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(Go back to Part 1 and Part 2) My new little guy is 4 weeks old today and our breastfeeding journey has had several challenges of it’s own. After his delivery, I was trembling and somewhat incoherent. We later found out this was possibly because I have postpartum preeclampsia. When I was finally taken to my room and my new son was brought to me, I felt like we already had a lot of catching up to do. I tried to get him to latch on, but it just wasn’t happening. New Breastfeeding Problems I proceeded to give him a bottle and he seemed to choke on it. I called the nurse and he was quickly taken to the Neonatal Intensive ...Read More

(Go back to Part 1) 5 years later, my husband and I were overjoyed, although still very surprised at the news that we would be having another child. When my second daughter was born, I still had a deep desire to breastfeed. I wasn’t as hell bent on it happening this time, but I still really, really wanted to. When she was born, I had her latch on for a little while and then had my husband feed her a bottle. I again had one of those horrid sounding blue pumps. I used it for only 2 weeks before I threw in the towel. Again there were tears, but not nearly as many. This go around there seemed to be a bit more judgment ...Read More

I was only 17 the day a doctor told me I had cervical cancer. After hearing the word cancer, I felt my body go a little numb. The doctor continued to talk. I had lost 2 grandparents to cancer. I could feel my heart throbbing, and the doctor continued to talk. I missed most of what he said to me. I felt like I left my body and was on another planet. I just wanted him to shut up. His statistics and treatment plans... no one had ever talked to me about these sort of things. He ended with the information that his suggested method of treatment would leave me unable to have children. Three years later... I was sitting at work ...Read More

One of the first times I ever saw (or at least noticed) someone breastfeeding a baby was when I was 19 years old. I was having a chat with my pastor's wife on their back porch when her then 15-month-old toddled over to where we were sitting. She nonchalantly lifted her shirt and very discretely nursed him for a few seconds before he wandered off to chase his big brother. My thoughts ranged from offended ("She's going to do that right here in front of me?!") to horrified ("This is a walking child! He's much too old for that!") to sympathy ("Poor lady, she just doesn't know how to say no to her child.") It never occurred ...Read More

I am the proud mother of a 6-month old baby girl. She is beautiful and wonderful and hungry…very hungry. She was born weighing 5 pounds and decided to waste no time getting caught up to her larger cousins. I knew from the beginning that I would be returning to work and that I wanted to continue breastfeeding when I did. Our doula recommended an electric double breast pump. The price tag was a bit shocking but we were able to find one for sale at our local kids consignment sale for less than half of what it costs new. We only had to purchase the replacement parts (tubing, bottles, etc.), and my bank account was much ...Read More

I was totaling up the other night how many years I've spent nursing my children. After four children, it's just under seven and a half years and counting. Our youngest is 18 months old and still loves to nurse, showing no interest in weaning. I'm fully committed to breastfeeding past one year. The physical, emotional, and mental health benefits are incredible, and I believe it's good for moms, too! However, I wouldn't for one moment lie that breastfeeding is always full of fuzzy, lovely, rose-hued moments, especially at this point in the game (for me). Sometimes I start to feel a little tired of nursing. Perhaps it ...Read More

I had planned on breastfeeding from the minute I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I don't know why I was so excited to do it, but I was.  I read up on it and when she was born at the hospital, I talked to the lactation consultant every day. I wanted to be good. I also wanted to be able to nurse in public (NIP). I told my husband that I would do it and "forget anyone that would side eye me!" Then, one blissful Saturday afternoon, we were at Target walking around buying baby gear, and my little newborn baby started crying. She was hungry. I panicked. I started to breathe heavily and broke out in a sweat. What ...Read More