At 2 in the morning

I've been awake since 11:30. Yes, I was up with the baby at 11:30 but she's not the reason I'm still awake at 2:12 AM. Yesterday (Saturday) was 'B' day. That's 'B' for boobie. I decided to stop breastfeeding for so many reasons. The number one reason being I want to hold my baby without suffering a plugged duct (most usually several plugged ducts in each breast). I gave it the ole college try and now I'm over it. Totally and completely over it. Yes, I feel a little sad that Big Al won't have the same experience her brother did as an infant. Honestly though, holding her little body close to mine would be nice.

I've obviously never quit the breastfeeding thing cold turkey so I called my doctor's office for some advice. First, I was prescribed a birth control pill. These help reduce milk production. The nurse also gave me the age old secret of inserting cold cabbage leaves in your very tight fitting sports bra. Of course I kept thinking that in this day and age why can't we come up with something better than cabbage leaves? You had better believe I bought the biggest, healthiest looking cabbage in the store. When life gives you cabbage, stuff it in your bra. -That's my motto these days.

All day long I actually looked forward to 'B' day. I'm ready to leave the house without returning two hours later in pain because my hospital grade breast pump didn't come with a rechargable battery pack. Once again, OVER IT. I've googled 'stop breastfeeeding' and knew the painful part of the whole process could last 24 - 48 hours. That's just the painful process, the entire process could take weeks. I truly felt ready to endure.

So here it is 2:23 AM and I'm still awake. After enduring two painfully engorged boobies I decided to google 'stop breastfeeding' again. This time I found articles encouraging women to pump a little bit to relieve the painful engorgement pressure. Now the milk reduction process may take 2-3 weeks to complete but I feel so much better about it. I always thought I had a high pain tolerance but I do NOT. The four hours I suffered tonight was way worse than the entire first week recovering from a c-section. Why isn't there a better alternative? Apparently there is, but it's not FDA approved. I'll stick with my cabbage leaves for now.