La Leche

***Warning***Warning***Warning***Warning***

This blog post may not be suitable for children. Or men. Or women without children.

During my short stay at the hospital, I was visited by a variety of people. Nurses, technicians, OB doctors, pediatricians, social security employees, social services workers and lactation consultants.

The lactation consultants all wanted to tell me about the benefits of breast feeding and check to make sure I was at least considering it as an option. I told them each, "Yes, I will be breast feeding." They didn't seem to believe me. Although they were the ones telling me that I should be doing it, they seemed surprised that I would be breast feeding twins.

"You haven't supplemented yet?" one asked. (Supplemented means "given formula".)

"Nope," I said.

"Really? None at all?"

"Nope."

The whole conversation was inane and even more so when you consider that there isn't even real breast milk yet. At this stage it is called collustrum*, which really isn't milk at all. The milk usually "comes in" around day 3 or 4.

So today, day 3, I am starting to look like a porn star. My breasts are quite large. The milk has just barely started to come in (or more literally, flow out), so there is a lot in there.

With Parker, I got incredibly big. So big, that there was nothing to latch on to. They were like two large honey dew melons. No kidding around either. And they hurt like you wouldn't believe. I always wondered why women didn't want to breastfeed (it is cheaper, more convenient, less messy that formula) and when this happened, I finally understood it. It hurt. A lot. Bottles and formula were looking pretty good.

But I persevered and it got better and easier. Everyone said it was easier from the get go with the second child.

So far, it is pretty similar. A tad bit easier, but the nipples are sore. The boobs are big. And Lanisoh is out in full force.




*This special milk is yellow to orange in color and thick and sticky. It is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby