Breastfeeding

Before I had my son I was adamant about breastfeeding, I had NO idea how much of a challenge it was going to be. I am SO grateful for my amazing lactation consultant! She was a huge help, without her assistance I don't know if I would have been able to nurse. I saw her daily while in the hospital, and regularly for the first month after we took JC home.
The problems started with our fist feeding, I had inverted nipples and so we had latch issues, and a lot of pain. To get him to nurse he would start on my finger with a feeding tube and transfer to the breast. Due to the extreme tenderness of my nipples they blistered, cracked and bled. I would sit there crying before he ever latched, knowing how much pain was coming. I was literally sick to my stomach while nursing, I couldn't snack with him on the breast and was barley able to drink water. It was truly the worse ongoing pain I have ever experienced. Finally after about 3 months I was able to get nursing figured out, and felt comfortable doing it. We had a long nursing relationship, nursing until he was 17 months old. He weaned when I was about 2 months pregnant with my second child.
I had a much better nursing experience with my daughter. We have had very few issues, some infections, a few issues with mastitis, and I have learnt a lot of new techniques. I have learnt some amazing benefits to coconut oil, apple cider vinegar and probiotics. Katherine is now 20 months old and still nursing and I don't see an end in site. There are days that I really wish she would wean, but when I really think about it I know that she isn't ready and I am really going to miss our time together.