August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week, it is a week dedicated to inform, educate, and bring action to protect breastfeeding/chestfeeding families! You can read more here. Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25-31, it is a week to advocate for and encourage black parents to breastfeed. It is also to advocate for more black lactation consultants. You can read more here or here. National Breastfeeding Month is the whole month of August, it is to help advocate, protect, and promote breastfeeding! You can read more about it here or here. All three of these events are to help advance breastfeeding and provide support to lactating families! It is to help you understand you are not alone in your struggles!
So, to celebrate these things, I want to tell you about my breastfeeding journeys!
Alexander- First Baby (Now 10)
I breastfed Alexander for 22 months! He was supplemented with formula from the beginning. He was Coombs positive (DAT+). He was 7 lbs 14 oz! This just means that my blood cells were transferred to his, and they were too big for his liver to break down, so he needed phototherapy. He was supplemented most of his breastfeeding journey. He was "diagnosed" as failure to thrive at EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD. I didn't know better at the time, but we took him to Cook Children's for all the tests- they were inconclusive, THREE times. So, we declined further testing. (He is just small! He weighs 61 pounds at 10, and he eats like crazy) Especially since he was exceeding milestones. This boy was rolling completely by 3 months, sitting up by 4 months, crawling by 5 months, and walking by 7 months! He also refused most table food until 18 months old! He was able to get my breast milk for 22 months total! Our breastfeeding journey was great. I did tons of classes and research before I had him. It was rough in the beginning, but we made it work.
Alexander under phototherapy.
Breastfeeding at the laundromat when he was about 15 months old.
William- Second Baby (Now 8)
I breastfed William for 20 months! He had an IV in the hospital, so I'm thinking he had some blood sugar issues (I don't remember 🤦♀️) He was my biggest baby at 8 lbs 12 oz! He was supplemented a little bit from the beginning as well. I began college when he was 3 months old. I was in my basics, and would pump between classes. Even with this, I breastfed him for 20 months! He was also achieving all his milestones super early! This breastfeeding journey was easier! He now weights 62 pounds at 8!
Breastfeeding William in the hospital!
Big brother Alexander feeding baby William a bottle while I was at school!
Tristan- Third Baby (Now 5)
I breastfed Tristan for 18 months. Tristan was 8 lbs 8 oz at birth. This journey was good and bad at the same time. He was breastfed the least amount of time. In the hospital, I had some adverse effects to the Duramorph in my spinal for my cesarean section. I was severely itchy, vomiting/dry heaving, and very jittery. I was maxed out on all antiemetic medications (for nausea), given Benadryl for the itching, and given Narcan! My husband, Jeff, had to help me latch Tristan for the first time. Now, I was in nursing school when I found out I was pregnant with Tristan. So, I was in school and doing clinicals while pregnant and breastfeeding/pumping! He did get supplemented with formula- 1 bottle per day due to history of my other babies! I had Tristan on Tuesday, got discharged on Thursday, went to simulations on Friday, skipped clinicals on Saturday, and went to an 8 hour class on Monday. It was rough, but I was determined. When Tristan was almost 18 months old, I was having severe depression symptoms. I was having suicidal thoughts multiple times a day. I was very stressed and overwhelmed! I mean I had 3 kids, a husband, was in nursing school, and we had no help! So, I went to my doctor! I was put on antidepressants for postpartum depression. Now it's important to note that I waited MONTHS before getting help. I was scared. Don't be scared ask for help. Anyways, my breastfeeding journey with Tristan ended because I began my nursing career and was working out of town (2.5 hours away), so he weaned himself! It was still a beautiful breastfeeding journey.
My first breastfeeding session with Tristan. This was 2 hours after I had him, and Jeff had to help me latch him! I will always cherish this picture!
Pumping at nursing school! You pump where you can! I was able to sit behind curtains and pull them for privacy!
Evelyn- Fourth (Last) Baby (Now 3)
I breastfed Evelyn for 2.5 years! I also had adverse reactions to the Duramorph. This time, it was more extensive. Jeff had to completely help me and hold Evelyn for the entire feed, because it was unsafe for me to hold her myself. I was again maxed out on antiemetics, Benadryl, and was given Narcan for a while! Evelyn was 7 lbs 12 oz and my smallest baby! She was also Coombs positive (DAT+). So she was under phototherapy also! She was also supplemented with formula mixed with breastmilk 1 time per day, due to the history of the babies! I was working nights, enrolled in my BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) program, and breastfeeding/pumping. Eventually, I was working 2 jobs (a full time L&D, and a PRN float pool), enrolled in my MSN-NLM (Masters of Science in Nursing-Leadership and Management), and breastfeeding/pumping! You can do anything you put your mind to. This journey started out the most difficult with my adverse reaction to the medication, phototherapy, supplementation, working nights (not a lot of sleep), being in school, having 3 other children and a husband, and trying to not lose my sanity! I did end up getting back on antidepressants around 3 months for a little bit, but weaned off by 12 months!
Evelyn under phototherapy in the hospital.
Breastfeeding Evelyn at my BSN graduation photos. Breastfeeding has always been a HUGE part of my life/career/goals, and I just had to have a photo of me breastfeeding in my cap and gown!
Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding is beautiful. Breastfeeding is hard. Breastfeeding is rewarding. I hope that this blog post supports you and gives you confidence to meet your goals! I overcame so many things, but you can too!
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