Milk Duds

I am trying really hard to get my boobs under control. I know all my devoted readers have heard about my milk production struggles. (If you don't want to read the words "nipple," "feedings," "boobs" or "leaking" then you should stop reading right now.) My mom has been in town for the last couple of weeks, and she told me last week that I only have 2 more weeks to go! I usually don't listen to my mom when it comes to life suggestions, but whatever she says about my boobs, I will take as gospel law.

Anyway, she said that magically around 6 weeks, my boobs will regulate themselves. We were talking about my two different milk cups that I have, and I told her that I like her 25 year old orange cups for night time, when I had to go longer between feedings. And then I would wear the newer clear plastic ones when I had to go out in public. (The newer ones don't leak when I bend over, you see)

But she said that she thinks the time is coming close where I won't need them anymore. And she thought that maybe wearing them was training my body to make MORE milk in these last few weeks. So she suggested that maybe it might be time to try just my pads. (I bought a package of 6 washable, reusable pads back when I was delusional enough to think that a pad would be enough for me.) So I pulled them out and took them for a test drive.

They rock!!! I mean, I'm not 100% leak free, but I'm getting close!! Also, because I don't have a cup of liquid placed precariously on my chest, I don't run the risk of it popping open in the night and covering me with liquid. That's actually where most of my leaking takes place:from the cups leaking or their seal breaking in the night. (The funny thing is that as I type this, I'm slowing springing a small leak and covering my garment top.)

Also, I think that a combination of a tight bra and the nursing pads pressing against my boobs makes them not leak so badly. I went all day the first day without leaking out. And the same for the second day, until about 7 pm when I went to go see Lynn. And I started leaking right in front of her. Cause THAT'S not embarrassing or anything. Luckily her husband wasn't there. That would've been really bad. But he's really nice, so even if he were there he would've been ok with it.

And also today!! I made it all through church with no leaks! I think that I was afraid to use the pads becuase I have that one flat nipple and I was afraid the pads would flatten it out even more. Well, it does! But luckily my Monkey Face has got a good hold on this feeding thing and she doesn't need as much help as before.

Other positives: I have also discovered the joy of nursing while laying in bed!! I know many of you will say that I'm crazy for not doing it before. But the truth is that with my rock hard boobs, it was nearly impossible for her to latch on unless I was shoving the nipple into her mouth and then holding her head there from the back. But like I said, the fact that she's getting so good at her feedings means more freedom for me.

So I pull her into bed, and nurse her, and then put her back in her bed. Oh man, It's so nice. Just laying on your side, head propped up, baby snuggling and eating. Nearly falling asleep yourself. I just love it. This must be what people mean when they say motherhood rocks.

Speaking of babies, I think that by this time I should have some sort of "ownership" of my baby. I don't know why, but it STILL doesn't feel like she's my baby. Like I'm just babysitting for someone and the really mother will come and pick her up. Like sometimes when she cries, I look around to pass her off to someone, and then I realize that it's me!! I'm the one that probably can stop her crying the fastest. It's just so weird. I'm starting to wonder about it. . .

But something funny happened today in church. I went to the mother's lounge (Which really REALLY stunk like dirty diapers. Why is that? So unhappy for a mother to "relax" in a room scented strongly of poop and pee) Anyway, my left side was super full, so much that it was spraying a steady stream of uncontrolled milk all over my baby's face. She couldn't drink it up fast enough and kept pulling away to choke and cough because she was drinking too fast. Well, mommy was bad, and she tried to get her little girl to eat. And eat and eat. (My boob was REALLY full) and Evita acquiesced.

But I should've known better. She pulled away and I rolled her on her back on top my legs. I was slowly rocking her and she turned her head away from me and then she vomited. And I'm not talking about a little vomit. I'm talking almost 2 cups of liquid shooting out my baby with enough force to go a great distance. What was the distance? Nearly TWO FEET!! I kid you not. I should've taken a picture, but I was covered in vomit!!

I couldn't believe it was so much. And I'm SOOO happy she turned her head away from me the 2 seconds before she boomeranged it out of herself. Can you imagine if she had splashed me with all that stuff? I could've been a yucky sticky mess for the last hour of church. I'm also happy that she relieved the pressure on my left boob. Ahh, mommy loves her little girl.

Ok, I need to go to be now. But tomorrow I'll talk about our little girls' first day at the water park. I got her the CUTEST suit.