I
thought all was going well with breastfeeding until my son abruptly stopped
nursing
when
he was 2 weeks old. We met with a lactation consultant who helped us understand
his
issues. His head had been twisted in the birth canal which put pressure on
certain
areas
of his head, neck, and spine. This restricted the movement of those areas and
also
affected
his ability to open his mouth wide enough and tilt his head back for a proper
latch.
My son
needed craniosacral therapy to help his head shape more correctly and in turn
affected
his latch ability. He also had a lip and tongue tie that restricted his ability
to nurse.
Due to
the latch issues my son experienced, I exclusively pumped for the first 3
months
after
his birth. This was one of the hardest and most trying times in my life. I had
so badly
wanted
to nurse him.
We
worked long and hard with a therapist and chiropractor to help him understand
how to latch
correctly.
We also decided to have his lip and tongue tie corrected, which helped
immensely. When we first met with the lactation consultant, my milk supply had
dwindled because he wasn't able to nurse effectively enough to drain my breasts.
I remember thinking, "There's not enough coming out to feed him," and
we had to supplement some in the beginning with formula.
However,
I was determined to get him back on the breast. I worked around the clock with
him, and after 3 months he finally began nursing correctly! I remember many
phone calls and text messages to a dear friend who helped me keep going. I also
attended a weekly breastfeeding support group that was instrumental in our
success.
I
think having a support system around you is so important. My husband was so
supportive and never once complained about helping with those midnight and
early morning feedings so that I could continue pumping to help build my
supply. My son loved nursing so much that we just celebrated two and a half years
of nursing together! I was sadly ready to be done, but if it was up to him he'd
still be nurse if I let him.
I
pumped so much in the beginning that I was also able to donate my milk to other
moms in need. Donating my milk was such a rewarding experience. I was thrilled
to be able to help others. I learned so much about patience and perseverance
during our journey, and I hope this helps another mom
who's struggling and
wanting to quit. It was all worth it in the end!
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