Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

08/03/2011

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, we will be featuring some unique and informative articles related to moms, babies and the wonderful world of breastfeeding!

As I was reading the twitter feed for #WBW, I began to reflect on my own breastfeeding journey as a new mom.  We had a very difficult time becoming pregnant, so when I was 2 days away from committing to adoption and found out I was pregnant, I  instantly became a mom-zilla for all things good and natural for my little my miracle.  After hiring a Doula, hypno-therapist, enrolling in pre-natal yoga and purchasing tons of birth method books I definitely had an idea how I wanted my pregnancy, delivery and child rearing to go!  The baby industry seems to have a bit of ESP when it comes to seeking out pregnant moms.  The formula samples began to flow in fast and furious through my mail box.  I continued to give the samples away to friends, family and the food bank.  I already ‘knew’ that I would be breastfeeding solely until cow’s milk could be introduced at one.

To my great surprise, after a tumultuous 44 hour labor and the decision to go with a cesarean (and sadly an epidural at hour 42) we had no trouble with breastfeeding!  This was definitely one of my biggest worries about introducing any drugs into my delivery.  I vividly recall being out of the O.R. for about 10 minutes and my new born baby wailing in my husbands arms.  She was nearly climbing him in search of food!  The nurse and lactation consultant told me I had to wait until I was un-frozen enough for them to show me what to do.  There was no instruction necessary.  Madelyn (born 3 weeks early at almost 8lbs!) knew exactly what she was doing and the rest was history.  Let’s just say we were one of those mom & baby nursing duos who could have probably had a hands off approach to breastfeed (meaning I could have been hands off and she would have still be latched on!)

Our breastfeeding journey was off to a great start!  Her voracious appetite continued on and she eating all solids by about 5 months – meat, veggies, fruit and basically anything we could put shovel into her mouth.    She was about seven months old when she first went on a nursing strike.  I use this terminology now that I know more about all of this, but at the time, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.  I thought I was simply out of milk!  In hindsight, this would have been an ideal time to seek out an IBCLC (Certified Lactation Consultant) We were away in Texas visiting my inlaws, and I remember very clearly being in the formula isle at Target and wondering what the heck I should be buying.  We ended up just going with the most expensive formula and bottle set available (because we didn’t know how else to choose!) and pretty much from that first formula bottle, our breastfeeding journey came to an abrupt halt.  No side effects at all from my standpoint – it was like our special connection hadn’t ever existed.  I missed it, felt let down and worried about what was in the formula.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Well, I learned a few things from this experience…. Firstly, no amount of planning can ever really prepare you for your kids.  They are all different and sometimes things don’t work out exactly as you want them to.  Secondly, don’t be so hard on yourself.  We all do the very best we can do for our children!  Lastly, there are so many amazing professionals out there.  My situation might have turned out a bit differently had I found some help!

Please leave comments – I would love to hear about your own breastfeeding journeys!

~Carol; Mommy Connections Founder