What does "Natural" mean?
I have read countless times that, though breastfeeding is natural, women find it difficult and painful. This seems to mean to some women that it feels "unnatural". What I don't understand is why? Think of it this way. Our bodies need exercise. Does exercising feed good? If some ways yes, but running? It does not feel GOOD. It's hard! It's painful! You have to work at it and your body must get used to it. Breastfeed is the same thing.
Try This
Have you ever had a small person sucking your nipple as hard as possible with no regard for your comfort. As if his or her life depended on it (because it does)? Probably not. Take one moment and imagine what that might feel like. Good? Of course not! Let's stop romanticizing birth and breastfeeding and setting ourselves up for disappointment and failure. If anyone asked me for tips on birth and breastfeeding I would tell them this:
You can do it, no matter what anyone (including your partner, mother, doctor) says. If you want to have an unmedicated birth, do it! Barring a few significant and/or unavoidable issues, you should be able to go for the birth that you want! If you want to get drugged up to the max or have a planned cesarean, that is your prerogative. But if you want to have a natural birth, do some research and make it happen.
If you want to go natural, say no to drugs. I don't mean don't take drugs if you really need them, but think twice before popping pills for every little issue. During my first pregnancy (which resulted in a loss at 12 weeks), I trusted my doctor and took whatever he prescribed. He gave me pills for nausea. He told me not to worry when I knew something was wrong, and told me there was no way to check if my baby was okay (she wasn't, but I believed him).
In my second (and successful) pregnancy I educated myself and chose a midwife. It was a completely different experience. She empowered me and gave my the confidence to make my own decisions. Don't let them give your baby drugs he doesn't need. Don't take drugs to help your labor, or speed it up. Don't take drugs to help your milk come in, or decrease your supply. I was super engorged and my baby was going crazy screaming and nursing every couple minutes that horrible second night, and you know what worked for me? Waiting, and trying. And, as suggested by my midwife, cabbage leaves. Yes! Can you believe that? They fixed me right up. When I got a yeast infection (candida) in my milk ducts, I changed my diet and took grape-seed oil, and fought through it. And it HURT, but was totally worth it.
I know of mothers who were told by the nurses that their milk wasn't good enough and they needed to supplement. First of all, (at least where I live) medical professionals are not even allowed to talk to you about bottle feeding until you have 100% decided not to breastfeed. And yet, in the hospital when my baby was 8 hours old a nurse was telling me my baby needed formula. She was just gonna go ahead and give her a bottle, ok? Ummm no! Wtf!?
Anyway, I am no expert and everyone has their own experience and opinions. I can only speak from my experience, but as someone who did not have a super easy time breastfeeding, I want to tell you that you have options. You are perfectly made! Trust yourself and take your healthcare and your baby's well being into your own hands.
I have read countless times that, though breastfeeding is natural, women find it difficult and painful. This seems to mean to some women that it feels "unnatural". What I don't understand is why? Think of it this way. Our bodies need exercise. Does exercising feed good? If some ways yes, but running? It does not feel GOOD. It's hard! It's painful! You have to work at it and your body must get used to it. Breastfeed is the same thing.
Try This
Have you ever had a small person sucking your nipple as hard as possible with no regard for your comfort. As if his or her life depended on it (because it does)? Probably not. Take one moment and imagine what that might feel like. Good? Of course not! Let's stop romanticizing birth and breastfeeding and setting ourselves up for disappointment and failure. If anyone asked me for tips on birth and breastfeeding I would tell them this:
You can do it, no matter what anyone (including your partner, mother, doctor) says. If you want to have an unmedicated birth, do it! Barring a few significant and/or unavoidable issues, you should be able to go for the birth that you want! If you want to get drugged up to the max or have a planned cesarean, that is your prerogative. But if you want to have a natural birth, do some research and make it happen.
If you want to go natural, say no to drugs. I don't mean don't take drugs if you really need them, but think twice before popping pills for every little issue. During my first pregnancy (which resulted in a loss at 12 weeks), I trusted my doctor and took whatever he prescribed. He gave me pills for nausea. He told me not to worry when I knew something was wrong, and told me there was no way to check if my baby was okay (she wasn't, but I believed him).
In my second (and successful) pregnancy I educated myself and chose a midwife. It was a completely different experience. She empowered me and gave my the confidence to make my own decisions. Don't let them give your baby drugs he doesn't need. Don't take drugs to help your labor, or speed it up. Don't take drugs to help your milk come in, or decrease your supply. I was super engorged and my baby was going crazy screaming and nursing every couple minutes that horrible second night, and you know what worked for me? Waiting, and trying. And, as suggested by my midwife, cabbage leaves. Yes! Can you believe that? They fixed me right up. When I got a yeast infection (candida) in my milk ducts, I changed my diet and took grape-seed oil, and fought through it. And it HURT, but was totally worth it.
I know of mothers who were told by the nurses that their milk wasn't good enough and they needed to supplement. First of all, (at least where I live) medical professionals are not even allowed to talk to you about bottle feeding until you have 100% decided not to breastfeed. And yet, in the hospital when my baby was 8 hours old a nurse was telling me my baby needed formula. She was just gonna go ahead and give her a bottle, ok? Ummm no! Wtf!?
Anyway, I am no expert and everyone has their own experience and opinions. I can only speak from my experience, but as someone who did not have a super easy time breastfeeding, I want to tell you that you have options. You are perfectly made! Trust yourself and take your healthcare and your baby's well being into your own hands.