Nursing

I'm sure I will write a lot about this topic since it's all I do (or feels like anyway), but the very first time nursing is quite the experience. Right after Maggie was born (I mean within minutes) they had me try to breast feed. It's crazy because you've just had the baby (which you are trying to process) and then they want you to feed her (which is difficult anyway) and the room is full of chaos. Maggie did pretty well latching on, but I did use the nipple shield in the beginning. Nursing in the hospital was hard because your milk hasn't come in yet and Maggie was starving. The nursing wasn't really cutting it. Maggie was also jaundice. They say the way for the jaundice to go away is for your baby to eat so that she can poop and that the poop will help pass the bilirubin (which causes the jaundice). They will also do light therapy if needed. I think most babies are jaundice, but when you are a new mom (and have no idea what you are doing) the jaundice seems like a big deal. Since Maggie wasn't getting much food from me, the lactation consultant said that feeding a bottle of formula might get her digestive system going. This would help with the jaundice and also a hungry baby. So, I fed Maggie a bottle (2 oz) and she gulped it down. She was so content afterwards that you realized just how hungry she was. I do have to say that when the pediatrician came in and checked Maggie out she stressed me out a little bit. She told me to stay away from the formula and that my body is making enough for Maggie to live on (she didn't want to risk nipple confusion). There were such conflicting theories from the doctors, lactation consultants and even the nurses. I went with what I felt was right and that was feeding Maggie a few bottles of formula during those first days before my milk came in (it actually took 5 days to come in). Maggie ate and was satisfied and ultimately I didn't have any problem with nipple confusion. I nursed too, so that she (and me too) could get some practice in. I had a happy little girl and that made for a happy mama because I wasn't freaking out over a hungry little baby!