Parenting

‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous

Three and a half months in, breastfeeding is finally getting easier. I had a hard time with the other two kids too, but it wasn’t this difficult for this long. I filled a prescription for APNO when Calvin seven weeks old and that helped somewhat. Ibuprofin helped too, and while I did take the maximum recommended dosage every day for longer than I’d wanted to, I haven’t needed any for a couple of weeks now. Plus I haven’t cried from the pain lately, so there’s that. Hooray?

CalvinI’ve been watching a lot of television while nursing; the distraction is good.

“I don’t think I realized how much I would just be sitting on the couch.”

“Pinned to it.”

“Yes.”

(from here)

The soundtrack to these sessions as of late has been Funny Girl, Funny Face, and RuPaul’s Drag Race. I now find myself wanting Barbara Streisand’s hair, wishing I had seen more of Paris, and feeling like my natural lashes are woefully inadequate. I’ve been watching a lot of Bob’s Burgers too, sometimes with Eleanor, which leads to her singing things like this.

Little babies! *kiss kiss*

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  • Rebecca S.
    January 14, 2015 at 9:40 am

    Love the look on his face in that photo! Where’s Calvin’s shirt from?

    • Making it Lovely
      January 14, 2015 at 9:58 am

      Old Navy, but it looks like it has sold out. You can’t see the whole thing, but it says “BEST. DAY. EVER.”

  • Linda
    January 14, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Boy howdy, is he ever sweet.

  • Margaret
    January 14, 2015 at 11:22 am

    Good for you two!
    Nursing can be difficult.

    I hated it… the entire time. But stuck with it “for the greater good.”
    Television (or Netflix) saved me too.

    Also these: https://www.google.com/search?q=nipple+guards&oq=nipple+guards&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.3209j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    They’re a bit cyborg but wonderful.

    • Making it Lovely
      January 14, 2015 at 11:36 am

      A lot of people like the shields, but they weren’t of any help for me (unfortunately).

  • Michelle
    January 14, 2015 at 11:22 am

    I have to ask, why not formula feed? I nurse my 5 month old, but with my first I always had to supplement because I never had enough of a supply. Im sorry you’ve had such difficulty and hope it gets better soon. I guess I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t switch to a bottle being that you are in so much pain. Maybe you’ve already discussed this.

    • Making it Lovely
      January 14, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Aside from the pain, I like nursing. I like being able to be out with my baby all day and not have to carry formula and supplies, I like the closeness and the ability to sooth and comfort… there are a lot of aspects that are wonderful. It’s not as bad as it was in the beginning, but it has taken a lot longer to get to this point than it did with E and with A.

  • Marcee ... ILLINOIS
    January 14, 2015 at 11:38 am

    Aww, your sweet lil one Nicole. He is adorable. In this close up, Calvin resembles his big brother August now. Babies certainly keep changing everyday. I always thought Calvin looked like Eleanor. Glad you are feeling somewhat better. Believe me, I know firsthand what you are experiencing. Best of ….

    • Making it Lovely
      January 14, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Day to day, I keep thinking he looks more like one sibling and then the other. He’s right in the middle, looks-wise!

  • Joni
    January 14, 2015 at 11:49 am

    Yay! So glad to hear it :)

    Best.Cheeks.Ever.

  • Abigayle
    January 14, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Glad it’s gotten better for you! I had my first almost three months ago and struggled for the first 6-8 weeks with the pain and have been very thankful it stopped. Even if it still hurt, I would be like you and just keep pushing through (especially since my little one decided a couple weeks ago that he didn’t want to take a bottle from us). He’s slowly working on the bottle thing with our nanny, but it’s nice that I don’t have to fight him on that front. I love being able to bond with him and get so much time to just be with him (even though he’s super squirmy and surprisingly chatty during all of his nursing sessions.

    The late-night soundtrack of our sessions is usually law and order: svu or modern family.

    Hang in there momma, you’re doing great!

  • Jennifer
    January 14, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    I had pain like this with all three of my babies and the reason is: Renauds. The cold weather makes nursing excruciatingly painful. The only thing that helped me was a homeopathic medication called Secale cornutum. I am glad things are better for you know. You might want to about Renauds and breastfeeding and see if you recognize any of the symptoms.

    • Jennifer
      January 14, 2015 at 1:04 pm

      So. Many. Typos. Sorry. Sleep deprivation. My 3rd is 7 weeks old!

      • Leigh
        January 19, 2015 at 11:37 am

        Hi Jennifer. I don’t know if you’ll come back to read the comments, but I’m curious about your experience with Renauds. How long did it last with each baby? Was it the same with each baby? I had Renauds as well and i’m so scared it’ll happen again with the next.

  • jung a
    January 14, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Oh I feel you! I invested in my first kindle years ago because of nursing! Even though I love physical books, some bigger books were too hard to hold open with one hand, haha! Nursing got me back into reading, which I had largely forgot about, and now I can’t sleep without reading at least a few pages!
    Hang in there! It’s worth it!

    • Katie
      January 14, 2015 at 4:38 pm

      Me too! I have just now (two years later) returned to the land of paper books.

  • Laura @ Rather Square
    January 14, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    Thanks for linking to the “mom friends” article – I hadn’t seen that before, but it’s so true. ;)

  • judy
    January 14, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Gosh-I can’t believe your third! Is so big already. I began following you I think before you were even expecting your first. And here you all are in a new-ish home and with your third child. Life goes by at a snails pace and a super sonic jet all at the same time. But ain’t life grand and kids are one of the best parts of living.

  • Deb
    January 14, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    So happy to hear the great news for you (and for your little guy)! Your story will benefit so many Moms, hearing that each experience can be so different. Breast feeding has so many benefits for mom, baby, now, and in the long run. Your dedication is honorable!!

  • Diane@InMyOwnStyle
    January 14, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    He looks so much like you…so sweet.

  • Barb Camarillo
    January 14, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    Your story sounds like mine at the beginning But with about the same timing it got only easier and you don’t have one more thing to do.washing and listening to baby wait for the making of a bottle. Besides its so much more healthy for baby and you. Sometimes it is tough but honestly so worth it. Holding your baby close at this time of his life, priceless

  • Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst
    January 14, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    Sometimes nursing is just painful, but have you looked into if baby is lip or tongue tied? That can make things really difficult and painful. Must a thought. :-)

  • Kristen
    January 14, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    Woohoo you did it! You got through the tough part and it’s smooth sailing from here! You go girl!

  • trixxie
    January 14, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    I’m not a Mom so I have no words of wisdom, but I can recommend an eyelash booster. It totally worked for me with no side effects. I have fine, light lashes and they are they are now noticeably longer. When I began using the product, I used it every day and saw results after 4-6 weeks. Now I use it a couple of nights a week to maintain results. It’s worth every penny imo. Treat yourself, you deserve it!

    http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/neulash-by-skin-research-laboratories-lash-enhancing-serum-0-1-oz/3669337?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=276&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_0_C

  • Katie
    January 14, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Congratulations on getting through the tough part. Nursing is such an individual experience, but I think many people can relate to the time when it gets easier and the relief that comes with it. Your little guy has such a sparkly smile!

    • Katie
      January 14, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      OK, I could have sworn he was smiling in that picture. He is beautiful.

  • Janine
    January 14, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    I am obsessed with Bob’s Burger, and Tina especially. She’s my world.

  • Brianne
    January 15, 2015 at 12:22 am

    My little one is six weeks and it took me at least three to realize I could watch Netflix or Hulu on my phone while I was breastfeeding. It really makes a world of difference to be able to distract myself. I tried reading to her or singing, but she would get distracted and screw up her latch. Reading some closed caption show works so much better for me.

    Glad things are working out better now. I haven’t had nipple issues, but my letdown can be awfully painful and sitting too long isn’t great either.

  • Meghan
    January 15, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Yes… I went through this, too. Like you, I was very stubborn and stuck it out! Ended up nursing for 18 months. Like a previous poster, I also had Renauds (and a bunch of other things that can go wrong!) I remember the pain becoming manageable at around 3 1/2 or so months, too. SO many people told me I should switch to formula but I felt the positives totally outweighed the negatives, like you. To be honest…it’s nice to hear that other people go through this- when I was going through it I felt like people brought me down by just telling me to give up! Which was extra hard since I was in pain and exhausted. Sadly, I always had a bit of pain and would get cracks even when my son was over a year into nursing! Hopefully you don’t go through all of that… I’m 8 months pregnant now and definitely nervous about nursing again… hopefully it’s easier this time. Keep it up, Momma! You’re doing a world of good for your little guy, and your bond with him!

  • Liz
    January 15, 2015 at 9:43 am

    So glad it’s all working out for you. I’m a new mom nursing my 6 week old and would love another nursing style post. Can’t live in nursing tanks and leggings forever!

  • Brianna
    January 15, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Nursing is the craziest thing. You’d think it would be so easy. It took us two months of the shield and I truthfully didn’t really love nursing for a few more months. It’s so worth it if you can hang in there being able to have a food source at all times, grab that baby and lay back in bed for a few more minutes, all those things. We ended up nursing for 15 months, it will get better.

  • Katie J
    January 15, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Thanks for your honesty. There IS a lot of sitting the first few months. And not everyone gets it in the first few days/weeks/months. Tears are real. Great you hung in there. Adorable Calvin.

  • Aryn
    January 16, 2015 at 10:17 am

    If it gets worse again, I thought I would share what totally changed everything for me with nursing: Nifedipine. After trying everything else possible, my lactation consultant and doctor decided I might have Raynaud’s. I always took the nifedipine at night when I knew there would be a break before the next nursing session (four hours so it won’t be in the breast milk). You take it for two weeks, then take a break and get back on it if needed, but that’s all it took for me. There was absolutely no pain after that. http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-V-RP

  • Jennifer
    January 16, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    I opened up the blog, saw this picture and smiled. He is a mini you. Those eyes are all you.

    He is perfect!

  • Bailey
    January 16, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    Secret Facebook support group for nursing mom: Breastfeed, Chicago. If you decide to join, you’ll receive a private message (probably to your “other” folder). This group is private and has a wealth of information and support. I don’t know what’d I’d do without it. Good luck!