This blog was originally written and posted on my Mom Blog on August 28, 2014.
For the last few years, breastfeeding or nursing has become a widely talked about subject despite the fact that the act itself is still considered somewhat taboo in America. I wholeheartedly support breastfeeding for many reasons and since August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I wanted to share my personal story.
I knew I wanted to breastfeed PAC Man before he was even born. I knew that breastfeeding would not only take my bond with my son to a higher level, but it would also keep the oxytocin flowing, help me loose the baby weight and of course, save me lots of money with not having to buy formula. I would like to say that all of these things happened and that nursing my son was a piece of cake. But it wasn’t.
The bonding happened immediately. Even before I ever nursed him. He was born on a Friday, but it wasn’t until the next day that I actually nursed him. I had been waiting for the lactation consultant to come and visit with me, but she never did. A shift nurse came to check on me and asked me how nursing was going. I told her that I hadn’t yet tried, but I wanted to. With her help, I was nursing my son in a matter of minutes! And my husband was right there supporting me :) We left the hospital and headed home a day later and that was when my milk REALLY came in! I was a bit sad though because I only had a hand pump and that got old quick. It would be another three weeks before I received my electric pump, but it was heaven sent! I did loose some of my supply simply because I couldn’t keep up with just the hand pump, but I took Fenugreek supplements and drank Mother’s Milk tea to help with my production. I know now, that had I been eating properly as well, I could have increased my supply even more.
Although I stayed home with PAC Man for nearly 8 months, I did eventually start to supplement some of his feedings with formula because the more he grew, the more he ate. And I just couldn’t keep my production up. This did give my husband more of an opportunity to feed and bond with our son as well and that was really important to me and him. I am proud to say that I nursed my son for nearly 10 months! There were some challenges, but I loved that I was able to nourish him just the same as I did when I carried him. Sadly, I stopped because he had A LOT of teeth and I wasn’t sure what to do about him biting me at the time. Today, I am much more educated on biting, weaning and breastfeeding in general. I only nursed PAC Man once or twice out in public, but I feel that every nursing mother has the right to whip out her boob and feed her child at any time. It’s one of the most natural things in the world.
What some people don’t realize everything us moms do just to keep up our milk supply because it can be gone in an instant. It really is liquid GOLD!! I know mothers that have to pump in closets, bathrooms and their cars just to make sure their babies have milk while they work. I know mothers that have been escorted out of public establishments because they chose to breastfeed in public. Nothing about being a mother is perfect, but the joy we get making our children happy is more than enough for us. We don’t need the added negativity. So cheers to all of you breastfeeding mothers out there! I support you! You know the naysayers may be mad because they don't have the ability to do it. Breastfeeding is a superpower!
Like the cool logo on my graphic above? Click on it and it will take you to Spread Shirt where you can order that t-shirt and other breastfeeding shirts like it.
I knew I wanted to breastfeed PAC Man before he was even born. I knew that breastfeeding would not only take my bond with my son to a higher level, but it would also keep the oxytocin flowing, help me loose the baby weight and of course, save me lots of money with not having to buy formula. I would like to say that all of these things happened and that nursing my son was a piece of cake. But it wasn’t.
The bonding happened immediately. Even before I ever nursed him. He was born on a Friday, but it wasn’t until the next day that I actually nursed him. I had been waiting for the lactation consultant to come and visit with me, but she never did. A shift nurse came to check on me and asked me how nursing was going. I told her that I hadn’t yet tried, but I wanted to. With her help, I was nursing my son in a matter of minutes! And my husband was right there supporting me :) We left the hospital and headed home a day later and that was when my milk REALLY came in! I was a bit sad though because I only had a hand pump and that got old quick. It would be another three weeks before I received my electric pump, but it was heaven sent! I did loose some of my supply simply because I couldn’t keep up with just the hand pump, but I took Fenugreek supplements and drank Mother’s Milk tea to help with my production. I know now, that had I been eating properly as well, I could have increased my supply even more.
Although I stayed home with PAC Man for nearly 8 months, I did eventually start to supplement some of his feedings with formula because the more he grew, the more he ate. And I just couldn’t keep my production up. This did give my husband more of an opportunity to feed and bond with our son as well and that was really important to me and him. I am proud to say that I nursed my son for nearly 10 months! There were some challenges, but I loved that I was able to nourish him just the same as I did when I carried him. Sadly, I stopped because he had A LOT of teeth and I wasn’t sure what to do about him biting me at the time. Today, I am much more educated on biting, weaning and breastfeeding in general. I only nursed PAC Man once or twice out in public, but I feel that every nursing mother has the right to whip out her boob and feed her child at any time. It’s one of the most natural things in the world.
What some people don’t realize everything us moms do just to keep up our milk supply because it can be gone in an instant. It really is liquid GOLD!! I know mothers that have to pump in closets, bathrooms and their cars just to make sure their babies have milk while they work. I know mothers that have been escorted out of public establishments because they chose to breastfeed in public. Nothing about being a mother is perfect, but the joy we get making our children happy is more than enough for us. We don’t need the added negativity. So cheers to all of you breastfeeding mothers out there! I support you! You know the naysayers may be mad because they don't have the ability to do it. Breastfeeding is a superpower!
Like the cool logo on my graphic above? Click on it and it will take you to Spread Shirt where you can order that t-shirt and other breastfeeding shirts like it.
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