Eleanor’s wants and needs are pretty simple at this point. She likes nursing, being held and rocked, being sung to, and sleeping. She hates being put down, being awake for extended periods, and pooping. She’s not all that keen on stroller rides or baths either.
She has definitely been keeping us busy. I don’t know if she needs the warmth of being held or if she just likes hearing a heartbeat, but she never lets us put her down. I try to put her down in exactly the same position I had been holding her in, but she always wakes up within a few minutes. It’s easier to just hold her and let her sleep on us than to try and console her over and over as she becomes increasingly tired.
Adjusting to life with a baby has been fairly easy for me. She sleeps pretty well at night, waking to eat every few hours but falling back asleep right away. When she does wake for the day, she’s usually in a pretty good mood and I can set her in a bouncy seat while I take a shower, so we have a good little routine starting. And I haven’t experienced any of the ‘baby blues’ that I know are so common. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I’ve been so happy taking care of her.
The only difficulty I’ve had has been with breastfeeding. Nursing has definitely been a lot harder than I thought it would be and there have been days where I’ve almost wanted to quit. The latch-on is painful, causing me to cry along with Eleanor sometimes. I know that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, but for me it does. I’ve met with two lactation consultants (one in the hospital, one in my home), and both told me that I’m doing it correctly. The second LC did say that Eleanor has a high palate and that I may just have to wait for her to get a little bigger and “grow into her mouth”. I think the worst of the pain has passed, so I’m just going day by day and hoping things improve soon.
On a happier note, I want to start a little photo project with Eleanor. I want to take a picture of her each month either holding the same object or sitting in the same place (maybe the Eames rocker?). I think it will be great to look back at a collection of photos to see how she grows. :)
Comments
233 responses to “Three Weeks Old”
Oh the cuteness!!
I vote Eames rocker for the photos. At least you won’t be hunting round the house for it every time you want to take a photo. Other things have a habit of going missing!
Congratulations!
I had a hard time with nursing my first son. Luckily the other 3 were easier. Emery had torticollis, so he had an unusually strong sucker. Good grief. It was horribly painful and I gave up trying after awhile. As long as Eleanor looks both ways, she doesn’t have torticollis, and hopefully she grows out of it!! Good luck!!!
I think the photo project is a great idea, especially in Eames chair. Just imagine! Before you know it she’ll be so big she’ll be sitting in it with her legs draped over the side! Hehe! :D
She’s just adorable!!!! Nursing IS painful. I haven’t met a mom that said otherwise. I quit after four weeks of trying and failing. It’s SO not easy.
The photo idea is awesome. Can’t wait to hear more about your experiences with her.
teresa
She is lovely. I also vote for the Eames chair for your project.
She is so beautiful!! I love the your photo plan. We did that with my little girl (we used a stuffed giraffe). It fizzled out when she was about 9 months old and went on vacation, but was great while it lasted.
A graphic designer friend of mine took a picture of her little girl on every month anniversary of her birthday, in the same chair with a big teddy bear. Every month she would print out a pretty paper sign with Anna’s current age, height and weight. Great for scrapbooks and photo albums! And it was fun to see how the teddy bear looked gigantic at the beginning and the same size as her around 1 year.
I am de-lurking after a year of reading your blog to say your daughter is beautiful and I totally hear you on the nursing woes. My son is five months old, and when he was three weeks, as Eleanor is, I think I cried more than he did about it. As a first-time mom, I wish someone had told me then that things would not necessarily be awesome right away–even now that things are much better, just thinking about those first few weeks is hard. One lactation consultant that I met with said it best: “You’re new to this, they’re new to this. It isn’t fair to expect your first go at anything to be perfect or even pleasant. If it is, you’re just one of the lucky ones.” Wishing you luck and comfort and success…Take care.
She’s darling! I’m so glad you’re enjoying mommy-hood.
She’s so cute! I have taken pictures of both of my kids every month (on the same day as their birthday) and it’s so fun to see their growth. I displayed the pictures at their first birthday parties in little frames and passed them out as party favors – this was a big hit!
Nursing isn’t an easy job but it has amazing benefits. Congrats on sticking it out this long!
Nursing can be very painful, it was for the first six weeks for me, make sure you keep correcting her latch so she learns the “right (non painful)” way to nurse. Kellymom.com (I think that is the address) is a good site for getting breastfeeding info, also google Dr. Jack Newman, there is a lot of info on his site too. It is by far one of the hardest things I have ever done, but we are still going strong at five months after ups and downs. Keep at it, don’t give up, it will get better eventually. Good for you for keeping at it so far!!
Definitely in the Eames! You could do this until she’s an adult…not that you want to think that far ahead, of course. Miss Eleanor is such a doll…how is the pooch adjusting?
Love your blog and your sweet little girl. Just wanted to encourage you by saying nursing is hard for lots of us, do it for as long as you can, but don’t you dare feel guilty if you stop.
Oh, I just want to SNUGGLE HER. What an absolutely adorable baby! I’m so happy you’re having a great time with her.
Nursing both my sons was quite painful for many weeks. The only thing that saved me was the gel pads. Many companies make them. Pop one in the fridge until after you nurse and then put it over your nipple. The cold feels divine, and the gel helps heal any broken skin or soreness. I ALWAYS give them as baby shower gifts and always receive big thank yous a month or two later. Good luck!
Your Eleanor is just as cute as can be! I love reading your blog. My son was the same way with being held, he’d fall asleep in my arms but as soon as we set him in his bassinet to sleep he’d wake right up. We finally tried the car seat & that is where he slept for entirely too long (six months), but he was sleeping. I tried breastfeeding for two weeks & saw three lactation consultants because he wanted to nurse for hours at a time, I ended up pumping for 11 months and that was much less stressful then the feeding sessions. It’s all trial and error; just find what works best for your family.
Love the photo project.
She is absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad you’re having a pretty easy time and just enjoying her!
She is just adorable! The chair is the perfect spot for photos! I suffered from awful pain when breastfeeding too. Ended up doing myself damage – can you imagine being in hospital to “rest” your nipples? True. Hilarious now – not so much at the time! It all settled in the end though – so if the pain is too much dont push yourself – day by day is the right thing.
Your child is so lovely. It sounds like you are doing a great job. I wanted to add some encouragement about the nursing. I think many of us were shocked by how hard it is in the beginning–often for quite a while. I had a horrible time for nearly 6 weeks with my daughter (long story), but I stuck with it, & it worked out great in the end. It’s also interesting how different “nursing personalities” are. My son latched on right after birth & basically didn’t stop till age three! People thought it was b/c I was more experienced, since he was my second, but that wasn’t it. It just went better & easier, for whatever reason.
My son was also a baby who would not let me put him down. I am so grateful to have discovered babywearing with him. It made my life so much easier & was very good for him. I am not talking about Baby Bjorns & the like, but a whole variety of other, better carriers, most of which are not available at big-box stores (unless things have changed in the last few years). A wonderful resource is thebabywearer.com. It can guide you on different styles & if you post in the forums, you can get lots of help from other users. You can also buy a lot of carriers (which can be expensive) used through the site. And I think you’d love the carriers because they are often beautiful textiles. The site has has grown a lot, so it might be overwhelming, but I think it’s worth it! Sorry this is so long!
My son never wanted to be put down either. If you don’t have a sling, you might want to consider one. They are lifesavers!!! You can carry baby with you all day virtually hands free. I made one using the same Amy Butler fabric you have for your kitchen curtains (also made another one in the pink version). Plus you can nurse the baby while they’re in the sling. Takes some practice initially. Good luck with the breast feeding. It does hurt at first but so, so worth it if you can stick it out!
She’s adorable.
Stick with the breastfeeding, it is SO painful for the first bit, but SO worth it in the end. I used to kick my legs up and down when my son would latch because the pain was so unbearable, but 2 years later when he finally quit, I was happy that I didn’t give up when I wanted to in the beginning!
It doesn’t get any easier for subsequent children either, I just got over the painful period of nursing my new twin girls, but once again, I’m happy I stuck with it.
Love your blog, love your house, and your daughter is perfect!
Eleanor is such a beautiful baby!
The Eames rocker is a great idea. I started it with a stuffed animal with my first but that didn’t really work as she soon lost interest in that stuffed animal and it sort of disappeared. . .
With the rocker, it is definitely a permanent fixture and it will be cute to see not only how her size changes in ratio to it, but also how her interaction with it changes!! From just being placed in it, to sitting and if she becomes anything like my girls, standing in it! (just be careful as it can rock!! )
And, if the rocker happens to hang around long enough, it could even be passed down to her and her babies. You never know.
Nursing can be very tough and painful. We had the same problems you are describing until a LC finally told me about nipple shields. They are a last resort, and in our case, I was able to stop using them after several months when her latch had improved and nursed for well over a year. Good luck!
She is beautiful! And hang in there – there is no ‘right’ way to raise a child. Every mom & every baby are unique, and what works for some doesn’t for others. I’ve had friends for whom nursing was a semi-mystical bonding experience, but for me it was always uncomfortable and often painful. Lanolin helps a lot – I give it at every baby shower! Also black tea bags (applied after they cool.) Someone suggested cabbage leaves to me, but I don’t recommend them – they didn’t help, and after a while you start to smell like stewed cabbage. Eew! I nursed both my kids for 8 months because I’m stubborn, but it was such a relief when I hit my (entirely self-imposed) goal and could stop! And my sister’s kids, who got formula, are almost as cute & smart and just as healthy as my own. So go figure.
Oh, and try a swing – my son hated to be put down, and the bouncy seat would only buy me five minutes or so, but he loved the swing!
very cute onesies for monthly pics:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5571754
and we photograph our babies next to a sock monkey that one of my husband’s students made for our oldest.
http://dyerfamilia.blogspot.com/2009/05/nealy-is-1-month-old.html
and don’t let anyone kid you – nursing can hurt for as long as you do it. take some tylenol and tough it out. you’re doing one of the best things you can do for your baby. hang in there! and your little one is beautiful :)
Your baby girl is precious!!! I can’t stop looking at her….. I did have a really hard time nursing as well, my skin cracked until it bled and it wasnt pretty. But I was told that happens because sometimes babies saliva is too harsh on our delicate skin (that area is always delicate) so I was told to just have some warm water and a little cloth at hand to clean up after the baby had had his meal, also works with a little bicarbonate of soda . It did make things much (MUCH) better for me. I healed pretty quickly and the pain slowly went away.
Can’t wait to see the picture project as Eleanor is certainly an adorable model baby ;)
Beautiful baby! My nursing advice – keep meeting with the lactation specialists and get some of those silicone breast pads that you keep in the fridge and then slip into your bra between feedings. I found the lanolin to be too thick and sticky and it just hurt to put it on and then to wash it off before feedings. Nursing was painful for the entire 14 months with my first baby – blisters, cracking, bleeding, crying – it was a nightmare. With my other two, I was determined to have a better experience and met regularity with lactation specialists for the first six weeks of their lives. After about 6 weeks, it was no longer painful – hallelujah!
It hurts like a mo-fo for the first month but then it gets better. Stick with it cause it is WAYYYY worth it!
You’ve gotten some great advice here – I skimmed it so forgive me if some of this is a repeat.
Both my girls loved to be held (who wouldn’t!?) and I found great relief using a ring sling. It can take some practice at first but it holds your child in such natural positions, as if you are holding her with your own arms. She could nap in it while you moved about even. Plus, there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that babies that are held are more independent and secure later in childhood and in life in general.
Nursing…I agree you might want to try a nipple shield. The other nugget of advice I have is to set achievable milestones for yourself. i.e. I’m going to nurse until this Friday and reevaluate things. When Friday comes, set a new milestone. Maybe it’s just “I’m going to nurse until this evening.” The key is giving yourself victories. Nursing is a marathon, not a sprint. And when pain is involved, it can be very difficult to see the rewards. Kudos to you for consulting with a LC. If you can, find a nursing moms support group in your area too.
You’re doing a GREAT job!!!
I LOVE her onesie that says “When two people love each other Very much!” I want one!!!
She’s adorable. I love your photo project idea. I want to do the same when I have a baby. :)
Love the photo project idea. That’s been a baby tradition in my family, and it’s fun to see all the photos side by side!
I second those gel pads. After my daughter was born I also had two consultations with the lactation expert as you did, and she said the same thing your doing it right. I cried for a week every time I breast-fed I even wondered if my kid was born with teeth, I was not prepared for the pain that she inflicted on me from her little gums, and the bleeding from my nipples (ouch). But eventually it got better, much better and I became pretty good at it. They also sell this stuff by lanisoh that is a balm for your nipple use it in conjunction with the pads it makes them heal better. Have you looked into getting nipple shields, my lactation lady recommended them to me to help my daughter latch on deeper, and a couple of my girlfriends have also used them with success. Enjoy this time its the most wonderful bonding any mother can get, to gaze upon the wonderful content face as she is breastfeeding. The bottle doesnt compare to how you feel, plus it helps your uterus shrink, bonus.
She’s so adorable! I could pretty much have written the same thing when we had our first baby. The breastfeeding part was painful too. Enjoy every minute of her. They grow SO fast. The photo project is a really great one!
The gel nipple pads were wonderful. After a bumpy first couple months of breast feeding I lasted 14 months and then was sad to stop (those teeth made it easier)!
My daughter was born on June 12, 2005 so on the 12th of each month during her first year, I took a picture of her sitting in the rocking chair in her bedroom. After her 1st b’day, I continued to take these pictures on her birthday. With her 4th birthday coming up quickly, I can’t tell you how quickly time has passed. I highly recommend the photo project! I made the collection of photos from year one into a collage for her 1st b’day party invitation. I also used the collage as a party game. Our relatives had to organize the photos into the correct order from month 1 to month 12. Good times.
Ah, nursing. It’s awesome, except for the part where it HURTS!! :)
The three-week mark was where the pain subsided and we finally “figured it out.” The trick for me was to make sure her chin was pulled down before the latch on. The wider her mouth was, the less painful.
Good luck, and btw – she is GORGEOUS!
She is so beautiful and I am so happy for you!
Any chance you remember where you got that cute onesie?
Such a sweet baby! Check out the book La Leche League – it’s all about breastfeeding, and it’s very helpful.
Oops! The book is called La Leche League: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
Congratulations, she’s gorgeous! I hope the pup is adjusting to his little sister. You’ve heard it all already, but I heartily agree that the nursing is worth it if you can get through the initial pain. Then it becomes such a bonding experience for you and your baby – it’s incredible. Hang in there and, of course, do what you feel is right…trust your instincts – the mom always knows what’s best. :)
Gosh, she’s sweet. Usually I think dogs are way cuter than babies, but Eleanor is giving Murray a run for his money!! ;)
Definitely go with the rocker. It’s a classic piece that you’ll have forever (and maybe even pass down to little E someday), and its organic shape will complement her body as she grows and changes through the years. Keep up the photos, too! Imagine how great it’ll be for her to have something like that when she’s older.
I think the message we hear all the time that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt at all isn’t completely truthful. The reality is that it probably WILL hurt when you first start, even if you’re doing everything right. Frankly, your breasts/nipples are being used in a way they never had before, and need time to toughen up and adjust. Of course, don’t ignore pain and horrible symptoms, but so many woman think if it hurts at all, they’ve failed. We just always see these beautiful images of mothers and newborns blissfully nursing as if it was effortless. Not the case. :)
What a sweetie she is. We did the same thing, photo-wise, each month on the date of our kiddo’s birthday, in the same chair each time.
Nursing: I agree. Do what you can, pump too, if that makes life easier, and don’t fret about it too much. The more relaxed you are about it, the better it will be for both of you.
I vote a hands free carrier too. I’m sure you will find a gorgeous one that you love.
She’s breathtaking. How’s Murray doing with all this?
Chilled cabbage leaves do wonders for sore nipples – honest.
She is SO precious! You ought to check out my sister’s blog (www.bobbiebrown5.blogspot.com). She had her daughter last October and has a mini photo shoot every week on the same day. It’s so fun to look back and see how much she’s grown!! And it’s really cool because it’s almost like you can watch her develop her personality as she grows.
Eleanor is a doll! The rocker pose is precious and in time you will be able to take pictures of her sitting in it and rocking.
As for breastfeeding…I tried with my first and it never worked. With my second, I knew a lot more about what NOT to do. He turned one last week and we are still nursing in the morning, before afternoon nap, and before bed.
Breastfeeding is painful. I thought the pain would be gone by two weeks and was convinced that I was doing something wrong. A couple of my good friends told me a secret no lactation consultant ever bother to share with me. It will take your body time to adjust, sometimes just a couple weeks, for others a couple months. By month four everything clicked for us and overnight there was no pain or discomfort. The only thing I felt when he latched on was a gentle tugging.
You know your body and your child best, so do what will work for you! Don’t get discouraged. It will take time.
Best of luck to you both!
Congrats on your beautiful baby!
Breastfeeding is sooo hard in the beginning! The one thing that saved me: prescription cream. I wish I could remember the name of this wonder cream, but i know it was a concoction of various medicines. It was recommended to me by my lactation consultant (after I pulled a hamstring from clenching when my daughter latched-on).
The other item that saved me was the Moby Wrap. Once you get the hang of it, you can’t live without it! I wore my baby all day for 4 months straight.
Good luck and hang in there!!
Whoever told you breastfeeding doesn’t/shouldn’t hurt will probably claim that all of the baby weight will just “melt away” with nursing, too. It hurts, I bled, I nearly gave up. Then, at 6 weeks (with all 3 kids, no “experienced mommy discount” on that one) voila! everything came together and it suddenly seemed easy.
She’s gorgeous. Your photo plans sound great.
Man, Eva and I had a REALLY hard time with nursing. I mean, really hard time. I ended up pumping a lot and giving her a bottle, but since she was still getting breast milk, I didn’t really mind at all. I plan on trying to nurse when Owen gets here but also keeping a pump very handy and ready to use. I’d like to store up on breast milk especially because I’ll have classes, etc, and won’t be able to nurse all the time.
Plus, it does make nighttime feedings a lot easier, then the hubbie and you can alternate feedings so that you both get longer periods of rest. So, this is not a suck up at all, but seriously, I have yet to see a baby as cute as Eleanor is at this age. SERIOUSLY. I think my daughter is pretty gorgeous and was a lovely, pretty baby, but she had to grow into that. The first few weeks, she was definitely covered in the fine, dark hair that some babies get, splotchy skin, and wrinkly. Eleanor is SO cute.
Amen, to the commentor who said gel pads. Those things are made by God, I swear. I did also use the Lasinoh nipple cream or aquaphor to sooth soreness/dryness/cracks.
Breastfeeding is painful at first. That’s why I only nursed one breast per feeding. It gave a chance for the other to heal a few hours. We called it “toe curling pain” when they are that little and latch on. The pain only lasted about 10 seconds, so I counted to 10, took deep breaths and curled my toes. IT GETS EASIER! They get better at it, your body gets used to it, they feed less often… I urge you to keep it up. It won’t stay painful, I promise. And yes, I put cabbage leaves in my bra, too.
Oh and I agree with the others who suggested lanolin! I had tubes of Lansinoh EVERYWHERE!!! I slathered it on after every feeding and then covered with Lansinoh breast pads. That is what saved me from the bleeding nipples I got with my first! Plus the lanolin is a great lip balm. :)
Hi! I’m a new reader. Just wanted to tell you both of my babies have been FANTASTIC nursers from the start, but it was still really painful for me with my first. But only on ONE side. It was TERRIBLE for 7 WEEKS! I hung in there, and the pain just faded, and I nursed her for 15 months. My second baby also nursed great right away, and the same side started to get sore, but never got as bad as the first time. So there’s something to look forward to! I always hate when they say you’re doing it wrong if it hurts. That’s not necessarily true. My baby nursed the same way on both sides, and one side felt fine while the other was agonizing to nurse her on. But either way she was fat, healthy and happy! So keep it up! :)
I did the photo in a chair thing and then made a layout of it. You can see it here:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=161908
My suggestion is to take multiple monthly shots in different locations — in the end you’ll have more creative choices. For the final layout, I ended up cropping out most of the chair and focusing just on the baby. Have fun!
Thank you for posting pics of her – she’s so beautiful and I love reading posts like these :) Thanks again for sharing with us!!
You’re almost past the pain! Just keep at it. I promise you won’t be sorry. After a rough couple months (including cracks!!), I nursed my two girls for their first year. It really is worth the effort/pain in the beginning.
Eleanor is beautiful! Congrats!
I know how hard it is to get used to nursing. I had to have 4 kids before we got the hang of it! Please don’t give up! I wish I had not given up with my first two. I promise if you keep it up it WILL get easier. Hang in there, you are doing a great job!
I also second the nipple shield. LC’s will say bad idea but I would have quit with out it due to the very painful (yet correct latch) I used it until about 8 weeks with my son and just letting go of it now with my 2nd here at 7ish weeks. I am glad you love being a mom and are getting routine already at 3 weeks! Props to you and your family!
Oh, she is a beautiful little girl. Absolutely lovely! I nursed all 4 of my kids, who are all just about grown now, and didn’t have any troubles at all until the 3rd one. Oh, my gosh, it hurt to nurse him! I was lucky, though, since I knew that breastfeeding was convenient and good for the babies, and that I didn’t have problems with the first two. It took time, but my son and I got into a rhythm and nursing him no longer hurt at all.
People have suggested a swing, and I heartily agree. All of mine were babies who wanted to be held constantly. I’d swaddle them in blankets, put them in the swing and I’d have 15-30 minutes where I could lie down or catch up on a chore. A sling is a good idea, too.
Good luck! One day you’ll look back at these pictures, you’ll stare at your teen daughter, and wonder where the years went.
Cindy
Hi! I think that, after time, breastfeeding isn’t supposed to hurt, but you’re in the early stages, and it’s just going to. There’s such a misconception that because it’s natural, it should be easy. It’s hard! Also, remember that feeding, however you do it, is your decision :)
Also, have you considered a sling or wrap? I highly recommend the Moby Wrap or Sleepy Wrap for babies that just don’t want to be put down. They’re dad-friendly, too! I don’t have any experience with slings, but I just bought a Peanut Shell sling carrier for my next baby (due in July), and I’m excited to try it for those first few months.
She’s gorgeous! I’m glad everything has been a pretty easy transition for you :) Good luck with the breastfeeding! I’m sure it will get easier.
Oh, and your baby is absolutely beautiful! Sorry I forgot to mention that in my last comment :)
Your baby is beautiful. :) And that onesie is adorable!!! (“when two people…”)Where did you get it?
Regarding the breastfeeding, I agree with Jamie. Get a perscription for APNO cream. That is what mine was called (I live in the Boston area). We could only get it at certain pharmacies and they each have their own recipe. It is MUCH better than lanolin. It has medications in it to help soothe and toughen up your nipple at the same time. Don’t wait. Call your lactation consultant or OB/GYN nurse right now! It made my toe curling pain go away after a week or two. Good luck!
I see you have so much great advice already. Let me echo the sling idea – they’re so helpful! Lansinoh is great for the nipples, and it WILL get better. And a pre-emptive warning – at around 4 months old your milk will NOT dry up and go away. That’s when things really settle down and your breasts just won’t feel as full anymore but there’s plenty of milk still there. I just hear so many stories of women who quit at 4 months that I feel the need to head people off at the pass now. :) Oh, and she is GORGEOUS. Such a pretty, pretty girl!
she’s so beautiful!!!
Also, I know a bunch of people have said this but I’ve NEVER heard someone say breastfeeding doesn’t hurt. I’ve heard it’s a bonding experience, but incredibly painful.
Breastfeeding was very difficult and painful for me as well; I too cried during latch-on at times. My lactation consultant said that I was doing everything right, and everything I had read said it shouldn’t hurt. Well, I found that for me, and some other moms, it does hurt in the beginning. I noticed the pain was less after one month, and went away completely after five weeks. I continued nursing until 15 months, and the last fourteen months were the joyful experience I wanted them to be.
Hang in there; it will get easier.
Your little one is lovely.
I have a friend that says…”if breastfeeding is suppose to be so easy…why do they have classes & consultants?” Good luck & hang in there, as a bizillion people have already told you – it gets easier!!
awww! she’s so cute! i’m glad you’ve been so happy taking care of her these past three weeks. reading that made me smile. i’ve known A LOT of women who say that breastfeeding was hard and painful, and they’ve given up. so don’t feel inadequate at all! you’re doing a great job, and it sounds like you’re a wonderful mother. :)
Everything you described sounds normal compared to what I went through with my daughter so hang in there. The breastfeeding does get easier and less painful by the day. I did the same photo thing with my daughter for the first twelve months. We used a Gund Blankie Teddy Bear in every picture and I made a little scrapbook with a description that I wrote for that month of our lives. I am glad I did it too! Have fun :-)
-Desiree
Dreamy-looking baby girl. Absolutely adorable.
I vote the Eames chair as well.
She is beautiful!
Make sure you/she don’t have thrush. I had it while nursing my first daughter and we had it for 3 months before we realized what was going on. So, so painful. She never showed any signs though.
She is just beautiful! I love the picture idea, a friend of mine did this with her son & a stuffed animal. I wish I would have stuck to it for mine!
BF seems like such an easy natural thing, but it can be difficult! Hang in there either way you will work out what is best for you.
whoever said breastfeeding shouldn’t be painful has never breastfed! hang in there. it took me up until 6 weeks to even feel like we were doing it right – and yes – check for thrush! ouch! try taking an ibuprofren a bit before you know you’ll be feeding that helps a bit, too.
she’s lovely and you’re doing a great job. once it stops hurting you’ll be so thankful you stuck it out…
much mama love, lindsay
How about a nipple shield for nursing? It saved my life!
you’re a lucky lady to have such a beautiful girl. i don’t know anything about caring for a baby, but i wish you all the best.
Cutest.baby.ever. I LOVE the idea of taking a picture of her in the same chair – I can even imagine it going into teenage years. I love it. It not only tracks growth but also shows the timelessness of great design.
Kudos to you and your efforts with nursing. I don’t have any kids yet but I have heard it can be very painful at times. I’m sure it will get better for you. What a wonderful way to bond with your baby. It’s amazing to see how quickly a routine can develop, glad to hear you are adjusting well. I love the idea of the one month pictures. I think it will be neat to see when she grows from lying in the chair to sitting in it.
Take care,
Lisa
Precious baby girl!! Love and cuddle her as long as you can! My little girl is 16 weeks now…and I have been taking a picture of her every Sunday (the day she was born) in the same chair. Its amazing how quickly they change. 16 weeks of pictures already shows crazy change! I’ve only forgotten to take the picture 1 time…but took it the next day…so I don’t think it will matter!
I feel your pain with the breastfeeding. I have a five month old daughter, and I breastfed for only five weeks, then switched to pumping, which I did for four months. It was terribly difficult to give it up but it felt so much better in the end. And knowing that I truly gave it my all, and that my baby would still be getting the best nutrition through formula, was comforting. I think breastfeeding is the one part of having a baby that everyone underestimates. I think it’s terrible for every person at one point or another. And the best thing is – I hear it doesn’t get easier with subsequent children! Good luck! Eleanor is a doll!
you are in need of soothies gel pads for your pain. They were a life saver for me and if you haven’t gone to a lactation group yet they are great. It is so nice to just talk to other mom’s and hear about all the boob issues people have out there in the world of breast feeding. Good luck and if one day you decided that breast feeding is taking away from the shear joy of new motherhood don’t worry about throwing in the towel. I also loved the Dr. Sears breast feeding book for both great advice and some totally impractical and hysterical breast feeding scenarios. best wishes and your baby is precious.
Another vote for the Eames chair – can you see a shot of her on her 16th birthday, all long limbs and hair, sitting sideways in the chair holding that first photo of herself?
So many people have already weighed in on the tender nipples and ther pitfalls of early breastfeeding that I won’t repeat their good advice, except to say that there wouldn’t have been such a need for wet nurses in antiquity if breastfeeding had ever been universally easy or foolproof. Hopefully, it will gradually get less painful, but if not and you have to give it up and pump to bottle feed instead, don’t beat yourself up. It happens.
As to the sleeping only in arms, my oldest niece was like that, and we found that she would sleep in the baby carrier (the one that fits in the car seat), as another poster previously suggested. She seemed to like the squishy sides up surrounding her and the harness holding her in. Take her out, and she was instantly awake. She slept in the baby carrier during the day when she was sleepy until she was about nine months (and awake and active much more during the day) and the carrier worked well for our family.
She is a lovely baby.
I did that those types of photographs and we treasure them.
You’re in Chicago the home of La Leche League, go to a meeting for some breastfeeing suppport!
such cute pictures! you’re definitely not alone on the nursing thing. i remember having trouble with both of my babies, but especially the second one. it hurt for a long, long time, and i was constantly worried about him eating enough, how much it hurt me, how he refused to eat sometimes. little babies are such a mystery! it does get easier though.
sometimes, especially with your first baby, it’s easy to think, “we’re never going to get through this phase!” or “this is always going to hurt!” but of course the time will go by quickly, she’ll be eating solids and sleeping completely through the night before you know it. of course then there will be other delightful and difficult challenges to get through…
you can do it!
She’s beautiful and it sounds like you are adjusting nicely. I cried every time my daughter latched on for 3 months. I worked through it and then it was much better and I nursed her happily until she was 19 months old. Nursing does hurt, it’s not all sunshine and roses, but it does get better. Hugs!
I think that the LC’s all tell us it SHOULDN’T hurt to nurse so they don’t want to scare new breastfeeding moms away from even trying. But EVERY single mom I’ve ever met agrees with me. It HURTS for AT LEAST the first few weeks. Mine lasted 6 weeks. It didn’t hurt after the initial latch on but man I sucked in my breath every time my son latched on!!
It gets better and after my first 6 weeks the whole bonding during nursing thing REALLY took off!! He’s 21 months and still nurses before going to bed and it is the sweetest moment of my day!
Enjoy your precious bundle!
Yes, nursing’s painful at first, but give it just a couple more weeks. After a year, you don’t even remember the pain.
On the point of taking a photo…please do it!! For my son, I took a picture of him every “month” birthday with a teddy bear he received on the day he was born. I put it all together in a collage for his first birthday. It was amazing to see the transformation. I highly recommend doing this!!!
Hi Nicole,
I don’t know if my two cents worth will matter after so many comments, but I’m going to offer it anyway, because when I nursed my first son I was in the same boat you are. The pain was absolutely excruciating. I had a friend tell me to give it three months, and it was almost exactly three months when it stopped hurting. When my second came along I knew enough to know that I wasn’t supposed to be in that much pain, so I too met with a LC. What she told me helped within days. She told me to touch his lips with my finger until he stuck his tongue out, and then attach him. Evidently that was what was needed. You may want to give it a try.
Fair skin + breast feeding = six weeks of pain. You’re halfway through!
Beautiful pics :)
Yes – every month in the Eames chair! What a great way to document!
i totally love the month by month photo idea. and that chair is perfect!! <3
Stick to the breastfeeding, please! Eleanor deserves it. As long as it doesn’t make you crazy, please nurse at least 6 months. My nipple cracked and bled for 6 weeks (I had to pump to keep up the milk supply) and I had many other problems (milk blisters, too much milk, too little milk, leaking nipples, blocked ducts, painful let down, painful areola, etc) but I kept going, knowing how much benefits my baby would get. Funnily, while painful, I just love to be able to nurse her. Finally at 4 months(!) all the problems were gone and it became really easy! I’m still breastfeeding now at 8 months (plan to do it for 1 year). Good luck!
nursing DOES hurt. it did with all three of my kids. don’t give up. it gets easier.
Your daughter is adorable!
I just want to say I know how you feel with breastfeeding hurting. My daughter is now 16 months old but the first month or so, it was definitely painful. The LC’s told me I was doing everything right so that made me feel much better. I bit down and delt with the pain. I’d cry a lot of the time because it hurt so bad, but I thought about how much healthier it was for her so I think that’s what kept me going.
Anyway, that’s my story, I hope the best for you!
hope the nursing smooths out fast – nursing baby #1 was really painful for me, too, but got better as he got older
she’s beautiful and I’m so glad you’re enjoying her! great idea for the photos!
I’m not reading all the comments as I’m bouncing a 4 month old, and it’s probably already been said, but the people who say nursing shouldn’t hurt are LIARS. I wish they’d stop saying that and instead say: Nursing hurts like a BANSHEE for the first few weeks. And after that? It’s FABULOUS.
I’m nursing my fourth child, Nicole and every single time it hurt like hell for the first few weeks. But if your latch is correct it WILL get better. I highly recommend ditching Lansinoh if that’s what you’re using and get Nipple Butter from Earth Mama Angel Baby to soothe your chomped on nips until things start feeling better.
Try to hang in there, it does get better, painless, and wonderful.
xo
Looks like everyone is giving nursing advice. My nipples were incredibly cracked and bled a lot when I first started nursing. And it was so painful. None of the creams worked, but I found that the best healing medicine for my nips was the breast milk itself. I just rubbed a little on after I was done feeding Mae or whenever I needed it. TMI, I know, but it really really helped!
HI Nicole!
Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that you’re not alone with the breastfeeding difficulty. I had a horribly difficult time with all three kids (and I felt so guilty that something so “natural” was so painful for me). I ended up pumping (and then bottle feeding my milk).
Sounds like things are getting better for you but I wanted you to know that I had trouble too!
Leslie
Hi,
Just wanted to make a suggestion about breastfeeding since I had the same exact problem you are having (my daughter was born April 4th). Medela makes nipple shields – bpa free covers that go over your nipple- and makes feeding baby pain free and latch on easy peasy.
You can find them at Target and probably any baby store.
I was about to give up before I discovered these and was dreading every feeding…now I’m enjoying it:)
Eleanor is a beauty!!
Good Luck!!
she’s adorable! that face is the absolute sweetest.
where did you get that fabulous “when two people love each other..” onesie? my brother and sister-in-law are having a baby in a few months and it’d be the perfect gift for their upcoming baby shower. :)
The monthly photo is a great idea. A friend did just that, in the rocking chair, and beside the baby put a scrapbooked page with a large number representing the baby’s age in months. It was a great thing to have in the baby’s first year album and you really get to see how much they grow in the first year :)
Dude, breastfeeding was soooooooooooo hard for me at first that my baby lost weight and got jaundiced! But you do eventually get the hang of it, and it is so fabulously conveniently heavenly wonderful, I urge you not to give up on it! We used nipple shields for about a month (until Isabelle and I got used to each other) and that really, really helped. So did the cream, so did expressing/pumping and so did sheer persistence. Get some good movies to watch while you nurse… those hour-long sessions in the beginning will eventually drop to five minutes.
And then she got teeth early and started biting.
Gaah, taking a photo of her every month in the same setting is such a good idea! I wish I’d thought of it! We take one photo every day, but it’s a lot to sift through on the back end…
Hey,
I’m not a mom yet but I do have quiet a few friends who are and from them I’ve learned a lot. From this I’ve learned that there are such things as nipple guards. They’re like the top of a nursing bottle that you slip over your nipple to protect you from pain, cracking, and eventually bleeding. My friend who’s a first time mom asked her nurse if she could use them past the first week and they assured her that she could use them as long as she’d like. I would maybe ask your nurse about this option.
Hope that’s helpful!
So glad to hear that you are doing well! Nursing is hard and painful at first but I promise, it does get better. Good for you for sticking it out!
Eleanor is gorgeous. Thanks for updating us!
I love that idea! The Eames chair would be sweet!
I have been lurking for a few weeks but had to comment on your latest post because it’s a huge pet peeve of mine. Nursing hurts A LOT for most women (every one I’ve ever talked to) for the first few weeks. With my first son (now almost 3) it was about 6 weeks, with my second (now 15 mo) it was about 3 weeks. If you’ve talked to the LC and you’re doing everything right, hang in there. You’re both learning, your nipples are getting desensitized and toughened up, and she’s growing – eventually her mouth will get bigger and she’ll get better at a nice big latch.
I love your photo idea – I wish I had done it with the boys. And, of course, Eleanor is beautiful! I love the name and those chunky little hands and cheeks are too cute on a tiny baby like that. She must be getting some good milk!
She is a beauty! I had the same experience with breastfeeding (meeting w/ LC’s and painful, but correct latch). It was strange, but it seemed like overnight my little girl just figured out how to nurse. It is second nature to me and to her. It morphed from a painful experience to a wonderful, rewarding experience. Good Luck – but remember you are a good mom, breastfeeding or not :)
Just want to second what others have said about breastfeeding – while it’s natural, it’s not always easy. Especially at the beginning. I had the same experience as you, but she & I got the hang of it eventually. And then feeding her became such a sweet time, little moments of quietness & peace to share together. Good luck! And if for some reason, breastfeeding doesn’t work out for you, you gave it a shot & that’s what matters.
And she’s absolutely beautiful!
she is beautiful!! congratulations! i will agree with you that nursing is so difficult and frustrating in the beginning. i wanted to quit on day 4 because it was so painful. i ended up trying it with a nipple shield (you can buy them at target or babies r us) and it saved my nipples!! and saved me from quitting….i ended up breastfeeding for 8 months. definitely try out the nipple shield if you ever have one of those “i quit” moments :) and don’t worry, you are completely normal – breastfeeding is hard for everyone in the beginning. and i have never met anyone who said it didn’t hurt at first. good luck!
Breastfeeding hurts! I did it for a year. I find it really frustrating when people say breastfeeding hurts only when you are not doing it right. Not true! The good news is that it only hurts for the first few months. After that, it is soooo much easier than formula.
Must know where you got that adorable “When Two People” onesie.
Oh wait…never mind. I found it (or one VERY similar) on Etsy, of course, but it is sold out. :-(
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20598740
YES TOE CURLING PAIN, about sums it up!!! keep at it. She’s gorgeous.
She’s the sweetest little thing I think I’ve ever seen.
And she definitely looks adorable in that chair. That’s a sweet idea, taking a picture in that chair.
My mom has all of my school pictures all over the house, and it is kind of fun seeing how you’ve grown. ^.^
Your little girl is just beautiful!!! Keep going with the breastfeeding, honestly it gets so much easier, I couldn’t believe how hard and painful it was for the first month or so, I used to cry too and dreaded it, I thought it was just me till I joined a Mothers’ Group and lots of the girls were saying they had the same problems at first but then it was fine. And they were right, after a month or so, my son got the hang of latching on properly, and it was the loveliest experience, he used to stop breastfeedfing occasionally just to look up at me and smile and then go back to it, as if to say thank you. Then after he would fall fast asleep and use me as a pillow, the loveliest thing in the world.
I have never commented on your blog before and not that I am going to say anything that hasn’t been said, but I just had to say hang in there too!! Nursing is challenging in the beginning and takes time to adjust. My advice, use lanolin (Lansinoh brand is great) after EVERY nursing session and also if you pump. In addition, you HAVE to get SOOTHIES gel pads and put them in the fridge – they are a godsend. Definitely buy 2 at a time so you never run out! I think i used them for the first month or more. And as so many other moms have said, it does get easier, as in less painful. Though sure to be other challenges along the way. Always remember this – NEVER QUIT ON A BAD DAY!! Nursing has been the most rewarding experience for me and I am so happy that tomorrow I will hit my goal of nursing my daughter for a year. I enjoy it so much that I’m not sure when we’ll quit. Good luck and just take it 1 day, 1 nursing session at a time – that’s what I did!
I haven’t read any of the other comments, but here are my thoughts. First, I like both ideas. One picture of her each month in the rocker, one with a certain object. Both will be valuable. My son died in a car wreck at the age of 24, I would love the pictures and someday so will you regardless of the circumstances. Especially if the object is UNIQUE. My daughter is 19 and I would love the same pictures of her!! SECOND nursing is very dependant on the baby. My son ~ easy. My daughter ~ not easy. Even the nurses in the hospital called her a “piranha” (which I thought amusing at the time) and my pediatrician told my nine year old son “Keep the pacifier in her mouth at all times” which I found AMAZING since I thought it was distained. She did have HICKIES on her own arms from where she sucked! So, I gave up nursing (which I LOVED with my first child and was SO successful) and went to formula after 6 weeks. Listen to your mother and your own heart and it WILL be your guide on all that is to come….
Cheryl Ann
No one told me how difficult breastfeeding would be either. Of course after, everyone always says, “oh, me too!” Hang in there. Take it one day at a time and I promise, it will get easier. Those days that you’re miserable, sore, and cracked are short lived. Really. Even though it really doesn’t feel like it at the time. You and she will find your groove.
I also had lots of pain nursing. I’d have tears streaming down my face during the process. I constantly read that “nursing shouldn’t hurt”, but I’m here to tell you: it hurts. It will hurt for awhile. It took me SEVEN WEEKS before it stopped hurting. After that, it was a joy. Before that, a nightmare. Do it as long as you can, but don’t kill yourself over it. One thing I did was pump instead of nurse to give myself some time to heal. She started drinking breast milk from a bottle at only three weeks and she had no problems switching back and forth. I wound up nursing for the first year of her life, and I’m so glad I stuck to it until it stopped hurting. Good luck!
She is so beautiful! love the pictures :) I can’t tell you anything about breastfeeding because I don’t have kids, BUT I had 3 “news mamas” friends and saw those girls crying for the pain. They said is not easy but always get better ;)
I also had a friend that took her baby’s picture for all of her preschool life at exactly the time of her birth each month, no matter where they were. Interesting idea, worthy of effort.
Cheryl Ann
Breastfeeding was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’d heard it’d be a little uncomfortable to somewhat painful for the first couple weeks. But after weeks of feeling like shards of glass were tearing up my boobs, I finally realized it shouldn’t hurt THAT much. I met with several lactation consultants of varying degrees of militancy to no avail. According to them, I was a pro and my son, August, was a natural. It seemed I was doomed to many months of toe-curling pain until my fellow new mama friend told me about thrush, a yeast infection. Some symptoms include excruciating pain (check!) and white stuff in your babe’s mouth. I never saw any yeast, but the pain was enough reason for me to discuss it with my doctor. She wrote me a prescription, and the next day, NO PAIN. I kid you not. Look into it. Good luck. And Eleanor is beautiful!!
As Kelly mentioned, make sure that you don’t have breast thrush as its very painful, and hard to get rid of.
Hi Nicole
I love the photo project idea!
My mom did the same thing with my little brother when he was born, and shot him every month sitting in a chair holding a stuffed animal. The photos are absolutely adorable, and it’s nice to have a way to see them grow up like that :)
What about an item that symbolizes Mom and Dad? Or just one? NOT a baby thing….i.e. something pink or something that represents Brandon?
Oh Momma, she’s GORGEOUS! Motherhood seems to be agreeing with you quite nicely. Now if only she could hurry up and grow into that mouth of hers…
An item that when she is 16 or 18 she might think is COOL…
btw, I vote every day….
I vote Eames rocker!
And, with the crying if she isn’t being held, you need to break her of that habit before it’s too late. It’s really hard to do so, but you really need to let her cry it out. She will learn to sooth herself and be a much happier, independent baby.
Oh, she is gorgeous. I miss those tiny little baby days.
Your breastfeeding experience thus far sounds like mine. What worked for me: 1) Nipple shield when the pain was too much – used on and off for about 4-5 weeks; 2) Gel pads; 3) Having the LC validate that I was doing it “right” and that baby would grow into it (which she did around 5-6 weeks); 4) Knowing I would still be a great mom whenever I decided to switch to bottles. Worked for 13 months!
I had absolutely painful experience with breastfeeding, so I happily turned to using a Medela pump and then feeding my son the milk out of a bottle. I still felt like I was giving him what his little body needed, minus the pain on my end. Much easier to keep track of the amounts too. You’re doing wonderfully, and you have a gorgeous little girl. Thank you for the constant inspiration you are, as an amazingly creative lady and a spunky mom!
Sounds like you are doing everything right. Don’t be afraid to let her fuss. My doctor always told me that a baby never died from crying too much. That always made me feel a little better. I always tried to put mine to sleep, when they were a little older of course, awake. It seemed to help them figure out how to go back to sleep on their own. She’s just a doll baby!
I love the Eames chair idea! I wish I had done something similar. I have an 11 month old (turns 1 in about 3 weeks) and sometimes I forget how she looked/smelled, etc as a tiny baby – she’s turning into such a little girl now. Just enjoy every day. And don’t stress about the breastfeeding, if it works it works, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. Too many people put too much stress on new moms and it just isn’t fair. Sounds like I was in the minority as I had no issues except for a blocked milk duct one time – my kid was a champ eater (which is also why I stopped breastfeeding when she was 6 months – we’ll just say my husband always refered to our daughter as a “violent eater” – which was fine until the teeth came in – OUCH).
Anyway, she is beautiful and remember everyone has and opinion, but do what feels right for you and your family!
She looks really happy and content. But I feel your pain, both from the feeding and from not putting her down. My daughter absolutely refused to sleep anywhere but my or my husband’s chest until she was about 3 months old. It was sweet, and I loved the closeness, but it was really tiring. As for breastfeeding, I lasted exactly 3 days because I couldn’t take the pain, so I commend you for continuing through it.
And like so many others, I vote for the Eames chair. You won’t misplace it, and it’s likely to be in the family until Eleanor grows up, and probably longer :)
Oh my gosh, she is absolutely beautiful! You two definitely “made something lovely.” :o)
Oh she’s just so sweet. Ha to sahre the phote with my hubby(a proud grampa)who was sitting here watching the ballgame. He said “aw, she’s pretty”. Enjoy this quiet peaceful time, her cries will grow louder, but your love for her will grow stronger each day as she does. This time with her is so special that you will always cherish it. Take LOTS of pictures and video.
love,
Vonnie
Must be tired, my spelling stinks tonight.
Nursing was SO hard for me with my first and I thought about quitting everyday. Things got easier and with my second baby I knew the hardest time would pass. But it is painful. All remember is curling my toes so tight and gritting my teeth every time my son would latch on. It does get easier. And you’ll be so glad (for so many reasons) you stuck to it. Thanks for sharing. I love your blog.
…Oh and…my vote is for the Eames chair too. ;)
You are so creative, of course that’s an amazing photo project, she is lucky that you are so thoughtful. I can not believe it has been 3 weeks already…
I did the photo project with my son. I put in a chair with a stuffed bear next to him. It was so neat to see how he grew every month.
Nicole! You are amazing, thanks for posting this. All I’m going to say is; do not give up breastfeeding. It is absolute hell for the first month, each and every feeding is absolute leg kicking, toe wiggling torture! but when it stops hurting it’s amazing and it WILL stop hurting. My neighbor who had 4 kids told me “if you want to, you can” and that’s what kept me going.
For the monthly photos; you need to put her age in the photo somehow, because you’ll get confused when you have other kids and you look back. You can make a pretty sign for her to hold every month that says how many months she is.
Congratulations again!!!
You have such a lovely daughter :)
Get in as many snuggles as you can! My little girl (9 months) doesn’t like to be held to fall asleep any longer and I miss those close, quiet snuggly moments dearly! I remember wishing I could “get things done” when she was sleeping ON me in those early weeks, but now I’m glad I let the chores pile up and didn’t bother with a shower EVERY day simply for the snuggles! SO worth it!
I also remember those early weeks of nursing that were accompanied by sweat, blood and tears … but DO try to stick with it – it gets SO much easier in just a short time. Trust yourself and your body – you were MADE for this! There are a lot of people rooting for you (excuse the pun!) and just by the # of comments on this one post, a lot of great advice to sift through!
What saved me in those early weeks:
* APNO Cream (All Purpose Nipple Ointment) Google it. Then get it prescribed. It’s safe and it was AMAZING. I used it for one week and never needed it again – but it got me through the worst part of my nipples “toughening up”.
* A Breastfeeding-specific Mom’s group. La Leche League or other local nursing groups. I had a “support mom” through my local group and I had her home # and could call her whenever I had questions or concerns. Like when we were dealing with a nasty bout of thrush; when my daughter didn’t poop for 10 days (I didn’t know that could be NORMAL for breastfed babies!?!?); etc. etc. etc.
Sometimes just hearing that you’re doing something RIGHT helps and sometimes just being able to TELL someone you’re doing something right helps! You’re a new, nursing mom. Already a super-mom, whether you feel like one or not :)
Blessings and may the sweet moments and sound sleep continue!
ohhhhhh sweetie,
How lucky you are to be relishing this special time with your very first baby. I have to admit that I am a bit jealous since my babies are 16 and almost 19 yrs. old!. People would tell me that this time would go by fast but I didn’t believe it. It really really does. I love the photo of Eleanor on your Eames rocker. You have already gotten a lot of valuable advice so I’ll just simply say Enjoy. Looking back on this time someday will make you realize how precious it is!
Gwen
hey nicole…she is a SUPER DUPER CUTIE! the eames chair is a wonderful idea…ive taken monthly pictures of my son since birth..and he is now 5…some months when i look back..he doesn’t look like has changed a bit and then all of a sudden ill look at a picture and wonder where all the time went!..it will be a wonderful project..mostly for you! lol…when she is about 4 years old and saying “i can do it myself” you’ll want her back in baby form! lol
about the breastfeeding..i TOTALLY agree with the others when they said lanolin…i honestly didn’t want to “toughen” my nipples (wow..that sounded really crazy lol)..but another commenter said that..i want it to be a natural progression…the lanolin really helped…my son never ever minded the taste of it..and omg was it soothing..like you and the others i was in pain for the first few weeks only because “he wasn’t doing it correctly” i was told that by one of my lactation specialist…but once he latched on..it was a dream…he was and still is my perfect little blessing!
and btw…holding her…KEEP HOLDING HER…i probably held my son from sun up to sun down! i got a LOT of lip service from my mother and sisters about it…but it never stopped me..and besides…who wants a crying baby??! i didn’t…he rarely cried…and it made our bonding time soo much sweeter :)
that was super lengthy..lol sorry…
First, good for you for sticking with nursing despite the difficulties. It does get better. Second, darling picture of Eleanor in the rocker. Just one little bit of food for thought (that comes from the mom of a VERY busy almost 11 month old). I do every month pics with my son and I take them with an object. I have found that once he became mobile, it is darn near impossible to get him to sit still in a chair long enough to get his picture as the first thing he wants to do once I set him down is take a nose dive off of the seat. Just a little something to consider before choosing the Eames rocker for your location (although she does look stinking adorable in it right now). :o)
She is just gorgeous. Feeding was the hardest part for me.
Another lurker de-lurking to say that Eleanor is gorgeous. Nursing is painful at the start. It took me about 6 weeks to be comfortable. After that it was easy-peasy and I nursed my first son for 20 months and my second for 15. Please know that it will get easier and non-painful.
Beautiful! One thing that REALLY helped my breastfeeding career was the Jack Newman medicated nipple cream. It’s worth it’s weight in gold and saved me from quitting when I was in so much pain I was in tears.
:)
I hope all goes well and that feeding soon becomes a breeze — it took us about 3 months to get REALLY good at it :)
I had a similar experience when we first started breastfeeding because I had flat nipples (plus new mamas are using them–for their intended purpose anyway–for the first time ever!)… after a few weeks the pain subsided and 15 months later we’re still breastfeeding up a storm.
I am so glad the transition has been smooth for you. That really is amazing!
Hope the breastfeeding gets easier and easier…
i love the idea of the Eames chair photos…you can continue once she sits up…all the way until you shoot a photo of her holding her baby!! how cool would that be?
breast feeding: i hear you sista. it was super hard for me too. but i was determined to stick with it. get some good cream and remember – this is both of your first times doing this – and there is a learning curve. but once you get past it (and really -those days are distant memories now) – it’s SUCH a beautiful thing on so many levels. my son is 14 mo old and though he only nurses about 3-4 times a day now – they are some of my most precious times with him(sometimes sweet, sometimes goofy, sometimes sleepy, sometimes wide awake…and sometimes i read US weekly – ha!).
warmest wishes for it to get better soon. i’d say it took 4-6 weeks for me….
NIPPLE SHIELDS!!! They are a MUST if it’s painful for the latching and nursing. I believe Medela makes them, and they look strangely like clear pasties :) They will get you through until she grows into her high palate. I totally understand your pain, and I have yet to forget the pain I had before the shields…two years later, I say this!! Seriously, life, er, nipple saver! Good luck and congrats! She’s gorgeous!!
It does hurt! A lot! I was never so happy as when, at 6 weeks, my doctor looked at me and said, “Why don’t you quit? It won’t hurt her at all.” I felt like I had been freed! Good luck with all of it, whether you persist or quit. She is certainly a beautiful little baby!
Congrats!!!! I found nursing so painful and difficult both times. The first time I made it to 3 months and felt terribly guilty for giving up. The second time, perhaps two months but less guilt. We all just doing our best and you are doing great. What a beautiful little angel you have.
My baby is five months old and I am sorry to say that he still wakes up if you put him down when he is asleep! However, when he was a bit older than three weeks, he got better and being put in his cot sleepy and falling asleep on his own, so I would say hang in there! I hope you don’t mind all the advice! I’m sure lots of other comments have said this, but it does hurt! I’m still breastfeeding now, but at first my nipple were sooooo sore and then he started to want a feed every hour and I was ready to quit! Luckily I got a cream for my nipples, a dummy for the baby and my nipples recovered! Don’t feel quilty if you do stop. The nurses told me that any amount of breast feeding is better than none. She’s your baby. Regardless of all the advice in the world, you need to do what is right for the both of you. Happy mum equals happy baby!
PS. I like the chair idea too. :)
I also used the nipple shields until my daughter (91/2 months) was about 5 months. I WAS IN TEARS every time she nursed and one of my very best friends told me to just give it a month and it will get better… not to give up. It got better after about 2 :) But I am still nursing her today and it seems to be the best thing for her. She is a healthy happy baby and the bonding experience is amazing. My supply is starting to dwindle and I think she is weaning herself but Just the sound of the word “formula” freaks me out… they should have called it “familk” or something not so scientific sounding.
We have one of those medicine balls, and I would sit on it with Adella and gently bounce her back to sleep, it was the only thing that worked and I highly recommend them, you get a little work out in as well.
So adorable! Hang in there with the nursing if you can. It was really painful for me during the first 3-4 weeks and it took a full 8 weeks before it started to get easier in general. I just weaned my son at 13 months, and it was hard work but so worth it! I also did a similar photo project, and I love those photos so much! Not only can you see how he grew, but you can really see his emerging personality with each monthly photo. Have fun and enjoy!
Nicole you are so much like I was with my first child! Keep up the effort – feeding is difficult for at least the first month but well worth it eventually.
Photo project sounds great!
I am delurking to say that I completely understand about the nursing. Pumping is always good, and the nipple shields are great. We used to feed my son (now 9.5 years old) with a formula tube taped to our pinky fingers. It does get easier, but don’t beat yourself up about it. You are obliviously a great mom. Good luck to you.
I say use the eames rocker. It sorta resembles a belly…
Breast feeding is difficult for most I’d say. We just don’t talk about it much – thankfully that’s changing.
If you have any issues with over-supply please message me. I found a natural cure through a random nurse. I couldn’t find help anywhere else… it totally saved my life! (or at least our breastfeeding partnership!)
As far as breastfeeding goes, I am having a baby in September, and my mom, who birthed and breastfed 5 babies, has already been giving me advice. You say it shouldn’t hurt, but my mom (and some books I’ve read) said that it will hurt for the first 6 weeks or so and that is normal. You just have to be tough and make it through. She also said to resist the urge to pump even if you’re feeling full, because emptying the breast just triggers it to produce more milk. Let the baby set the schedule, she says. I plan on feeding from the breast exclusively, if I can, because if you pump and feed the baby breast milk from a bottle, even though they are getting more nutrients than they would from formula, the artificial nipple will just make it harder for them to learn how to nurse on a breast properly, because they are two completely different ways of sucking. Milk will flow faster from a bottle too, which will make the baby frustrated at the breast when they have to work a little harder.
Sorry if that was TMI or just annoying coming from someone who has never had a baby or nursed. I’m sure I will be coming back here for encouragement myself in a few months! Eleanor is so cute; I’m glad you have the time to enjoy her.
The pictures are just precious. Do the best you can with the breast feeding and then don’t beat yourself up over it. That is not the deciding factor as to whether or not you are a good mother. I know many wonderful mothers who just couldn’t do it. Also, I love the rocker idea. She looks very content there.
Charla
I’m due with our first at the end of June and have been reading up on Attachment Parenting by Dr. Sears. His theory on babies wanting to be held all of the time is that they go from the womb, where they’re “held” all of the time, to the outside world where they’re not. He surmises that they need to make a slow transition into this and highly recommends baby wearing with a sling or wrap. We’re going to try it out to see how it works.
Really good picture you got here. I really love it. It really makes me smile while looking at it. It feels like I am looking to an innocent angel.
I can’t relate to the Mommy issues but I vote for the Eames rocker!
Hang in there my dear! Nursing can be so tough at first, but it DOES get better. I am sure all this advice has been given by your lactation nurse but just feed her regularly so you don’t get engorged and use nipple shields and lanolin and before you know it, your little sweetheart will be nursing like a champ and you won’t even feel it! Thanks for sharing the pictures of her with us! xoxox Stay hydrated and rest up new Mama!
She is just precious!! And I love the yellow onesy – what a hilarious and adorable saying! Congrats again on your adorable little girl :)
Oh I forgot to mention: have you heard of the “Slumber Bear”? My cousin’s baby was having a terrible time sleeping, so I bought her one of these bears in hopes that it would lull her to sleep. Inside the bear is a little audio box that plays “inside the womb” heartbeat sounds whenever the baby starts moving around. My cousin took the device out of the bear and strapped it to the crib. She said that the audio box sounds lull the baby back to sleep and since they beganusing it, the baby has been sleeping soundly through the night!
Here is a link to the Slumber Bear at Target:
http://www.target.com/dp/B0006M1B0K/sr=1-1/qid=1242909773/ref=sr_fkmr_txt_1_1/180-7485997-3332527?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Asleepytime%20bear&page=1
I hope it helps :)
Oh, hang in there with the nursing thing! It took me around 2 months to get the hang of it (with twins if you can imagine) but once we found our groove, it was the ultimate fast food with no bottles to clean or pack! But yeah, it took some time. So enjoying your pictures!
Eleanor is the sweetest thing!
I can only encourage you in taking hundreds and thousands of pictures of your little girl!
Both my Mom and Dad took pictures of me and my brothers at every opportunity. These days I’m making a childhood-pix-collage of the three of us for my brother’s b-day. It’s so much fun looking through that old stuff and I’m sure my brother will love the present.
So, what I’m trying to say is: That idea of yours is great!
And since you’re such a great photographer you should print these pictures out. Digital photography sometimes keeps us from taking the time to really look and enjoy the photos we took!
Greetings from Germany!
We got our son an Eames rocker for his 1st b day and photgraph him every year in it! Hang in there with breast feeding, I thought it was way harder than labor with all my 3 kids
I love the picture idea (and your blog). I think I am going to copy you, too bad by new little one is almost 3 months. I think I am going to lay her on our Eames rocker today!
Hang in there with the nursing, my baby girl is sitting here nursing right now. It is definitely not as easy as they say. If you are having pain at the beginning of nursing you could also try pumping for a couple of minutes first. Then your milk will have started to let down so the baby gets milk right away. The worst part of nursing for me was the 6 week and 3 month growth spurt (with my first baby). I thought about giving up lots of time but made it for 10 months with my son.
I also recommend the baby wearing. We have a sling for quick trips out and a moby wrap for longer wearing periods. The moby wrap keeps the baby closer and tighter which makes it easier to move around. It takes a little practice but once you get the hang of it works really well.
Good luck!
Hi Nicole,
First of all, I just wanted to say that I love your blog. I check it almost every day, but this is my first post.
I didn’t read through the 170+ other comments to see if others already made these suggestions, but as the mother of two (a 3yo and a 1yo) I’ve been where you are right now and thought I’d offer a few things that were helpful to me:
1. Nursing – it hurts at first. Don’t let anyone tell you it shouldn’t. But, it shouldn’t hurt so bad you cry, and the high palette might be the explanation. If your health insurance covers it, I highly recommend looking around for an outpatient lactation consultant. We have a great one in the Boston area that all my friends and I have used. You might have someone similar near you? Sometimes you have to try more than one to find a good fit.
2. Sleeping on you – I had this same problem with my first daughter, and because I was a first-time parent and sleep deprived, I let her sleep on me. Which was great at first, until she got bigger and/or I needed to do something else while she slept. I highly recommend the Miracle Blanket. It it awesome! And you should be able to hold her wrapped in it until she falls asleep, and then put her down and have some time to yourself! (www.miracleblanket.com)
3. I saw someone else suggested this already too…but I highly recommend a sign posted in the pics with at least Eleanor’s age on it (“I’m 1 month old today”). It’s so fun to look back at when they’re older.
Good luck!
Your girl is so beautiful…and I love the idea of taking her photo in the rocker. I have a friend who did something similar and she put a shirt on her child with a number that represented the age of her at each photo…2 months had a 2 on the t-shirt, 3 months had a 3 etc, so she would now exactly what age she was in each photo…it was cute!
“She sleeps pretty well at night, waking to eat every few hours but falling back asleep right away. When she does wake for the day, she’s usually in a pretty good mood and I can set her in a bouncy seat while I take a shower, so we have a good little routine starting.”
Wow I want a baby like that! She is so cute and I ams ure she will adore photos you plan to make, once when she will be grown up, she can have such a great memories with those pictures :-)
yay! she’s gorgeous. i love the photo idea and glad you’re adjusting well.
hey Nicole,
You have great advices here! My son is 2 weeks old, so I’m also in my debut as the official milk supplier in my family :) So yeah, it hurts. The first times where plain frustration for me (it’s not like my son and myself knew what we where doing!), and also, I was rushed to nurse properly at the hospital, my son was doing hypoglycemia and well, I was out of a C-section, so it all together failed!
It’s getting better though, only the first 5 seconds are painful now. Lanolin ointments definitely help me, I put it on once a day.
I wish you lots and lots of joy with your family :)
I love your blog. I just read about your NURSING issues and had to comment. I had the hardest most stressful time nursing my son who is now two. It was so painful and difficult. I have fingernail marks still in my coffee table from digging into it while enduring the nursing pain! All of the lactation specialist said I was doing it wrong b/c of the pain but once I saw all of them they said “oh you are doing it right.” So annoying. Anyway LONG story short, I kept going at it and eventually it really got way easier after a few months.I think when they are so small it is difficult to latch. Lessons learned… throw out the lactation books because they stressed me out and make you feel that you have ruined your babies whole life if u don’t nurse (so not true), don’t nurse more than 25 mins on each side, it gets A LOT easier and if your baby spits up blood- it is probably your blood. Kind of gross. Keep at it if you feel strongly about it, but don’t do it if it is making life miserable. I ended up nursing until my son was 14 months. It was a shocker and one of my best accomplishments!
I think your design blog just tried into a mommy blog.
The comments are great–so supportive and helpful. I, mom of a 3 year old and an 8 month old, picked up some tips.
And I’ll add to the chorus of “Yes, breastfeeding hurts.” So much of motherhood is that way: lovely and ouchy. I think it’s nature’s way of helping women acquire the tools to be good moms: strength, a loving heart, and the ability to do things that make mere mortals faint.
With my oldest, each time he latched on, I’d curl my toes to the point of cramping and hold my breath so I wouldn’t yelp. A wave of pain would wash over me (kind of like being in labor). After 10 or 15 seconds, I’d exhale, uncurl my toes, and reach for a magazine. Eventually, the level of pain diminished and disappeared. And just like labor, I remember that it hurt but it’s all a foggy blur.
My advice:
1. Hang in there. You’re normal.
2. Find a La Leche League meeting. Even if you go once in a while, you’ll have a phone list of LLL leaders to call for expert advice. This will not be your only breastfeeding challenge.
Remember, this is fun, even the awful parts.
Congrats on your new baby–she is adorable! And lucky you, you get to shower in (relative) peace! I have 3 little ones and still have a hard time showering without someone barging in! Breastfeeding can be frustrating, but your baby looks quite healthy and if she is growing and sleeping allright, then everything should be fine in the nursing department. And breastfeeding does hurt for a while and that is normal. But the pain does go away and you’ll be glad you stuck with it, it is the best thing for your baby and it burns 500 calories a day for you!
Just coming out of lurking to say breastfeeding *is* painful. It took 6 weeks before it felt comfortable for me to nurse my daughter. I’m so glad I stuck it out – I was taking it a day at a time and one day, I just realized that it didn’t hurt any more. Your daughter is beautiful. Congratulations!
Yup…I’ll go along with the other moms..it’s painful for the first 6 weeks even if you are doing it “right.” It was for me (I nursed 3) and for every honest mom I know. I think people do a disservice to nursing mothers when they say it won’t hurt if you are doing it correctly…I know quite a few moms who gave up because they thought they couldn’t get it (it still hurt)…when all they really needed was the magic of time.
I had a really hard time nursing with my first. I thought we’d never get the hand of it and wanted to quit. I stuck with it though and was so glad. i nursed him for 20 months. I’m nursing my one year old as I type this.
Tune in to all those cheerleaders around you and look at that gorgeous babe. You two can do it.
Congratulations and hang in there. it will get easier.
first time writer. long time reader.
just wanted to let you know i am right there with you !!! i am a self-employed designer (in canada) and was due with my first child a day before you. David was born on the 18th of april and it’s been the most amazing and most overwhelming month.
i too have been struggling with breastfeeding. i am determined to stick with it but have had to top-up feedings with supplements because he has not been gaining weight fast enough. each day I go back and forth with what to do and it has been a painful challenge both mentally and physically but i am hoping it gets easier.
eleanor is beautiful. good luck with every day.
meghan
I applaude you for persevering with breast feeding. Way back when Sara was born (1971) I had to fight off the nurses in the hospital who wanted to give me shots to dry up my milk. Sara was never that enthralled about nursing and weaned herself at 10 months. Katie was a different story. She loved it and I finally weaned her at 14 months.
Your photo idea is great! I would periodically write “letters” to my baby girls detailing their likes and their accomplishments. I also made a special book for each of them when they turned 3. They treasure them now.
She’s beautiful and the rocker photo is perfect of course. Wouldn’t expect nothing but the best from you.
Don’t kid yourself, nursing is painful – but it goes away. I remember pounding the bed everytime my first born latched on for a few weeks and he wanted to nurse all the time. I kept at it because it IS worth it. And it DOES get better. I promise! Remember that you are both new at this and it can take a lot of practice. Knowing that your amazing body can nourish such a sweet soul like nothng else could is comforting. You are very wise to say that you are taking it one day at a time.
I didn’t read the above comments, but it took about 3 months to get used to the latching on. Every time my daughter would latch on, I would curl my toes in pain. Many times I wanted to quit, but I persisted, and glad I did. This was for my 2nd daughter. For my first child, I pumped for a year at least 5x a day!!!! This is why for my 2nd, I kept at it- to avoid the 1-year-pump-a-thon.
Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet – but what helped me breastfeed was having a breast pump. My LC suggested that I use the pump to give myself some extra recovery time — and at three weeks, we didn’t have to worry about “nipple confusion” — (which my LC said studies have shown to be a myth). In my case she was right. Pumping for a day or two allowed me to recover enough to reduce the pain and there was no problem with the baby taking the bottle for a few feedings, then returning to the breast.
Those Almeda gel pad also were a huge help — I got mine from Amazon. If you don’t have any, put a cup of very cold water into a clean diaper place it over your chest (also works with hot water for a quick heating pad).
Congratulations on a beautiful baby.
What a beautiful baby! Such a cutie.
I love your idea for the photo project—that’ll be a keepsake for sure.
Congratulations!
Nipple shields. Or pump and bottle feed – I rented a pump from a hospital – pumping is less painful and lets you heal a little bit between breastfeedings.
Remember, nothing is wrong with stopping and moving to formula – if it’s all about what works for you and your baby.
I’ve had three children and unfortunately I was only able to nurse my third child – which was funny b/c he was preemie and was tongue tied and he latched on right away. I was VERY inexperienced and none of the nurses or LC could help me. My BFF was the only one who (for whatever reason) was the only one who offered any help that worked. And it was horribly painful for the first month or two. But I hung in there. I learned that the pain was only temporary. I nursed until my son was 8 months old and I wish I wouldn’t have quit so soon, but it was definately worth the “pain”. Hang in there and you’ll get used to it. And I found lanolin to be a huge help too. Good Luck and Congrats on your beautiful Blessing. Enjoy her – they grow up waaaaaay to fast.
Put some ice on your nipple before you nurse her. That and lanolin made it tolerable for me until I got toughened up. Hang in there!
I’m “de-lurking” too, to quote another commenter. Your home is beautiful and your daughter is precious. I have 2 little ones (5 and 2) and I hope you are able to stick with the nursing. Once you get the kinks out (and EVERYONE has kinks!), it is very rewarding and relaxing.
When I read about how much Eleanor liked to be held, I wondered if you have a sling. If you don’t, you should try one. They take a bit of practice to get used to, but you can hold your baby and have your hands free. It is wonderful beyond words. I wanted to hold mine all the time anyway, and the sling was so wonderful because it kept both of us happy. (Sling Tip: wear it around so that it smells like you before putting baby in it.)
Best of luck with your glorious new life!
A friend of mine took a picture every Monday morning of his daughter for the first year of her life. Said it was something to look forward to on an otherwise dreadful Monday. Since they weren’t pictures for the whole family or the blog, he took polaroids and then bound them together in a fat little book. So cute.
Ok, breast feeding hurts. I watched my poor sister breast feed and every time Cady “latched” on I was wincing in pain.
She’s still at it even though Cady is 1 and has several sharp little teeth!
Eventually Eleanor will want to be put down. But you have to remember that just like dogs, she can sense your mood and if you’re anxious – she’ll get anxious. Try to relax and have a calm demeanor when you put her down to rest.
Otherwise, just keep remembering that you’re the best mom she is going to have and how you do it is how it’s supposed to be done.
Such a sweet looking baby. Congratulations.
I also had a horrible experience nursing at first (and by at first, I mean the first two months). I still want to smack anyone who says that it shouldn’t be painful if you’re doing it right. Now five months in, I’m so glad that I stuck with it. I’m sure that other people have said this, but it WILL get better. It will.
I don’t know if it’s an option for you, but if possible, try another lactation consultant (and maybe another if necessary). It wasn’t until the FIFTH lc that I found one that was able to give me actual helpful advice that reduced the pain. (The first four lcs basically told me that everything looked okay and maybe I just had sensitive nipples- hah!)
Mazel Tov on your blessing!
I too had a very painful breastfeeding experience the first go around. I was told that my son had a small mouth. I remember crying for the first five weeks and then like magic the pain just went away! :) With my second son it was maybe 10 days of pain… go figure. Each boy nursed for 12 months or so and I’m really happy they did. Now my youngest is about to turn 9 and I can honestly say the thing I miss the most about having a baby is the closeness of breastfeeding. I wish you much love and luck :) I think mommies need both!
Congratulations on your beautiful baby. I totally agree with the posts about using a sling, it’s great. I loved holding my babies more than anything. The best sleep advice I ever got was from the book by Richard Ferber: Solve your child’s sleep problems. I didn’t follow the “Ferber Method” to a T, but the first few chapters taught me enough about normal sleep patterns to help my kids make their own. Best of luck… oh and also, I vote for the Eames chair. Great idea.
Your baby is beautiful and clearly well-nourished!
Don’t listen to those who tell you that breast-feeding “shouldn’t” hurt — who made up a rule like that anyway? Some babies suck really hard and some mommy’s have very sensitive breast tissue. (And some people feel the need to always tell mothers that they’re doing it “wrong…”) Try to stay with it but if you feel you must stop there’s no shame in it. You’ve already given her a great start!
Congratulations!
I too had pain when I first started to nurse. But if you stick with it, I promise the pain will go away. I can remember crying while nursing my daughter a year ago…it hurt so much! The nurses told me us fair-skinned girls always have a hard time with sore boobies. After a couple of months it didn’t hurt at all and although I just weaned my daughter three weeks ago, I could probably breastfeed a badger now. ;-)
I’m a lurker :) I love your style and blog! Congrats on your sweet baby girl. I had to comment because I too struggled with nursing. You really have the right mentality to take it day by day, and whatever decision you decide will be the right one. Good luck!
Keep up the good work, she’s beautiful. I had nursing problems with my Sadie (she’s 8 now.) It felt like glass was letting down instead of milk. My hubby was awesome and encouraged me to take on nursing at a time, sometime only one side at a time and then pumping. It all worked out. Stick in there it’s one of the best things for both of you.
You have a beautiful baby girl. Congrats!
Breastfeeding is very rewarding & challenging at the same time. The only thing that has saved me is using lanolin after each feed and we are still going strong after 15 months. Good Luck!
I see that you have had many comments here regarding the nursing and if you read this far as to get to my comment, yipee! :0)
I just wanted to say that as long as you want to continue nursing, don’t give up. You can get passed this hard stuff. It does take a few weeks for you to “toughen” up (pun intended :0) so the pain subsides as well as for you both to just get the hang of it.
Also, even though she might be latching on right, as she sucks she might be slipping and sometimes not have as much in her mouth as she should. I feel kinda silly typing this in the comments so I won’t elaborate ;0)
Best of luck to you, it does get better.
rachel
Hiya,
I know have a lot of comments to read through, but I want to say DON’T give up on the breastfeeding yet.
The early days are painful; it will take a while to get used to and after that you will still have occasional bad days.
My worst was when my son had 2 teeth in and he bit me. I said ‘No!’ very crossly and put him down and left the room for a minute and came back… he never did it again.
Also in the early days I didn’t swap boobs enough so he wasn’t getting full, and after I fed him on both, he was happier. nipple cream for the chaffing will help.
As he got older, it was a LOT easier. your boobs mellow out and don’t get quite so chock-a-block full. I fed my son til he was almost two, which sounds quite old, but he was still a baby (I had weaned him on to solids at about 5 months, but still fed him breastmilk. (never, ever used formula)
I recommend getting a pump and letting your hubby occasionally do the night shift… for your sanity.
Lastly, I wanted to say that though it was hard, by feeding him all that time, he doesn’t have near the allergies we thought he would (from hubby’s side), and it is special.
When I decided to stop, I cried for ages as I missed that closeness. I look back and am so glad I did.
Good luck, I hope the pain eases up.
Christina
Agree with all the supportive nursing hints. One more: drink a beer every time you sit down to nurse, even in the morning.
You do not have to finish the beer, (it can even be a NA) but, having one by your side will help you relax and that will help EVERYBODY in your little trio.
Miss Eleanor is so beautiful!
Although, she looks a wee bit uncomfortable in that chair.
My daughter refused to have me put her down for 2 years! One day my husband told me to go out and enjoy a haircut. 4 hours later I returned to find concerned neighbours and distraught husband. She’d been screaming top note for the entire time! She sobbed a little, snuffled and then collapsed, exhausted.
On the plus side, she’s now a very confident and happy 7 year old. Just keep holding her – she needs reassurance that you are there for her!
As for lactation – you know what is best for you! People of either persuasion can be very assertive (strident?) but if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out – it’s not failure.
Nicole – love the idea of the eames rocker for photos. Such a simple background will be great so the focus is just on your little darling. :-)
I’m sure you’ve gotten loads of tips on the breastfeeding issue, but I’ll ofer my two cents worth too. My son was a very difficult feeder. Turns out, his frenulum (sp?) – the little thingy that holds your tongue down to the bottom of your mouth – was too tight. As morbid as it sounds, he had to have his “clipped” at the age of 2 because it was affecting his speach. It most likely was affecting his feeding when he was a baby too. Just a thought . . . ;-)
Oh dear, you poor thing. I had the same problem with both of my girls and really wanted to throw in the burb cloth and just forget it. But, the girls got bigger and I got tougher and they got stronger and it all worked out and I am so so grateful that it did. Hang in there.
There is a great product that really worked for me, I have to go look it up and then I will send you the link.
Take care of yourself.
Your girl is beautiful and I adore her name.
she’s GORGEOUS! but i wanted to write to say a.) get a sling. i had clingon babies, and slings saved us all. and b.) nursing *does* hurt! your boobs are doing things they never did before. it won’t hurt forever though. as soon as your boobs get acclimated to their new job, they’ll be troopers! i nursed two kids for nearly two years, and both times i thought i wouldn’t make it past 2 weeks. i’m sure you already see how awesome it is to nourish your baby. soon it won’t hurt and it will be pure bliss! try lansinoh cream and cabbage leaves chilled in the fridge, but nothing will take the pain away except time. and it *will* be a blink of an eye! oh no! you’re a mommy blogger now and the whole interwebs are going to be at you with advice!!
Nursing is alot like learning to play the guitar. At first, your finger tips will bleed and the pain is excruciating, but after a few weeks, the calluses form and it’s smooth sailing.
In the meantime, Lanisoh is a marvelous product.
I just wanted to chime in and say she is a beautiful, beautiful baby. And nursing *does* hurt, but as everyone else has said, it will get better and the bonding is totally worth sticking it out for.
I love the photo idea. Video would be great as well. My daughter is now 2.5 and we have tons of photos of her, but not a lot of video. I wish I’d taken more time to capture all those sweet baby sounds and silly faces she made, especially during the first few months of her life.
Beautiful little baby. I just had my 2nd baby on May 9th and have experienced the breast pain all over again. Despite the fact that everyone says it shouldn’t hurt, even with a correct latch, they’re just sore for a good 4 or 5 weeks as much as I hate to say it. But every week they do get better. As long as you don’t have cracking or bleeding (lube them w/ Lansinoh), the soreness is totally normal.
Hi Nicole, delurking to say I hear ya with the nursing! I had my son in Oak Park at West Sub two years ago and the best advice I got was to call the Art of Breastfeeding. If you google Art of Breastfeeding Chicago it is the first thing that comes up. Anyway, Peggy saved my sanity and my will to keep up the nursing despite my son’s aggro reflux and my rampant oversupply. Nursing was something I really didn’t want to give up on. We made it through, and Peggy came to my house twice to help me. It was worth every cent and more. Enjoy that little lady, I know its a cliche but my god they grow up fast. My son turns two on Tuesday and I feel like I just blinked. You guys are a beautiful family. Congratulations!
Hang in there with the nursing. No one ever told me how hard it was- how nice for you to have the internet and get so many supportive comments.
I saw several lactation consultants and they always told me the kids were latching on fine but man did I cry. I bit down on pencils and did weird mind games just to focus on something else. But it got better overnight it seemed, after several weeks though.
You’re not alone!
Holy crap, she’s so adorable! Truly, an angelic child.
She’s beautiful!
Nursing was something I was so excited to do, but something that did not come easily. I would grit my teeth, curl my toes and stomp my feet during latch on for the first 6 weeks with my first. I didn’t know anything could hurt that much. I asked a friend in those first few weeks if it hurt when she nursed, and she said “you mean, does it feel like someone is driving nails through my nipples? YES.” I have difficult nipples (somewhat inverted, evidently), which only compounded the problem. But I stuck it out, and I’m so glad I did. Nursing was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done, and with girls who are now 6 and 10, it’s one of the things I miss most about the early days. Definitely keep up the good work, and I promise it gets easier with time. The way I figure it, the first few days of nursing, the baby bruises you, and the next few weeks hurt because she’s essentially mashing and pulling on your bruised bits until they get used to it. No wonder it hurts! With my second child, 4 1/2 years later, it was only painful for a week or two.
Hang in there!
Keep up with the nursing/ breastfeeding. It is worth it. I went through a few weeks of sore/ dry/ bleeding nipples but went on to feed both my babies until they were 15 mnths old. Very rewarding!
Also, just a note on the ‘wanting to be held’ thang. She really needs to get used to being elsewhere. Otherwise you’ll end up with a VERY clingy, whingey baby that will go to nobody else but you to be settled. The best advice I can give (and some mums do not agree) is to have a go at controlled crying. Not for everyone, cos it can break your heart, but worth it in the long run. Both my babies slept for 8 hrs a night due to using this type of method from about 6 weeks old. And 12 hrs a night from about 4 mnths. Wonderful! The ‘cry’ she makes is probably just a protest (who wouldn’t want to be carried around all day?) but she will soon learn that it is not so bad watching mum and dad from a different vantage point in the room. Another tip is to put her to bed while she is awake. If she is sleeping in your arms and you put her down she may freak out when she wakes and realises you’ve deceived her!
Anyway, I learnt all this as I went along, and you will too. And I am bringing it out of the back of my head as I eagerly await number 3….
She is so beautiful.
Congratulatios
Kiss from Portugal
She is BEAUTIFUL!!!
I’m so glad you are having fun. I had a terrible time nursing, too, and that seems to be more common than not. My daughter had a tongue tie, which apparently made it harder, and I eventually just gave up and pumped. I hope you have better luck! I won’t lie, because I want other people to not feel bad if they have trouble–I found the whole trying-to-nurse process extremely trying and sobbed heartily a few times.
And three words for you: Ameda Gel Pads. Thank God for them.
i enjoy reading your blog and feel compelled to write you, like the other 200+ people who have reached out. breastfeeding SUCKS at first! i’ve breastfed 2 babies and enjoyed all of it, minus the first 3 weeks. you’re on the verge of entering the ‘comfortable’ zone. trust us/me! if it gets too bad, take a few days break and pump and give her a bottle. i did this for days 8-14/18 with both of mine and they still nursed for 12 months. try a relaxed approach, as it looks like you’re good at, and you’ll be successful! hang in there, friend!
She’s precious! My BF went okay for the first two weeks, then I suddenly had pain for a week with latch, with each of my kids. It went away again. So many give up when it gets hard, but it almost always gets WAY easier.
If she likes being held so much, and hates the stroller, then why not use slings? Babywearing is one of the best things I did as a parent!
Nobody told me how hard the b-feeding would be either but if you’re 3 weeks in, I guarantee one day soon you think think: “hey, this doesn’t hurt anymore!!” I promise. Then it will be a breeze. Good luck, you’re doing a great job. My one piece of advice for all new parents is to get a hefty load of earplugs. That way when dad takes care of baby and mama can sleep in, you won’t hear a thing. The ear plugs have literally saved my life. Cheers to you.
My son wouldn’t let me set him down either. I finally got a sling from hotslings.com when he was about 4 months old. I wish I had done it sooner. He was already so big, I had to stuff him in there, but my hands were free to crochet and get some chores done. He had to fall asleep laying on me as well and then I would slide him off to lay between us. Not recommended by the experts, but I needed to sleep! I wish I had tried harder to set him down. His crying would break my heart though. He never stopped, so crying it out was not an option. One time, I was so exhausted I fell asleep with him screaming his head off in the crib a foot from me. For an hour! He’s one now and not clingy so I don’t know if holding him was a good or bad thing. It’s all about what you are comfortable with. He *just* started sleeping through the night. By the end of that year, I was so tired and ready to sleep 8 blissful hours without getting up to nurse him twice a night.
She is lovely!
Nursing can really *~HuRT~* at the beginning. I nursed my daughter for over 2 years since she had a milk and soy allergy. I nursed my son for about a year and a half. Sometimes I had to use labor pain coping techniques while nursing. It DOES get WAY better after a while! Hang in there, and if you decide you’re done, that’s okay too. I don’t understand why something that’s supposed to be natural, according to how the body is made, can be so hard.
I hope this is encouraging!
(((Hugs)))
Rebekah
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Eleanor is so adorable! I know what you mean about nursing being painful! I too cried when I nursed my son Elliot. It was so very painful at first I too almost gave up if it wasn’t for the encouragement from my husband. Now it’s not too bad. When Elliot latches onto my right breast, it still hurts so that’s the one I start with. My toes curl and I wince. I am guessing his mouth just favours the left more. Am glad though that things have improved!
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