Christine's Breastfeeding Journey

I like to meet with families prenatally to give them breastfeeding education, but the main goal is to start building a relationship so that mom will be more willing to reach out for help when needed after having the baby. Moms forget most of the education from the prenatal visit but I tell them they don't have to remember...the only thing they need to remember is to call me and come to get a check up after the baby is born! Some latching pain is a mystery and will resolve in a week or two. Christine's discomfort was able to resolve and she went on to have a positive breastfeeding experience. Here is Christine's Breastfeeding Journey....

Baby Colin 4 days old!

     "My journey started when I was about 7 months pregnant. I saw an advertisement for MotherBorn in my Ob/Gyn office while I was there for a check up. All I knew about breastfeeding at that time was that I wanted to do it once my son arrived, so I scheduled an appointment. My husband and I met with Dana one evening in her office to get a crash course in what to do and what to expect. Through no fault of her own, I felt overwhelmed because it was like she was speaking a different language! This was my first child and I had no idea what I was doing. I left the appointment feeling a little nervous but glad that I went. However, since I wasn’t in the thick of breastfeeding at the time, I forgot about everything I had learned.

For the first 2 weeks after I delivered my son, I was in agony every time he nursed. I did not have mastitis or an infection. I would cry when Colin woke up hungry in the middle of the night to feed because I dreaded the pain that would shoot through my body when he latched on. At first, I suffered in silence. Then I opened up to my husband and mom about it and they both reminded me that I could meet with Dana to talk about it. I was very lucky to have such a supportive spouse.

On an unusually warm day in November, I packed up my newborn and went to see Dana. Although we never figured out the cause of my pain, it eventually went away and I ended up having a wonderful breastfeeding experience. I am so grateful for Dana’s encouragement because I otherwise would have stopped breastfeeding just 2 weeks after delivery. I was ready to give up because I thought breastfeeding shouldn’t be this difficult or painful, therefore I must be doing something wrong. Dana taught me that anything goes when it comes to breastfeeding and even though it’s a natural process, there are a lot of variables that can affect it and everyone’s experience is different.

I also met with Dana when it was time to go back to work and she helped me figure out a manageable pumping schedule so I could provide bottles for my sitters. I went to her when it was time to introduce solids and when it was time to wean. Initially, my goal was to breastfeed until Colin started solids, but he and I were doing so well, so I changed the end goal to when he got teeth. But he and I were doing so well, so I changed the end goal to when he turned one year old. But he and I were doing so well, so I got rid of my end goal entirely. I pumped every single night for over a year so that my husband (or babysitter) could give Colin a bottle each night and I breastfed on demand during the day. I breastfed until February 2017, 16 months after my son was born. I had a gut feeling that he and I were both finished with it and I was very at peace with my decision to stop when I did.

Big Boy Colin at 18 months!

Another invaluable service that Dana provided me as a new mom was Mother’s Morning Out. It was on Thursday mornings for 2 hours. It was an informal group session that allowed us to discuss breastfeeding issues and also to feed our children in a safe and comfortable environment. I originally thought it would just be a good chance for me to get out of the house and maybe chat with fellow moms. I had no idea I would be building a support system that I know will last me a lifetime. I met an amazing and supportive group of moms that I wouldn’t have been able to survive the first year of motherhood without. We have a text group and talk almost every day about our crazy toddlers!

Being a new, breastfeeding mom is extremely hard. I learned that it’s 100% okay to ask for help, especially when that help is coming from a trained professional who is clearly so passionate about what she does. I am so thankful for Dana and so thankful for the breastfeeding experience that I had. I hope to have a similar experience with any future children I may have, but I will always take to heart that each child is different and I know I have someone in my corner who will help me deal with whatever comes my way on that journey." Christine