain to get a pic of her entry into the world. I will spare you this photo - in addition to the baby, you can see all my insides. Yes, my intestines. Pretty much the grossest, yet most precious photo ever. Paige was now in the world, and my life would never be the same again. Absolutely amazing. Absolutely blessed.

Baby, I'm Back!!

After a 2 week hiatus, Sweet Leigh Mama is back in action! The past two weeks since Paige arrived have been the most stressful, yet rewarding and fabulous weeks of my life. I have so much to share- so much for us to catch up on! Thanks for all your kind words and congrats on the birth of Paige. I'll take the next few days to bring you up to speed on this mama's new life. A whirlwind to say the least : )