The Slacker Boob
Usually I consider myself lucky when it comes to my breastfeeding journey. My son is currently 8 months old and we are still going strong! But when I say lucky, I'm more referring to the fact that it only took a day and a half for my milk to come in after a cesarean birth.
I remember my mom's eyes when she saw those newly filled breasts for the first time-eyes of surprise. I kept thinking to myself "Hello instant boob job".
With some of my current knowledge and experience with labor and delivery and lactation, I "knew" I was going to have such an amazing EBF baby and would stick to it no matter what!!...
As the lactation consultant walked in the suite to check the babies latch, etc., I brought to her attention that he seemed to prefer the left breast. SO, as any good lactation consultant would do, she suggests new positioning on the right side. He seemed to take to the football hold, for now.
A few weeks at home and I was constantly pumping my right breast. My baby would basically throw a fit anytime I would try to nurse him on that side.
Are children ever too young for a temper tantrum??
NO.
Soon after that, I found myself back at work, pumping every four hours. To my realization, my left boob would pump anywhere from 5-7 ounces each session. While my right was looking more like a slacker.
The most my right breast ever brought in was a whopping 2 ounces (on a good day).
After a couple of months, I became a stay-at-home mom again: nursing a EBF (Exclusively breastfed), every 2 hour, baby. He fought and fought that right side like I was asking him to swallow knives. So eventually, I just stopped. I stopped trying. I even stopped pumping it because it became way too emotionally and physically exhausting while juggling an infant.
And here I am today, 8 months in, with a left breast that looks like a Victoria Secret models natural C-cup, and a right that can barely show up in a B cup bra. If the lopsided look doesn't say, "slacker", I don't know what does.
My main purpose for writing this is to enlighten some of you that are going through the same thing, but also to teach some lessons I've learned about the slacker boob.
1. Always give your child the opportunity to nurse it
2. A single pump can be your breast friend!
3. Don't give up on it, it needs love too
4. Rock the lopsided look, you've earned it!
and 5. Everyone's breastfeeding journey will always be different than they planned it to be.
As I sit and right this blog, I pump. I'm reminded of that not so helpful boob, and I smile. Its part of my journey.
So stop being so hard on your slacker, and love it.
