Providing breast milk for my three little ones has to be one
of my greatest accomplishments as a Mommy. With each little one (I have three),
my breastfeeding experiences started with us behind the eight ball somehow. I
have encountered every setback/hurdle/booby trap that is possible for a Mommy
and her baby. And it’s because I persevered and overcame those hurdles to
fulfill my goals of providing milk for each of my babies, I think it’s
important for Mommies to understand that breastfeeding is not black and white.
Breastfeeding success is not destination, but a journey…
With the birth of my first baby girl coming up on 6 years
ago, I knew nothing about breastfeeding. I didn’t research it… I didn’t even
take that class they offer in the hospital. I wanted to breastfeed, but
considering how my husband and I took three months to pick out a stroller,
researching the ins and outs of every baby related item… the amount of time I
took to prepare myself for a successful breastfeeding journey was laughable.
For me, success was making it the 6 months (I wanted more, but a nursing strike
stunted our already difficult breastfeeding relationship). I pumped for the
rest of her first year, and while she was always supplemented, it was a badge
of honor to know I did it.
With my second, my prized boy, I dived into ways to ensure
we’d be successful right off the bat. I loved nursing, and darn it, I wanted to
nurse exclusively for a year. I learned ways to combat my low supply, and how
to prevent it. I even had my scheduled C-section set for late morning so that I
could get a full nights rest and bargained with the CRNA to not give me the
usual Benadryl that knocked me out with my darling first born girl. After
everything I learned from my first breastfeeding journey, and all the
preparation for my son, I considered myself a self-taught breastfeeding
reference/guru, but that still didn’t prevent obstacles from sprouting up, and
my breastfeeding success was making it 9 months of exclusive breastfeeding
(losing out to another nursing strike!) and pumping for the remainder of his
first year.
With third, and last precious girl, I can safely argue… I
knew it all. Since the birth of my first
daughter, my passion for breastfeeding grew. I am a registered nurse, and made
the switch from the ER to the NICU, where I championed and taught new moms of
critically ill infants the power of mother’s milk. I took the steps and became
a CLC, then passed my IBCLC boards this last fall… but that didn’t stop my baby
girl from coming a month early. All my prep work didn’t prevent my baby girl
from needing an NICU stay… BUT I knew how to combat early mother/baby
separation. During her NICU stay she received Donor Breast milk, until mine
came in… a long 4 days and from the moment she was stable, I held her skin to
skin. We did non-nutritive breastfeeding, I pumped, I hand expressed, I refused
bottle feeds (knowing they can gavage feed (force feed thru tubes) remainders;
being an NI nurse and an NI mommy was a hard line to walk) I did everything…
and it was exhausting. For me success
has been practicing what I preach, and follow through. Of course, we battled a
lip tie, moderate reflux, and I cried/prayed/pleaded during her 6 and 9 month
nursing strikes… but we overcame it. I had to practice what I preach, knowing
we can get through it! AND we did. My sweet girl is 15 months, and still nurses
several times a day. I thank God for the privilege to nurse her still (because
as a lactivist, I wanted to nurse a toddler!)… and pat myself on the back for
my patience, and perseverance.
Breastfeeding success isn’t measured in duration. It’s not
measured in exclusivity… and that’s because a successful breastfeeding journey can’t be measured. Never compare, never
judge. Breastfeed for yourself, for your little one, and love every precious
second of it.
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