The Myth of Breastfeeding Bliss | Giftie Etcetera: The Myth of Breastfeeding Bliss

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Myth of Breastfeeding Bliss

I remember when I was a formula feeding mommy and I heard from so many breastfeeding mommies that I was missing out on the intimate connection of looking into my beautiful baby's eyes while nursing him.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Imagine your nipple is pierced. Now, imagine someone ties that piercing to a train. The conductor starts the train. The train leaves the station. OUCH to the thousandth degree. Oh, and that's with a proper latch. And without any sore nipples or tears or anything...though rumors abound that such things eventually happen.

And looking into dear baby's eyes? Not a chance. He's buried somewhere far below eye level. Plus, I have to watch his nostrils, as he cannot get air if I don't hold them away from me.

Alan and I were discussing how wonderful it was to bottle feed Ander, to hold him close and gaze deep into his soul.

I know I am doing the best thing for my little one. But bonding? Wonderful? Sweet? Those people must have been lying liars!

Etcetera.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It wasn't exactly blissfull at this age with T, either! That comes with time and practice and the body(s) getting used to it.

(Lanolin, and a cool wet washcloth on the sore niple helped me)

Hang in there.

Frog said...

Many people feel the way you do. You aren't the only one.

Anonymous said...

And this my friend, is why enfamil will always be my BFF! Ill try to do both but will truly relish and enjoy those bottle moments! Youre a better person than me! LOL!

Anonymous said...

Those first few days/weeks when you are both learning and adjusting are the worst. If you can get past that, it gets so much easier and you do get to enjoy that special bond.

Derwinicus said...

I much prefer breastfeeding to bottlefeeding. I must be one of those liars! lol I do feel much closer to my child when I'm nursing him than when I'm giving him a bottle. Granted, the first couple weeks of breastfeeding are sore, very sore. I wish someone had warned me about that with my first one! But I will never formula feed through choice. In my opinion, there are so many more positives to breastfeeding to bottle feeding. But, to each her own!

Anonymous said...

You described it perfectly. It hurts like h-e-double hockey sticks. I've got the cracked, bleeding nips. I'm waiting for it to get better. *sigh*