ibreastfed.com

Keeping strong – Emily’s story

Posted on September 27, 2009
Filed under: Expressing, Latch problems, Premature baby, Working mothers

Breastfeeding started out a challenge for the two of us. Before my daughter’s birth, support for me breastfeeding was mixed, the negative comments made me want to prove everyone wrong. Even the supporters were saying there was no need to BF after six weeks, due to research, I knew better.

A month early, my daughter was born and stayed in the NICU for ten days. The BF assistant made sure that I received my hospital pump, showed me how to use it and helped me get the tiny bit of colostrum I was making.

When the hospital staff finally allowed me to put my little girl directly on the breast, the BF nurse was right there at my breast helping the two of us manage. My milk came in after day six, the day after I was discharged from the hospital. Even after help from the BF nurse, we continued to struggle with her tiny mouth and my lack of knowledge about breastfeeding.

Due to our latch struggle, I pumped my breast milk for a little over a month. It was exhausting, yet I persevered. I didn’t have enough to store up reserves, so I pumped then fed, pumped then fed, for what seemed an eternity. After a month of this I knew there were only two options- give it all up, or figure it out. Choice one was not an option for me, I was going to figure this out.

After a week of mixed feedings, my daughter and I achieved true BF status. At first there was an uncomfortable tingling as the milk dropped, which gradually faded away. Upon her third month of life, I had to return to work. I am fortunate to work for a European company that provides milk-making-mamas a lockable private room to pump.

It was a lovely 5′x6′ room with two plush chairs, a fridge, sink and tiny lockers to put lock our pumps in. During the year that I pumped at work, I became very close to one of the ladies there, we are still good friends. There is a lot of time to get to know someone when you pump with them, and many opportunities for laughter.

The funny thing about my breastfeeding experience was that my daughter became very jealous if I pretended to let one of her dollies suckle. She did not like that one bit and would holler incomprehensible babble until I took the dolly off.

Around my daughter’s first year, she became less interested in BF, yet I wanted to continue, I knew that it was best for her. As her interest dwindled and my BF support from family and all of my friends but two, I felt pressured to stop BF. My active little girl no longer wanted to cuddle at my breast, she wanted a quick snack and to be off. After a month of this, my breasts were only producing 1/4 cup of milk a day.

From this point on, until my little girl was around two and lost all BF interest, she received my breast for emotional support. She knew they were always there, tucked beneath shirt and bra for her comfort. My daughter, now 2 1/2 still finds my breasts fascinating and giggles when she gets close to them.

Sleeping Babe After a week of mixed feedings, my daughter and I achieved true BF status. At first there was an uncomfortable tingling as the milk dropped, which gradually faded away. Upon her third month of life, I had to return to work. I am fortunate to work for a European company that provides milk-making-mamas a lockable private room to pump.