Cheap and Easy

No, no, “Cheap and Easy” is not referring to the reader who was kind enough to write in with her breastfeeding story! “Cheap and Easy” refers to breastfeeding, of course! Jen writes that she practices attachment parenting, co-sleeping and using a sling. Luckily for me she’s also addicted to the internet and she is an obsessive documenter of everyday life–hence her story:

“Breastfeeding has always been a wonderful, easy, and cheap way to feed my children. I don’t recall any particular moments from the past few years of nursing my children, so I’ll tell the stories of beginning to
breastfeed each of my children.

When I got pregnant in 2002, I made a sudden switch from being an
engineer, interested in all the latest technology and science, to
being a mother, interested in all the healthiest and most natural
concepts. I found amazing midwives to care for me during my pregnancy and birth, researched natural childbirth, and didn’t even consider whether or not I would nurse my child.

When my son was born, I was disappointed that he came out blue because that meant that he couldn’t crawl up to my chest and start nursing right away. It took them just seconds to determine that he was fine, though, so they put him on my chest and I shoved my nipple in his mouth before I even took the time to appreciate how gorgeous he was. He took to it like a natural and we never had a moment of trouble with it. He nursed enthusiastically until I had to start weaning because I was unable to become pregnant while breastfeeding. He was about 20 months old at that point.

I got pregnant the month after we started to wean. My daughter also
latched right on, but I had a lot of pain with her, like red hot
needles being jammed through my nipples for the first minute or two
that she was latched on. It was awful. Pain like I have never known,
even after two drug-free labors! When she started rooting one time I
remember thinking that I’d rather go through labor again than suffer
through this one nursing session. Despite that, it never occurred to
me to quit nursing or supplement. Someone suggested that after about a month, when I was still crying during every session, but I knew it wasn’t an option for me. I knew that I would continue nursing her until she quit, even if it hurt that much for the entire time. It just felt like the right thing to do, and heck, it was just pain! Why deprive her (and me) of the benefits just because it hurt? Luckily, the pain started to subside after about eight weeks, and now she nurses without any discomfort.

My kids have each nursed nearly exclusively until they were a year
old. My daughter turns one in a week and she’s just starting to eat
food now. They were both very picky and disinterested in baby food or table food, perhaps because they knew the good stuff was sitting right next to them. I love looking at my daughter’s solid little body and knowing that I have provided every ounce she’s gained. Not only did I get to be her home while she developed for 10 months, but I have been exclusively responsible for her growth ever since she came into the world. What an honor!”

Thanks for sharing your story, Jen! Other readers interested in sharing their stories can find more information here.