Giving Thanks to Breastfeeding

On this wonderful Thanksgiving, my Jacob turns half a year old today! I can't believe he is already 6 months old. Time flies when you are enjoying every moment, doesn't it?

My only regret is that I enjoy watching him so much and taking in every memory that I have failed to take note of specific dates for each milestone, such as learning to push himself up, etc. Those I planned on putting on his baby book, which again, I have not come to start as well! Sigh, wish I can have some down time to do it! Would love to TRY to be crafty for once!

And with Jacob at 6 months old, it also marks a special milestone for this Mom.


Today, I am officially a Silver Boob Awardee! That's right folks, I have been successfully breastfeeding Jacob for 6 months. Hooray! With that, I am going to share my breastfeeding experience up to this day. READ MORE AFTER THE BREAK!
Remember the other day I was complaining about very, very low supply of milk that Jacob was literally crying on me? Well, it turns out that it was just probably stress related judging from the day I had. I was running about, dealing with awful customer service and all, so I guess that affected my supply. I think things are back to normal as I have pumped a decent amount of milk that same night. I'm just having problems now with the "right" milk supplier. Still researching on how I can balance the "left" and "right" so they both have adequate supply to satisfy my hungry boo-boo.


If ya'll have read our birth story PART 1 and PART 2, you probably know that Jacob wasn't roomed-in with me immediately after birth. So I was only able to breastfeed him the morning after. But he latched on perfectly. It was everything that I have imagined breastfeeding would be. Just wonderful! But during the first few weeks after delivery, especially the 3 days after, I was so sore already. I thought they would fall off anytime! Crazy thought, but until you have gone through the beginning phase of breastfeeding, you just won't understand. I checked if he was latched on properly, he was, so that wasn't the problem. It was just really part of the process and it will get better, as I was frequently reminded by my Mom and sister.

Everything turned out to get better. I was happy I rode it out because to be honest, I was near giving up on it because of the pain. You see, I have very, very low tolerance for pain. Ask my husband!

Anyway, it has been an up and down journey for me and Jacob with breastfeeding. There are times that the pain would come back. The occasional 'plug duct' experience which is almost as bad as the pain of blistered nipples for me. When that happens, I just feed more and pump more, until it subsides. I then fear for the next one because it can become very tiring. It was only after 3 months I think, that I was able to BF while laying down. My reason for this was I was still sore from the c-section and couldn't turn to my sides without being in pain just yet.


Now that was a game changer. Being able to BF while laying down made it so much easier for me and Jacob. We can dream-feed at night, he can finally sleep next to me and when he gets hungry, I just latch him on. I got more rest time because of that. I hope for my next pregnancy that I will be able to do it earlier to avoid PPD for being overtired!

Recently, we have encountered a different problem. He has been pulling on me and clamping his mouth a lot. I read that it could be because of too much or too little let-down. Also he's been very cranky and hungry lately, I point this to his being too active and I think he is starting to begin teething (Yay?). But we are still breastfeeding throughout it all! I am so proud of this. He may not be exclusively breastfed by definition because he gets an occasional supplementary bottle or two during overly hungry and sore days, but he is still breastfed. I'd still like to think of him as EBF. Hey, I'm the mom! ;) I wonder if how we'll transition from breastfeeding to solids. I heard babies cut back on their milk intake once he starts solids. Jacob will definitely be starting off with organic babyfood. Nothing but the best for him!

So this Thanksgiving, I would like to give thanks to the following:

I am thankful for my milk that helps me breastfeed Jacob with the best milk in the world.
I am thankful for Jacob who has changed my life forever. I don't know what I would do without you, son. I love you so much!
I am thankful for Jacob being such a pro at breastfeeding. You have made it easier for Mom!
I am thankful for my husband, who has been an awesome support from day one. I love you!
I am thankful for the strength and determination that God has given me to be able to breastfeed.

I can go on and on with the things that I am thankful for but let's stick with BF. ;)

How about you, Mommies? How long have you breastfed your little one/s? And what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Share below!