Five weeks.  I wish someone had told me that it would take five weeks to get breastfeeding established to the point where it was rarely painful.  I thought I had it all figured out around two weeks but then was stricken with more of the cracked nipples and a case of the "gawd, my boobs are on fire."  Spent an hour waiting for the doctor only to have him tell me that sometimes breastfeeding isn't pleasant.  Glad I got to hand over twenty bucks for that advice.  On the bonus side, I had my husband calling me to ask, "How are your breasts doing today."  The constant burning pain finally left after five weeks, and now it's not too bad except for the occasional pinched nipple feeling.

Now I have the problem of the leaking boobs.  This morning I woke up after a good five hours of uninterrupted sleep to find that I'd squirted milk through the sleep bra and nightshirt, onto my jammie pants and also managed to soak a good part of the comforter.  You'd think I was sleeping on a water bed the way I leak in the morning.  But I suppose I should be thankful that I haven't woken up to the dog cleaning up the spill.

Also, I will start leaking when the baby cries.  WTF is that all about?  I'm hoping it's only related to baby Chedda or I will be in for a time when I return to work with crying screaming children in December.  Although squirting them in the head with a booby water gun will probably stun them into silence.

Last night I was reading a baby magazine where I came upon an article on the uses for excess breastmilk.  I'm slightly surprised that anyone would have leftover's as I find Ipump for about thirty minutes to get a couple of tablespoons of milk.  Anyhow, it suggested that a couple of squirts up the nose could cure a stuffy nose or a couple of squirts in the eye could help treat conjuctivitis.  Could you imagine what people would say if they saw me shove a nipple up Chedda's nose in the hopes of clearing his sinuses?  Okay,. I realize they probably meant with an eye dropper-but it's more funny to think of my aiming my big tata's at the babies eyes/nose.  I wonder if it only works on your baby or if I could take my milk making machine out on the road for a little extra cash?  Maybe I should stake out the local Minute Clinic and charge 10.00 vs. an average 20.00 copay to cure the common cold.