Now, I could go on about this topic for longer than I care to admit, and I could never just leave a Facebook status or post about it, only to be covered up by click bait articles and posts about who know what (what do people even talk about on Facebook?!) so I decided to share my story here.
1) Why I choose to breastfeed. Honestly, I don't know. When I was pregnant, it wasn't something I really had to decide. I had hundreds of decisions to make, but whether or not to breastfeed was never one of them. It was always going to be what happened. I'm not really sure why. Very few people in my family actually breastfed, and if they did, I never remember hearing about it. I'm the oldest of 11 grandkids in my family and my only sibling was born when I was 6 years old and I don't remember ever being exposed to anything other than bottles of formula. Now that I'm a mom, it's about my body being used for what it was made to do, make and feed my babies. And there are a dozen other reasons why I continue to choose to breastfeed. Convenience of never having to warm, wash, carry bottles around or think about formula expiration dates. Cost, The price of formula makes me cringe. The tiny part of me that think it's better to feed your little one as naturally and as chemical-free as possible for their youngest years. Health benefits for me and baby. And honestly, why would I settle for anything but the best for my child when I am fully capable of providing the best for my child, and for free?
2) Inspiration, Advice, or Encouragement. This is something I wish someone would've told me when was pregnant. Go see a lactation consultant. Or five. Stop being to prideful and trying to figure everything out on your own. Your baby deserves better than that. You're not a failure for asking for help. Also, breastfeeding is natural but it doesn't always come naturally. You have to work and learn and try and practice. It took me almost 3 months to figure it out, and even then, I was exclusively pumping. You can do it and it will be worth it, but it's not always going to turn out the way you imagined or the way it has turned out for other moms you know and that's okay.
3) My personal breastfeeding experience. So here we go. When Zachary was born, I spent the entire hospital stay trying to figure out what a "latch" was. He was such a lazy nurser; he'd fall asleep after about 2 or 3 minutes and I knew that probably wasn't long enough to actually get nourishment. He lost almost a pound in his first few days. The first night home, he was crying and crying and I figured it was because he was hungry. Good thing the hospital sent me home with a can of formula. Between my husband's frustration and my mom's protective, "I can fix it all" approach, I was pressured to supplement. My milk hadn't come in after all so I'd be a terrible mom for starving my child. For the next few days, whenever we felt that he was still hungry after nursing, he'd have a bottle. After about 2 more days, my milk finally came in, but it wasn't enough to satisfy Zachary because there wasn't enough demand. I was completely clueless about the delicate supply and demand process. So for 4 months, we had to supplement with formula. I was determined to figure out how to meet his needs. I took fenugreek supplements and pumped every 2 hours for his first 6 weeks, and every 3 hours once I returned back to work. (Pumping at work is a whole other complex and frustrating story.) I switched to a different pump, I ate oatmeal all the freaking time, I stayed hydrated. I got mastitis for Christmas and learned about staying consistent with pumping. Finally, we were able to toss the formula. A month later, I stopped pumping at home and now Zachary is completely on mommy's milk and table food. While I miss being able to wear dresses, I wouldn't trade our bond for anything.
4) A first breastfeeding picture. Sadly, I have exactly zero breastfeeding pictures. I don't even have one from the hospital. I really wish I did, but because I was only pumping for so long, and because nursing in public or in any kind of location that wasn't Zachary's bedroom seemed taboo, I never took any. I also haven't figured out how to balance things like nursing in public and being a teacher while living in a town small enough to run into students on a pretty consistent basis. I don't think that's something I'm ready to have to explain. Anyway, I do have this picture of right after his first latch. After he was born, it was just my husband and I in the hospital room before family came to visit. Zachary and I were hanging out skin to skin for a little while and I was talking to my husband about who knows what when he snapped this picture, mid-sentence. I don't know why he likes it, but I like to remember what those first few hours were like. It must have been almost midnight and we were both so tired, but so excited and filled with so much love. So I guess it's worth keeping.
5-6) A sleepy baby picture/ A picture you love. This is a picture I love of my sleepy baby!
7) What World Breastfeeding Week means to you. I honestly didn't know there was a such thing as World Breastfeeding Week until I got a Facebook invite to our local Big Latch On event. I thought, "Oh my goodness how cool!" I thought it was about time we had a holiday. If there's a National Pancake Day and a International Lefthanders Day, then there should as heck should be a day/week/month to celebrate breastfeeding mothers and to educate others on breastfeeding. I'm not saying that if you don't breastfeed, you don't deserve a holiday, because I know plenty of moms who tried their hardest and it just wasn't anatomically in the cards. But I know a lot of people who never even tried because "who breastfeeds anymore, really?" I also know some who would benefit from knowing that they are supported. For me, this week means that the tiny percentage of babies who get breastfed past 3 months can slowly grow to a not-so-tiny percentage. It means that more people will know that moms breastfeed and go to work full time and can successfully sustain their child's needs. It means that a shy first time mom can rest easy knowing that her efforts are being recognized. And hopefully, it'll led to nursing in public being a normal thing.
So there's my journey so far. Happy National Breastfeeding Month to all my mama friends and soon-to-be mama friends! :)
