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thankful...(BF related)

I guess this is a bit of an AW.   I'd rattle on to DH, but he's working.  So I hope you dont' mind if I rattle on to you! :)

I was just asked to write a letter about my early breastfeeding experiences. I really wanted to be EBF.  Many of you know that made nothing until 4 weeks.  Was told I'd never give my baby anything by the lactation consultant and pretty much was expected to give up. On my own, I took oodles of homeopathic stuff and finally got some milk at 4 weeks.  I've only made ~1 ounce every 3 hours , but I pumped that little amount at work until 6 months, and I have given every bit of what I made to my baby and he's still nursing today!  If I would have listened to the lactation consultant, I would have given up.  I'm just super thankful I have been able to do what I have done, because it was really, really important to me.

I guess writing that letter made me think of how darn proud I am of myself and my commitment and how disappointing the lactation consultant never really encouraged or celebrated with me.  I feel like I've sort of been on this journey solo (well, with DH of course).  I'm hoping her lactation duties will be relieved. 

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Re: thankful...(BF related)

  • Good for you!! I've been reading a lot of bfing stories and blogs, it's awesome when mom's can overcome hardships to be able to bf their babies:)i I read a blog where a mom couldn't bf b/c the baby was tonguetied and she had some other problems, but was able to pump until 5 months when the baby learned to latch on.
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  • You should be proud of yourself! Most people would have given up. I struggled in the beginning with BF and never had much support from the one LC at the hospital too. Along with MH we powered through, I feel like he was more help than the LC!
    imageBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker BabyFetus Ticker Here comes our Pumpkin!
  • Good for you!! I'm glad you persisted. 

    A good friend of mine is a lactation consultant. I certainly hope she wasn't the one you dealt with - as far as I know she is extremely pro-breastfeeding and would probably be the type to go all out to help you - it's too bad there are some out there who would give up so easily when you want to keep trying!  

  • Like PPs have said, you have every reason to be proud of yourself for all of the hard work you've put in to give your little guy the best, and I commend you for that. Breastfeeding/milk production isn't the easiest thing in the world for all mamas, and I have a lot of respect and admiration for you and your determination. Here's hoping your letter helps other mamas who are looking for support on their breastfeeding journey!
    Photobucket
    The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller
    http://cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/
  • You should be proud of yourself! You were determined and provided what you could for your son. Who are you sending the letter to?

  • imagemesa81:

    You should be proud of yourself! You were determined and provided what you could for your son. Who are you sending the letter to?

    Thanks ladies!

     The letter is going to the head of nursing at the hospital I delivered at.  I guess I wasn't the only one who shared a similar story, so I was asked to write a letter to get things changed.  

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  • imagejl&jl:

     Was told I'd never give my baby anything by the lactation consultant and pretty much was expected to give up. 

    Indifferent  I am sitting here praying that you didn't deliver at MMC!  I can't imagine any LC in their right mind telling someone they'll never get BM!  The ones I work with at MMC are borderline nazi-esque with the "breast is best" attitude so if one of them EVER told a patient this, I would be aghast! 

    Nursing school is absolutely the single hardest thing I have ever done in my life!!! But when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on!
    image
    .....and it can't come quickly enough!!!!
  • By the way, you're amazing for working so hard on this like you have.  Good for you!!!
    Nursing school is absolutely the single hardest thing I have ever done in my life!!! But when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on!
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    .....and it can't come quickly enough!!!!
  • That is quite an accomplishment, definitely something to be proud of!  Glad you can share your success so others can benefit from it.
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  • I think you are amazing!  You should be very proud of how hard you worked. 

    The LC's at the hospital here in Dover always told me there's no reason it can't work out.  They work with the LC at our pediatrician's office for longer-term help too.  I'm sorry you didn't receive the (almost annoying) positive encouragement that we did.  

  • imageMrsSkye77:
    imagejl&jl:

     Was told I'd never give my baby anything by the lactation consultant and pretty much was expected to give up. 

    Indifferent  I am sitting here praying that you didn't deliver at MMC!  I can't imagine any LC in their right mind telling someone they'll never get BM!  The ones I work with at MMC are borderline nazi-esque with the "breast is best" attitude so if one of them EVER told a patient this, I would be aghast! 

     

     It wasn't MMC. I do think most lactation consultants are super supportive.  This one has been there a looong time and sort of has an unspoken monopoly over all the BFing moms.  It needs to be changed and I think it will be with the help of a few moms.  I think this LC thinks she knows best because she's been doing it for so long.  I think she thought it would be disappointing to me emotionally to not make enough.  I can't control that I couldn't be an EBF.  But, I could control whether or not I could give him some, and to me some was better than none.  The part that bothered me was she didn't seem to guide me to make a choice.  She seemed to make the choice for me and that's just not fair. 

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