Dd was born on 11-30-02, in a very baby-unfriendly hospital. I had one flat nipple and was promptly given a nipple shield by my nurse. Big mistake. In addition, the fuckers gave my girl a bottle before ever allowing her to nurse. I didn't see her for five hours after the c-section. One and a half weeks postpartum, I awoke in the middle of the night to chills so bad I could hardly move. My nails and eyelids were blue. I took a Tylenol. My morning, my left breast was swollen. I was given a short round of antibiotics. Within days of finishing those and exactly one week after waking to mastitis, my breast was a red, painful mess again.

Fast forward to a few weeks later....mastitis in the other breast, which is peeling away like a sunburn, thrush in both breasts, and two extremely traumatized nipples. My mom said it looked like someone took a torch to my right nipple. She wasn't exaggerating. Oh, I wanted to throw in the towel. I was pissed and tired. I was pumping every two to three hours day and night. I could not nurse dd because of the pain.

Fast forward a couple more weeks...my saving grace, the world's best LC, helps me get baby back to breast and has both nipples in decent shape. Still fighting Raynaud's but at least I wasn't bleeding anymore. It's a few more weeks before dd loses her bottle preference, but soon we are nursing like champs. At about four months, I get my first taste of painless nursing.

Things were great until 8 mos, when dd decided nursing like a newbie was a good thing again. Those all night marathons had me ready to wean. I was determined to give her a full year, though, and we started weaning at 13 mos with the goal to be done by 18 mos. Some of the sessions went quickly; some slowly. I held onto the last, the early morning feeding, until three days ago. Now, dd takes a sippy of water in the morning and miraculously, falls back to sleep for a little while longer.

We are done! I have mixed emotions, but mostly, I am happy as a clam about it. Back in real dresses and drinking all the coffee I like. YAY!

heehee that's 11-30-00.

Dayum Yvette, that sounds awful. Kudos to you for sticking with it!

WOW
I am nearing the end of nursing too. Clara is nearly 21 months and I am kinda looking forward to it but dredding it as well
good for you for sticking it out

Way to go, Yvette!

I love to hear stories from women who had trouble in the beginning and then were able to overcome their difficult starts. That speaks volumes about your will-power and integrity.

ds1 weaned at 19 months, and only then b/c I was pg and had very sore nipples. I remember the way I felt, and it was hard to describe. Sad/happy, I guess.

Yvette,

That's such an awesome story! I used to think that I had problems establishing a nursing relationship w/DD, but my trials were nothing compared to what you did to stick w/it-- that's so cool!

Anyway, I know what you mean about weaning. DD weaned at 16 months and I felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Just watch out-- my OB said that you're EXTRA fertile when just having weaned. I am now pregnant again after not listening.

Oy Yvette. I had troubles in the beginning, but not as badly as that.

Ds weaned last week - he will still ask for nursies every couple of days, but is not the least bit annoyed or upset when I remind him "we dont' do that anymore".

It is a relief, and I'm not sad at all b/c I know we did this for a great time and he benefited from all of it.