Nursing & Nat the Fat Rat


I recommend reading this post to better make sense of what's to follow.

Natalie Holbrook, author of the popular blog 'Nat the Fat Rat', and I have one major thing in common: we both have adorable boys called Huck. After this similarity, we start to part ways...

She is a mormon. I am a Christian.

She has dark hair. I am blond(ish).

She lives in the Empire State. I live in the Hoosier State (bleh).

She gets paid to blog. I... do not.

She appears to eat whatever she wants and stay stick thin. I am a normal human and would tend to gain weight when I eat whatever my heart desires.

She has to try for years to get pregnant. I get pregnant even when trying to prevent little Henriks from coming along.

And the biggest difference between us (besides the mormon thing of course - that's a big one) is that she breast fed her baby child for 2.5 years, is devastated to stop nursing, and apparently still has the milk supply to feed triplets years after giving birth.

Me? Not so much.

I can't quite grasp why anyone would breastfeed for longer than a year. I tend to think when your child can walk to you and ask to be fed, it's time to hand them a nice sippy cup of milk and send them on their way. Don't misunderstand, I really do enjoy nursing Henrik Sebastian, I'm just not sure I'll shed any tears when those days have passed (maybe I'm wrong, I'll be sure to let you know if I end up eating more words). And the milk supply thing? Engorgement isn't a word in my vocabulary (which is okay since I hate that word). In fact, I barely have enough to keep little Henrik full.

This week my doctor said I needed to start supplementing a couple ounces of formula after I nurse Huck. He was gaining weight, but maybe not at the rate he should (or could) and wasn't seeming content after some feedings (usually dependent on the time of day) and when I would pump, I wasn't getting all that much, hence the supplementing. I was a little sad and annoyed about this. Who wants to spend close to 40 minutes breast feeding only to get done and have to give a bottle? Not ideal. Oh and the worst part - the smell. I used to love when I would put Henrik up my shoulder to burp and his little breath would be next to my face, but not as much anymore, those formula burps are gross...breast milk wins in the smell department by a million. But the reality is that I'd rather have a content and healthy baby. And in the couple days I've been supplementing, I already have a happier baby, which makes dealing with smelly burps worth it. :)

My point of this post is definitely not to say any one take on nursing is right or wrong. Really. To each their own! It just felt so ironic today as I read Natalie's post on quitting nursing her Huck while I nursed my Huck and thought how she would probably kill to have my fertility and I would love to have a better milk supply and how these things are just out of our control.

15 comments:

Laura said...

Glad you got some answers and direction on what to try. Good job at being proactive. Love your comparisons to good old Nat. I forgot about her-- it's always kind of fun reading her posts. Loved seeing you this weekend!

J Gutwein said...

Well.. At least your future daughter-in-law could handle reading this post.. Haha.

Jill said...

I can totally second your opinion about the "smells" that formula brings...after formula feeding two and now breastfeeding one, I was so pleasantly surprised at how the burps and spit up and poopy diapers smelled with breastmilk! Ha! It's the little things... ;)

Betsy said...

Is Nat's Huck really 2.5 for real? Whoa, he seems younger for some reason. Anyway you guys do have more in common in that you're both super trendy!! :)

Linda said...

I couldn't wait to hear your comments on Nat's recent post, so this was fun to read. :)

leah said...

oh my, i just went over and read hers...wowzers.

glad that your little huck is getting plenty! :)

bri said...

I'm totally w/ you. Don't know why anyone would nurse past one year. 2 1/2 years-I personally think that's disgusting. I also don't mind nursing, but definitely don't shed any tears when I'm done (which is at about 10 months).

L, Ann and boys said...

This is funny. I didn't know she was mormon. when Luke interviewed at away schools a few years ago, they gave him lists of local Mormon wards. ;) They couldn't figure out who else would have four kids in school. He told them he was a prolific protestant. :D

L, Ann and boys said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
L, Ann and boys said...

it double posted. ;)

sarah.flyingkites said...

haha, enjoyed this post

Sandra said...

wow...had to go read her post. Interesting. One thing her and I have in common is the AMOUNT of milk we make!! I could easily donate it too. Can't quite imagine not making enough. I still have milk 6 months AFTER the last time I breastfeed!!! Crazy I know!!
Happy nursing Huck. Its worth it and yes....Id so be done by age 1!!! Not a fan of the 2 years of age thing. Gross.

Molly said...

I'm afraid if I commented, it would really just end up saying, "This comment has been removed by the author"!:) I do find your thoughts interesting and identifiable for me.

Christen Leigh said...

I have no words for her post. Maybe I will relate to her more once I have nursed, but I agree that 1 year seems like ample time!

Been meaning to say that it is CRAZY that Huck is 1 month (seriously it flew) and that his little one month onesie picture was so cute. :)

The Gudeman's said...

I am a month behind on your post, but I had the same issues nursing. T wasn't gaining weight because I wasn't producing enough to fill him up. I was slightly devastated when I had to stop, but bottles were easier and he turned into a super chunky and healthy baby!! Huck is adorable!!