When I found out I was pregnant with #4, I was very concerned about the breastfeeding aspect of having another baby.  I contacted an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)  that I had worked with in the past and she was doing home visits at the time.  So, we arranged ahead of time that I would have her come check the baby after I came home from the hospital and for several weeks thereafter.  She knew my history and knew that my breastfeeding problems did not start until around week 2.  She came to my house 3 days a week to evaluate my new baby and me.  He started losing weight and it was determined that he did not elicit a let-down on the right side and that I should boost that supply by pumping and get him breastfeeding well on the left side.  I started taking herbs and only breastfed on the left side because I was scared to have him start losing weight again.  It was not the easiest thing I'd ever done but it was easier for me than pumping.  I had my ups and downs, I was constantly obsessing about my supply, his weight gain- you name it, I obsessed.  However, at the time of this writing, my son is 8mos old, has been exclusively breastfed on the left side ONLY since he was a week old (with occasional, unsuccessful attempts on the right side), and although, not the chunkiest baby around, is getting up my stairs and furniture cruising!  And, I hand expressed my right side 2 times per day for about 7mos and made 6oz/day on that side (yes, I was paranoid about keeping some freezer stash....) and am currently trying to wean that side because I have 1100 ounces in my freezer that I just don't need to keep contributing to.  I was also paranoid about giving him a bottle, so he didn't get a bottle until he was 5mos old and does just fine with it, thank goodness! 

Christina's story:

I EP'd for my son (#1) for 5 mo, supplementing with formula some as my supply dwindled in the final weeks.  I started because he never really figured out the latching thing and would just wail leading me to tears when we would fight to get him to nurse.  I quit because I was not coping with my life and my husband pushed me to quit in hopes of helping me find some way back to "balance".  I felt like a failure even though I had done relatively well in providing breastmilk those first crucial months.  

When my daughter (#2) was born, I was determined to figure out breastfeeding.  I was so sure that I had learned so much more by reading every breastfeeding book I could find while pregnant and this not being my first baby.  So I was devastated when we had trouble latching in the hospital and the nurse insisted I try it with a nipple shield.  I cried while my daughter went ahead and got her fill.  So the up side of the story is that she continued to nurse just fine as long as I had that stupid piece of plastic between us.  I would be frantic when I couldn't find it.  I went out and bought three more after one such terrible night where my daughter was screaming in hunger and I couldn't locate it from the last feeding.  But we managed.

Then one day, when she was about 14 weeks old, I just got this thought in my head to try to nurse without it again (although I had tried when she was littler without success).  So I just kind of squeezed my nipple flat and shoved it way back in her mouth and to my shock, she latched on!  It felt about the same as with the shield and she nursed there until she unlatched and smiled at me with milk dribbling out the side of her mouth.  I almost jumped out of my skin for joy.  I kept the shield handy for another week or so.  Just on the offchance that she would have trouble again.  But soon I realized that she was a nursing champ and nothing was going to stand in her way of getting a good meal direct from mommy (in fact, she HATED getting it in bottles even when she had been using the shield).

I can't describe the feeling of freedom!  We could go out and about anywhere and if she cried in hunger - no worries, here is mommy!  I didn't have to pump at home (save the occassional engorged night when she started to sleep longer).  I only had to pump twice at work.  When she woke in the middle of the night ready to eat, I just opened my nightgown and settled into the recliner for a 20 min snuggle.  No warming bottles like in my EP days.  No pumping while dh fed her (which was a blessing as he spent her first 5 months working nights - ugh!).  I felt so connected to her - so in tune with her needs.  I figured out she was starting to get sick two or three different times because of how her nursing changed.  I loved it!

I did hate dragging the pump back and forth to work, but I was always just a little afraid I would need it at home if I left it at work all the time.  And I occassionally pumped after she ate in the morning because I would have SO much milk and it was just the right amount for mixing into her cereal in later months.  I had a pretty good stash in the freezer and was able to quit pumping at work when she was about 10.5 mo old.  She got frozen milk at daycare and still nursed in the morning and usually twice in the evenings (right after work and before bed).  In fact, she liked mommy milk so much, she did not make a particularly easy transition to cow's milk at her first birthday.  We had to mix breastmilk with it for about another month until the frozen stash was gone.  But she continued her nursing when she awoke and before bed until she was 14.5 months old.  I could have gone on a bit longer.  I loved those first of the day snuggles and the way she got drowsy cuddled in my arms before bed.  But my husband was not in favor of extended breastfeeding and insisted I wean while I was on a week long business/personal trip.  

She was a completely different baby from my son.  He was the colic king, she generally only fussed when something was wrong.  He hated the sling, she practically lived in it.  He didn't care what he ate (formula or breastmilk), what temperature it was or what kind of bottle it was in - she went on major bottle strikes and would wait all day at daycare for me to pick her up and take her home to nurse all evening (and wanted her milk at 98.6°, in an Avent bottle if it couldn't be mommy and never tried formula).  I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed her infancy so much more and felt so special to provide 100% of her nourishment until she started baby foods around 6 or 7 months (she didn't really like them before that).  I may have been in a better place mentally overall, but I wouldn't trade her first year for anything.

So just because you EP for one baby, doesn't mean you HAVE to EP for another.  Every situation is different, even in the same family.  Some women still choose to EP, but if I ever get another chance (husband and I can't seem to figure out if we want a third), I will absolutely try to nurse at the breast again - but I will keep the knowledge of EPing close at hand too.  Best wishes in all your breastfeeding endeavors - no matter the delivery system.

Gabrielle's Story

Tracy's Story