This is the second post from Jenn, (she also wrote the NIP post.) She will be the main blogger at Nursing Mothers Welcome. Jenn will be speaking to you about her personal breastfeeding journey and about news and events that relate to the mission of Nursing Mothers Welcome.
It was the week before Mother’s day 2012. I had a positive pregnancy test. I could hardly believe it. “This might actually happen for us after all,” I thought as I ran to show my husband of 7 years. After a few much needed confirmations from bloodwork to early sonograms we were on our way to parenthood, due January 15, 2013. It took us over three years to have a successful pregnancy. As the baby and I grew, my husband and I would talk about our plans for the future and how we would raise this child.
Mission
Statement.
Our Mission is to have breastfeeding become more accepted and respected world wide by showing images of discrete breastfeeding so that future generations grow up knowing that breastfeeding can be done anytime and anywhere.
Our Mission is to have breastfeeding become more accepted and respected world wide by showing images of discrete breastfeeding so that future generations grow up knowing that breastfeeding can be done anytime and anywhere.
It was the week before Mother’s day 2012. I had a positive pregnancy test. I could hardly believe it. “This might actually happen for us after all,” I thought as I ran to show my husband of 7 years. After a few much needed confirmations from bloodwork to early sonograms we were on our way to parenthood, due January 15, 2013. It took us over three years to have a successful pregnancy. As the baby and I grew, my husband and I would talk about our plans for the future and how we would raise this child.
The thing at the top of my mind was
breastfeeding. I would think how wonderful it would be if I could
breastfeed successfully. Whenever people would ask me if I plan to
breastfeed I would reply that I would at least try but there was this
seed of doubt in my mind about it. I only knew what my mother told me
of her experience with breastfeeding me and my sister. I found in my
baby book that my mother kept at day 3 after I was born she started
me on formula. She told me that she could not breastfeed. She was so
afraid I was not getting enough so she fed me formula that way she
knew I was at least getting fed. I assumed that maybe it was
something inherited that I would most likely fail at breastfeeding
too. I did not take into consideration that my mother may not have
had a whole lot of positive breastfeeding support and encouragement
at that time. I was looking at an article in the journal of nutrition
called The Resurgence of Breastfeeding at the End of the Second
Millenium by Anne L.Wright and Richard J. Schanler. They cited from
studies conducted in 1972 (in the era when I was born) showed that
initiation to breastfeed was on its way up to around 55%, however
mothers that continued to breastfeed into the 6 months mark dipped to
a low of around 23%.
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/2/421S.short#sec-1
Numbers are showing now that with more
support and education regarding the benefits of breastmilk in 2009
the CDC surveys show that 76.9% of mothers initiated breastfeeding
and at the 6 month mark 47.2% had continued to breastfeed.
My husband was my first and most
important line of support. He reminded me not to set myself up for
failure before I even started. If I am to succeed I need to think
positive right now so as my pregnancy went on I began to proudly
state that, Yes I AM going to breastfeed this child. I believe in
the importance of breastfeeding to give my child her best start. I
learned that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of diarrhea, asthma
and ear infections as well as reduce the risk for obesity and
diabetes. Even more, I was surprised to learn about the benefits
breastfeeding has for the mother too! Breastfeeding enhances mood,
helps you to bond with your baby, it burns 500 calories a day and
reduces a mother’s risk for certain types of breast cancer because
breastfeeding brings a woman’s breast into full maturity. I was
armed and ready to go!
Once my baby, Francesca Rose, made her
appearance four days early on January 11, the hospital encouraged me
to have her latch on as soon as possible. There was a lactation
consultant available, the nurses helped us and the hospital
encourages the mothers to have the babies room in. My doula, who was
a successful mother of 3 breast-fed babies, came to check on us once
we were home. She was a huge influence in my life as I had watched
her start her own family before we even got started. She offered me
some wonderful advice so as to not feel so overwhelmed. She said the
job of feeding the baby is top priority and it will take a lot out of
me, so do like the baby does- Sleep, eat, feed, change diaper and
nothing else matters. Stay on the couch and let my husband take care
of me and the menial household chores.
Whenever I was unsure of something or
just needed encouragement I had a number of resources to turn to for
help from doulas, and other mom’s, to my husband, lactation
consultants, and the web. It really does take a village, ya know, so
don’t be afraid to ask for help. I cannot say enough about having
a doula or a lactation consultant to turn to. Included is a link to
Doulas of the Hudson Valley
http://www.doulasofthehudsonvalley.com/our-doulas.html
and breastfeeding resouces from the Breastfeeding Initiative of
Ulster County
http://breastfeedingulstercounty.wordpress.com/ucbf-resources/lactation-consultant/
Great Job Jen! I breastfed jr and it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Here are some of my unique experiences... Breastfeeding helped me console my son when he became gravely ill at 5 months old. He needed a medication that was known for side effects of irritability, inability to be consoled, among other more serious complications like heart and liver failure. He was having uncontrollable seizures and it was sooo scarry. My son didn't have these horrible side effects and he remained calm and rested alot and I believe this is due to both the bond and the comfort nursing provides. This bond has endured his life as a special needs child, and has helped me with so many things like ASL (sign language) for his hearing impairment, teaching self-help skills for his vision impairment which requires physical closeness and a connection that is often difficult to establish, like eye contact for children with Autism and Special Needs. Nursing is a great start and often we only think about it for healthy children, but it even more important to be prepared for the unexpected obstacles and nursing gives us this advantage!
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