A Quick Update on Breastfeeding and My Baby Weight Loss Goal

First, I have to thank everyone for being so honest and open with the breastfeeding experiences you posted as comments to my original post. The combination of knowing all of you went through some of the same things, and your words of encouragement kept me from giving up, and I am proud to let you know that Sam and I are still going strong!

I'm also happy to report that it's getting much easier (as you all said it would). It doesn't hurt anymore, and he's even slept for a couple 4 hour stretches at night (otherwise I've been feeding him about every 2-3 hours at night still)! And now, after 6 weeks of it, I actually have something good to say about breastfeeding! It has helped me to lose almost 40lbs! I know the breastfeeding caused me to lost the weight because I've been shoving food in my face every second, and the Dr. said I'm not allowed to exercise until 6 weeks (which is tomorrow). This means that breastfeeding truly is a miracle weight loss drug!!! This brings me to my next topic: Losing the Baby Weight

Unfortunately, I gained 55lbs while pregnant. Luckily, thanks to the breastfeeding, I've already lost 40 of it, but let's be honest people, we all know I had about 20lbs to lose before getting pregnant, so why not go for the whole enchilada (but don't eat the whole enchilada, then we'll be right back where we started)?!

This means I have about 35lbs left to lose, and with tomorrow marking the first day I'm allowed to exercise, I'm going to go full force! I think I'll start Monday though, because every good diet starts on a Monday, right? Plus Sunday is our 6 year wedding anniversary (I know, crazy huh, I've been married 6 years!), and I want to eat a delicious dinner without feeling guilty, so Monday it is.

My goal is to lose the 35lbs by the time I do my first post-pregnancy triathlon, which is the end of July (Spudman). I'm going to be posting my progress and trials and tribulations to keep you all updated. I think I'll try to find one of those cheesy count down things to put on the side of the blog too! Wish me luck!

Week 4: Is my kid a genius?

Sam can already roll over at 4 weeks! We're not talking one fluke roll over here, he does it every time he has tummy time now. Is he a genius, or is this normal? Either way, he's really cute!

Happy Valentines Day!

To my two best guys in the whole world! I LOVE YOU!!

Breastfeeding is From Hell

I know this is not a politically correct statement, but I have to be honest and say that I don't care because it's so true! If I can make one new mother feel like she is not the only one going through this hell, then this post will have served it's purpose.

Yes, it's providing the best nutrition for my baby, and his IQ will be higher, and he will get sick less, and I'll lose weight faster, and on, and on, and on, but despite all this I have come close to throwing in the towel a few times in my extremely short, less than 3 week breastfeeding career.

I used to wonder why people quit breastfeeding before that all important 6 month mark, or why they didn't go with the recommended 1 year timeframe, but now I can say that I truly understand. Raw nipples, giagantic, lumpy, painful, engorged breasts, shoving my poor baby's head into my boob 500 times every two hours to try to get him to latch on, him not eating off one boob very well, so I get a breast infection which causes flu sympstoms with a temp of 102 degrees, wondering if he's getting enough to eat, dreading the next feeding because I know how bad that first latch will hurt, and just feeling like I'm 2 giant boobs instead of a person are some of the reasons I've considered giving up.

Wow, that was a rant, I'll end by saying that I couldn't be more in love with my Sammy, and I am really greatful that I have a functioning body that is able to breastfeed my baby, so for this reason I will not give up. I am committed to the 1 year mark as long as my body will make milk. Hopefully this rant will help someone else out there who feels the same way not to give up because they know they are not alone.

I would love to hear some of your breastfeeding stories, so please share them in the comments, good or bad! I'm interested to know how long it took you before it got a bit easier. Wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

Week Two