choices

So easily we get into a new routine that when you have to change it up it becomes work. Monday I was ill, dehydrated and exhausted. I ended up spending about 5hrs at the er where I received 2 and a half bags of fluid and probably could have still used another one. The doctors where concerned and did all sorts of tests, blood tests, an ultra sound and even a ct scan. Each time someone new came in, I informed them that I was nursing...please make sure anything you are giving me or doing to me is compatible with nursing. I was assured each time that it was. At 11pm I was sent home with a pile of papers, 4 prescriptions, told not to drive and NOT TO NURSE! for a day. What??? Half asleep I went home and figured I would sort it all out in the morning. Well Tuesday I felt immensely better and thought I would do a little research before filling the RX. It turns out that 2 of the four are not recommended while nursing. Hmmm.. and when you have a ct scan you do need to wait 24hrs before resuming nursing. I wish I had been a bit more with it at the er and had learned that before having it done.
Tuesday was spent pumping and dumping. However, Laurelei is such a good baby, she not only took a bottle from me she also accepted some sample formula I had on hand. We used up the stored breast milk, which was easy to unthaw and have ready for a bottle within a couple of minutes...but the formula bottles kinda threw me for a loop.
Now CJ was a formula fed baby. I had times where I got somewhere and didn't have water or formula with and ran somewhere quick to get what I needed however, I never thought it was hard, and although at times it was a hassle I had blamed that more on myself for not being better organized. This is where I am out of habit. I would try and pump before she was hungry since when she eats from a bottle she takes FOREVER! 4oz took at least an hour for her to drink...when nursing often we're done in less than 20mins now. Back to making a bottle of formula. I didn't have water at room temperature for her...so by the time I was making the bottle, she was screaming and I timed it...it took over 10mins to get the formula ready. I did finally put the water in the microwave for 10secs to help the process... I know that is a no no but with a screaming baby in the background you gotta get it done.
My new habit is so easy (well the first 10 days were not, but now we have the hang of it). When Laurelei is ready to eat, it is ready. I can take a couple of minutes to get big sister on a project of sorts and still be ready to feed quickly. I don't have to search for a clean bottle -and I do remember doing that with CJ too. And I don't have to test and retest and retest (oh shoot now it's too hot) the bottle. I didn't realize it until yesterday, but I have fully converted and love nursing.
I love the cuddle time. The ease. I LOVE the 600cals a day that it burns and the bundles of $$ I am saving. The health benefits for me and baby are overwhelming, and after a day of making bottles, I'm glad I don't always have that many extra dishes. Having two babies, one formula fed and one nursed, I completely understand why people choose what they do. I was skeptical of nursing, but I'm personally really glad that I stuck with it, for us this time it worked out.