With World Breastfeeding Week almost upon us, I thought I'd draw some attention to the topic as a whole, and how breastfeeding has changed my life.
Long before I ever became pregnant with Jett, I knew that I would breastfeed. My mother breastfed my brothers and me, all until we were toddlers. When I found out I was pregnant, I never even questioned it - I knew I'd breastfeed.
I never bought any breastfeeding books or attended any breastfeeding classes. I watched my mom do this a thousand times. You just put the baby's mouth on your boob - it can't be that hard, I thought. Of course, the overly confident, uninformed, first-time mom is always the one who encounters every possible problem - low supply, overactive let-down (which rarely accompanies low supply), thrush, poor weight gain (actually, he lost weight), poor latch, which led to cracked, bleeding nipples, followed by a roaring case of mastitis (breast infection), and, ultimately, I had to use something I never thought I'd need - formula.
After being treated for mastitis at one week postpartum and while suffering from an unholy amount of toe-curling pain, I started looking for support. I found Breastfeeding.com, saw a lactation consultant, bought The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and started educating myself. It was during this period of struggle, searching, and learning that I made an unexpected discovery - this is what I want to do. I want to help women who are struggling with these same issues. It just made sense. It fit. Never before had I felt that I found my "calling", but I found it - even if it was just being there to offer a heart-felt "you can do it!" to a struggling new mom on a message board.
Jett was 11 months old when he weaned, and while I encountered many an issue and used a lot of formula during those 11 months, I still feel that I started as a caterpillar and emerged a beautiful butterfly. We were even able to make it past a pregnancy and miscarriage, which gave the final blow to my milk supply, I believe. Even so, we went on for 3 months after I miscarried.
When I found out I was pregnant with Dax, I made a point to do things differently. I wanted to take every possible precaution to make sure I could breastfeed as soon as possible after he was born (unlike my experience with Jett, wherein I didn't get to nurse him for about 6 hours after he was born). I wanted to have an unmedicated birth with as few interventions as possible. I read everything I could get my hands on. I took classes and found incredible support there. This time, I felt truly confident and empowered. Instead of thinking that I knew everything already, without reading books or taking classes, I actually read the books, took the classes, and educated myself. I was informed, prepared, and ready. Knowledge truly was (and still is) power.
My birth and postpartum experience with Dax was a dream. The labor and delivery was uncomplicated, the birth was almost euphoric, and he latched on perfectly within 30 minutes of being born.
It was incredible. I still get teary eyed when I think about it. After months of struggling with Jett, thinking that my body would never be able to nourish a baby on its own, here we are - 10 weeks out, and Dax weighs over 14 pounds - he was 8 pounds 13 ounces at birth.
I'm still very much interested in starting a career in breastfeeding, perhaps as a counselor, but having two young children has kept me quite busy lately. I'm definitely hoping to further explore that possibility soon.
So, for those of you who were there to support and educate me during my breastfeeding hardships (and triumphs!), I send a heartfelt and long overdue thank you. :)
