Nipple Confusion?!?!?!

Nipple Confusion?!?!?  I Don't Think So....

If anyone was going to get nipple confusion it was most definitely my little Maddiekins.  Due to some adverse anatomical issues (which I may decide to delve into more detail about in a future post) I had one of the most difficult times breastfeeding.  I know, I know all mothers have a hard time the first couple of weeks, but let me just give you a glimpse into my world.  She is currently 7 weeks old and every single time she latches it's painful, I've just gotten really use to it. 

When I was still in the hospital I had a lactation consultant (LC) come and give us a little assistance in terms of breastfeeding.  I was truly in a state of self hatred the first couple of days after delivery.  Baby Maddie latched onto the breast immediately after delivery with the assistance of a nipple shield.  I continued to attempt to nurse using the shield the entire night.  My nipples began to bleed and the LC immediately informed me that I should cease the use of the shield due to nipple confusion among other reasons.  I attempted to bring her to the bare breast.  She latched like a champ, but I was in such excruciating pain that I would bite down on my lower lip and curl my toes just to get through the 5 minute ritual.  The LC told me it should not be that painful and that it obviously had something to do with the anatomy of my nipple so she suggested I do nipple rest which refers to pumping during feedings and supplementing with formula.  I was soo deflated.  If I had the energy at that moment I would have punched myself square in the face.  I had basically gotten myself to a point mentally that if I did not breastfeed my little girl I was not a real mother. 

Side Note: For those of you out there who choose to formula feed your babies, do not take that comment the wrong way.  There is 100% nothing wrong with formula feeding for Maddie's first 2-3 days of life she was solely surviving on formula.  There is a lot of pressure out there from peds, OBs, nurses etc. that make mothers think that formula is no good when in actuality there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.  It is a personal choice and my choice just so happen to be the breast.

Onward...So I was on nipple rest.  Do not get me wrong though, even pumping was extremely painful at the lowest level and this also caused my nipples to bleed.  I can see why so many mother's have the baby blues.  Its a depressing time the first couple of days after delivery.   By day 2 my milk had started to form.  I was elated!  I did not think it was going to come in that early and it just meant the world to me at that point to be able to give 5 ml of my own breast milk to my little tiny girl. 

This whole routine of pumping and feeding lasted 2-3 week, I felt like a milk factory, pumping every 2-3 hours just to keep the supply up.  I was so exhausted by this ritual that my husband was the one to feed her from the bottle.  We were alternating with seriously 4 different brands of nipples/bottles; Dr. Browns, Tommee Tippee, Medela, generic nipples from the hospital.  On top of that she was taking the Soothie pacifiers too!  I was soo fearful that when I started to breastfeed her she would have nipple confusion.  But again she latched on like a champ to anything she could get into those chompers of her.  She is soo friggin' cute! :P

So to those of you out there who for whatever reason, be it doctors, family members, other mothers, are hearing about this nipple confusion theory...do not believe them at all.  Every baby is different and will have their issues or lack there of, in regards to nursing - but do not get discouraged in the slightest.  If I, of all people, can do it... you can too! 

Baby Maddie is now fed directly from the source 4 days and 7 nights out of the week.  The 3 full days that I am away from her she eats like a champ from the bottle, all different kinds.  She also loves her NuNus, all varieties!!  Nipple confusion, in my opinion, is a big crock o' sh*t! :) 

Cheers! <3