Breastfeeding Mom Problems...and a few pros to nursing twins!

1.  Taking a shower (on the rare occasion that you can get one) must happen after nursing or pumping if you don't want to waste any of the precious liquid gold.  Talk about "crying over spilled milk!"  The real challenge is trying to get dressed quickly after a warm shower so that you don't douse the bathroom with every turn!

2.  Your entire day is centered around your nursing schedule.  Which means (remember, I have twins), that I only have about a two hour window to get things done, like run errands...or breathe.  I don't mind the interruption from house work though.

3.  Sleeping on your stomach is no longer an option.  Ouch!  Especially when you become engorged on the rare occasion the babes choose to sleep more than four consecutive hours.  Then comes the great debate: Do I get up and pump?  Or do I wait it out? (With my luck, while I'm pumping, one of the twins will wake up ready to nurse...)

4.  Bras NEVER fit properly.  As if they do any way right ladies?  I have yet to find "the perfect" nursing bra.  I've bought the high end models, the less expensive ones, and everything in between with no luck.  Plus, nursing bras are fugly.  Yes, that's a word.

5.  Leakage is a sure thing.  Hopefully it is while at home, and not in a public setting.  Nursing pads can only help so much.  They also have to be replaced frequently so as to not promote infection.  Though I've never experienced mastitis, I've heard it is no walk in the park.

6.  Your couch/chair will become splattered with mama milk.  A lot of it.  Babies like to pull away for various reasons and the squirting will ensue.  My daughter gets daily facials this way. 

7.  It is difficult to find cute tops to wear that are also nursing friendly.  Hiking up your shirt is a hassle when trying to juggle a baby (or two) and a cover up when nursing outside of the house or when company is over.  I'm not shy, but when necessary and out of respect for others I do make it a private meal.  Although when my son is nursing, he does not like to be covered up and tends to pull the cover off and expose me anyway.

8.  When a baby cries (even if it is not yours!), your boobs go crazy!  The throbbing is agonizing!

9.  Unintentionally augmenting one side.  When one baby is hungry or the twins are on opposite schedules, I am ALWAYS lopsided.  It is not cute.  My husband doesn't mind when I'm grossly engorged though... Ha!

10.  The big debate about nursing in public:  Seriously, have you seen adds for women's underwear and/or lingerie?  These images are EVERYWHERE.  Young women walk around in skimpy clothing everyday.  However, a mom nursing her infant that exposes LESS than most billboards is not okay with most people?  Really?  This cartoon I found says it all:

 

On the plus side:

1. I produce "liquid gold" for my babies.

2.  Breastfeeding is said to reduce the risk of breast cancer

3.  I'm saving money!  Formula is expensive!

4.  Breast milk is an all natural way to fight infections in a baby's eyes, ears, and nose!  Antibodies. Check!

5.  All the sweets I eat are going to someone else's thighs!  I'm burning a lot of calories by nursing twins.  I think I'll go eat 500 calories worth of cupcakes when I'm done with this blog entry.

6.  I have cleavage.  Real cleavage not brought on by an expensive push up bra.