Now I remember why I stopped pumping milk into a bottle to feed my son. Every time I use a breast pump, I get a clogged duct hours later. It's just not made for me. After I gave birth to my son, I would pump every 3-4 hours so that I could keep my supply up and my husband can participate in feeding him too. Around 5 weeks, I got mastitis and had to go to the hospital because I had a 103 degree fever. 

Ever since the mastitis incident, they encouraged me to directly nurse my son so that it will get unclogged better and I would just directly feed him from then on. It makes it easier because I didn't have to time myself around the clock to pump and clean any bottles afterwards. It was cleaner, the milk was warmer for him and we have a good bonding time at every feeding. 

If you read my previous blog entry, my son is starting to bite me while I am feeding him at 11 months old. It got so bad, I have a sore on my nipple and it hurts so much when he is feeding on it. So then, I resorted to pumping. Foolish me, I forgot that I would usually get a clogged duct afterwards. And you know what? Not only does the machine inefficiently empties my supply but also creates a mess and then I now had a sore nipple and a clogged duct all in the same breast! Worse yet, he just plays with the bottle like it's a toy. And when I put the bottle nipple his mouth, he goes through a tantrum and throws the bottle away. He refuses to be fed with a bottle. Oh, I am in big trouble. 

So, I had to nurse him so he would feel better and go to sleep. I cringed through the pain and stayed up for hours reading on articles on how to better deal with this transition. I am still planning on weaning him at 12 months old, which is coming soon. I know it's going to be a challenge and I just can't wait.