🍼 Parenting Journal | Parenting Diary
🌏 Language: EN |
KR
[11/28 (Fri) · Day 4 with BB]
Day 2 at the postpartum care center. We checked in late yesterday afternoon, and this morning I received a short orientation from the head nurse in the newborn room. She taught me how to use the breast pump and explained that pumping every three hours helps increase milk supply and reduces breast pain. Since I had already started feeling engorged last night, I tried the pump first thing this morning.
Because it was my first time pumping, I didn’t realize that milk would still be left on my breasts afterward. It dripped onto my clothes, and I wasn’t sure whether to leave it or wipe it off. Thinking it would be safer, I used the “baby” wet wipes I brought from home.
Not long after pumping, I got a feeding call. A nurse brought BB to my room. Just like I learned in the hospital, I put on the nursing pillow, placed one foot on the footrest, and held BB to latch. He usually latches immediately and starts sucking right away, but today he touched the nipple once, then suddenly shut his mouth tight and turned his head away.
I panicked a little. Was it because of the wet wipes? I wasn’t sure, so I tried again—but he turned away again. I wondered, “Maybe he’s not hungry?” I laid him back down, but he cried loudly. I picked him up again and tried the other side. He seemed like he might latch, but then pulled away once more. He eventually latched for a moment, but didn’t really suck. I had no choice but to take him back to the nursery. My heart felt heavy.
A few hours later, the director of the care center came by to give me a breast massage. I took the chance to ask her about what happened. She told me that I should never wipe my breast during breastfeeding, especially not with wet wipes. She explained that baby wipes contain microplastics, so if a baby latches after the breast has been wiped, they could end up ingesting them. Hearing that, my stomach dropped. I felt terrible. I kept thinking, “Why didn’t I check first? Why did I assume it would be fine?”
I went back to my room and washed my breasts with water only. I hoped that doing so would help a little, even if just mentally.
Later, another feeding call came. Maybe rinsing with water helped, because BB latched longer this time—though still not for very long. Yesterday he would at least stay latched even if he wasn’t actively sucking, but today was different. I felt so guilty, as if everything was my fault. I worried that he might avoid latching from now on.
Maybe this whole “wet wipe incident” will feel like nothing someday. But for me—a mother of only four days—it stayed in my mind all the way until bedtime. I tried telling myself, “It’s only been four days. I’m still learning,” but my shoulders sank anyway. Hoping BB feeds better tomorrow, I finally closed my eyes.
|
| BB, four days old |
This article is the English version on Today 1 Step.
🍼 Parenting Journal | Parenting Diary
This post is part of the “Parenting Journal” series —
a collection of late-pregnancy moments, birth preparation stories, and the emotional journey of welcoming our baby.
It continues into our day-to-day life with a newborn and will one day become a precious keepsake for our child.
👉 View more posts:
Parenting Journal Archive
Comments
Post a Comment