Breastfeeding and the Amazing Boppy

There was never a question about whether or not I would breastfeed, but I’m a supporter of natural things. Still, a lot of people seemed to be very happy to hear that I “chose” to breastfeed. I never thought of it as a choice. I could use the milk that my body is naturally producing, always have the food source on hand, which is best for my baby’s health- OR- I could go out and spend a bunch of money on some powder that’s been fortified to be similar, but not as good as, breast milk? Hmmm.
I guess some women do have problems breastfeeding, so I can’t comment on their decisions to choose formula. I just didn’t have a problem. From the very first feeding, my baby was the one who knew what to do and he latched on like a trooper! I used that Lasinoh stuff in the first couple of weeks, but I didn’t need it after that. Six months in, I still enjoy breastfeeding my baby. It’s very relaxing, although it does make me pretty tired at times.
I do not recommend breastfeeding without a boppy, though. I know people have been breastfeeding since the beginning of the human race, I just don’t know how they did so without the boppy. This is one of those items that I wouldn’t have bought, but I was lucky enough to have been given one by a friend, and now I realize the value! Or maybe I’m spoiled: when I’m out and about without the boppy, I find breastfeeding to be all awkward. The only place that it wasn’t too bad was the nursing room at Coral Ridge Mall. That’s right, they have a nursing room at the Coral Ridge Mall! A friend told me about this- by the food court, there are bathrooms, and as you are walking towards them, you pass the “family area” where they have chairs and a couch, a sink next to a changing pad (thank you for realizing that we might need to wash our hands after changing poopy diapers!) and a private nursing room with a rocking arm chair, big enough to put the stroller in too, and there is room for older kids. I mean, probably toddlers. Not like teen agers. They would probably not prefer to be in the nursing room with mom. Although I did read that you can nurse your child from age 0-15. Hey, whatever trips your trigger! The area also has a toddler bathroom and a family bathroom. But I’m not here to rave on the bathrooms at Coral Ridge. I’m here to talk about breastfeeding.
I read Babywise which has been controversial (even Wikipedia says so!) I knew about the controversy when I began reading the book, and I think they did too because in the newest edition, they very carefully word things. Anyway, to save you the trouble of reading yet another book on parenting: you get in the routine of the baby eating, playing and then sleeping. Repeat. In that order. At least 2 ½ hours between each feeding. It didn’t happen that way every time, but it did happen often enough that it wasn’t hard at all for my baby to develop the habit of starting to get tired about 2 hours after the beginning of his last feeding, then taking 20-45 minute nap, then waking up hungry. I timed everything and kept track of each feeding in the first two months, then I started to recognize patterns and I dropped keeping track of it. I just try to remember how long it’s been since the last time he ate.
I don't know if that was the trick, but I have a happy baby that sleeps through the night and grows really fast. I think he gets more hind milk with this method, which is my guess of why he's so big.