Breastfeeding Child #2

Filed Under Being a Mom, Breastfeeding, One Month- Taylor, Tuesday Toot | 2 Comments

Breastfeeding is so different this time around. I think I mentioned before that Taylor just took to it right away. It just seems so natural with him. Maybe because I’ve done it before, maybe because I am more relaxed, maybe because he doesn’t have sensory issues (we hope), maybe just because. Whatever it is, this child loves his mommy and he loves to nurse. It’s his comfort, his food, our bonding time. I don’t resent the time I am “stuck” in a chair feeding him. I have nothing better to do than love my children at this exact stage in our lives. When he wants to nurse, we do. (When I want to nurse him, we do). He sleeps next to me at night, but last night he went six hours between feedings.

Something about breastfeeding makes me feel capable as a mother. I am completely providing for my child. I am his sole source of nourishment and comfort at this point in his life. Maybe that’s not fair to my husband, maybe it doesn’t matter. It will be such a short time that I can do this for him, in the grand scheme of things. He is six weeks old. Several months from now, he will be eating baby food and I might not be the center of his universe anymore.

With Bailey, I always had supply issues. She was a “lazy” eater and she tired easily, and we got into a pattern of supplementing with formula. We were never able to break that pattern. With Taylor, he had a few formula bottles in the NICU overnight when I couldn’t be there with him. Since he’s been home, he has had nothing but breastmilk. He takes bottles like a champ, so I still have the flexibility to leave him. I do better with pumping this time too. I have actually found a manual pump that works better for me than my expensive double electric one! We have a freezer full of milk, and I have to say I am proud of both of us.

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