It’s been a few weeks since I, the greenhorn mommy, discussed the joys of breastfeeding. Don’t get me wrong…it can be a great time to bond with your child when they’re there a few inches from your face and not much else is going on. But I have rarely been in more pain than when Mack first chomps down on me. She’s got a heck of a bite! The only thing I can compare it to is a piercing…but instead of the pain subsiding quickly, it’s like you constantly get the jewelry caught on things so that it just can’t manage to start healing and stop hurting.

I know, I know…I’ve read that “breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt.” But I think that’s just something told to new moms by the La Leche League so they don’t go straight to formula. At least showering is no longer painful…but some days after we’ve had frequent night feedings where she latched on poorly or she’s been particularly ravenous and tugging on me, I just want to give it all up.

“It’s breastfeeding, not nipple-feeding.” That’s easy in theory but when her mouth is barely bigger than your nipple to begin with, how can you fit breast in with the nipple? Especially when your breasts have blossomed up to a D-cup? And you have a microsecond to move baby onto the nipple before she closes her mouth again. That’s why I figure that breastfeeding gets easier as your child (and her mouth) gets bigger…and at some stage she hopefully will not close that mouth up so quickly on you.

While I started primarily feeding her while laying down (which is particularly great at those early morning feedings when I don’t want to fully wake up), I’ve also found that feeding while sitting can be fantastic. I can eat, work on the computer, have some breastmilk tea…it’s really opened up a new world for me. Cause when you’re feeding every 1.5-2 hours…and the feedings start running into each other, you wonder how you’ll ever get anything done.

Now I just need to make sure that when she’s feeding, she’s REALLY feeding. I’m sure it’s fun to play with my nipples but it doesn’t help them recover any faster. Plus if she’s just sleeping and sucking with no swallowing, it’s not helping either of us achieve anything…well, she may get some soothing from it but not me just yet. Maybe when she gives up the pirahna act, we can discuss things further.