Breastfeeding is a celebration of life and is all about bonding with my
daughter and being able to provide her with the sustenance she needs. One
of the things I was most looking forward to when I found out I was pregnant
with my first child was nursing. From the time I was a small girl my
mother told me how special it was to nurse me and my brother and I knew wanted
to do the same. My plans to breastfeed my first child for her first year
of life changed when I was diagnosed with cancer at the very beginning of my
second trimester. I was told that I would need to undergo six months of
chemotherapy following my pregnancy and delivery of my child. Marie was
born via emergency C-section at 36 weeks and I immediately began breastfeeding,
knowing that I would have to stop in a few short weeks when I started my
treatments.
Breastfeeding didn't come easily because Marie was a preemie and I was in
poor health from the cancer that had been growing in my body throughout my
pregnancy. I pumped to build my supply and to provide Marie with breast
milk after I started chemotherapy. I breastfed her until the morning I
had my port placed and started treatments. I mourned the abrupt end to
breastfeeding and hoped that if we were able to become pregnant again following
chemotherapy that I would be able to nurse my next child.
I gave birth to my second daughter, Belle, via VBAC 16 months after
being told my cancer was in remission. We have enjoyed 17 months of
breastfeeding and are still going strong. For me, nursing Belle is a
testament to overcoming obstacles and emerging stronger on the other side.
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