I had no Pregnancy complications, but almost all delivery complication including.. induction at 10 days late (Pitocin), 3 1/2 hours of pushing, failed vacuum extraction (twice), forceps delivery, retained placenta, and 4th degree lacertions.

My son was born at 12:24am and my doctor manually removed my placenta at about 1:30. My son had APGARS of 3 and 8 so he was sent to the nursery for observation. I ended up in the OR for lacertion repairs as I was in so much pain and nothing they gave me would help so they put me under anestesia. I woke up in recovery at 5 am. At this point I still hadn't held my son and only had a quick kiss in the delivery room. About 6 am my nurse wheeled my by the nursery where I was able to see him through the window. I had intended on breastfeeding, but as he was held up he started spitting up formula so I knew for sure he had been given some. Oh well I was glad as I hadn't seen him in 6 hours so he would've been pretty hungry.

After getting to my room I was only able to sleep for an hour before I asked them to bring him to me. About 9 hours after his birth I was attempting to breastfeed. The nurse gave him to me and said feed him and then she was gone. I was exausted, he was frustrated and hungry so I gave up and called for bottles. The same nurse came back and carefully showed me how to bottlefeed him. Grrr!!!

Later that day a lactation consultant came in and I was almost in tears. She was very nice and said that I could still try the next day when we might both be ready and she would have the other lactation. consultant come by. The next day she did come by. Brett, my son, was crying so loudly, but she grabbed my breast and shoved him on it and PRESTO!!!! It worked!!!! They really worked!!!!! She was impressed that Brett latched on so good. She said her children never got that good til a few weeks old. He is 4 months old as I write this and his growth is still off the charts. He was 9lbs. and 7 oz. 22 inches at birth and is now 15 lbs. 10 oz. and 27 1/4 inches at 4 months. I had intended on breastfeeding fo only 3 months, but as you can see we aren't ready to stop yet :)

I want to share a rather sweetened condensed version of my breastfeeding experiences. With my first child, I had every intent to breatfeed, but when she was born and wouldn't latch on, I had no support system and no lactation consultant to teach me how to latch my baby on properly. I pumped a few times and then gave up. I regretted the decision and still do. My second child, born just 26 months later got ABO jaundice and the docs at the military hospital we were at told me I must not nurse the baby. Well, I listened and despite what they said, I wanted to try. When I first nursed my daughter, I didn't set out at that moment to nurse her, it just happened. I sat down to rock her in a rocking chair right beside a window. She turned into me and got very comfortable. My instinct was to lower my gown and offer my breast to her. She quicky latched on and began to suckle. My whole body flooded with warmth and I felt so motherly. I was nursing my baby and nobody had to show me how! I was filled with elation, but stopped nursing her after just 2 weeks because I got frustrated and didn't know about LLL, so I again, didn't have support. With my third child, things were a little different. There was a HUGE support system in the hospital. LC's were plentiful and the pediatricians were very supportive of breastfeeding. My problem was that my daughter was ill and had to be in the NICU. She was there for 16 days and for 16 days I pumped my milk for her. I nursed while I was there and pumped when I wasn't. It was tiresome and difficult, but we made it through and she continued to nurse until she was 2 months old. I gave up again because of frustration. Well, here I am now on my fourth child. My very first son and my very first civilian birth. Do you think I have stopped nursing? NO!! We are a happy nursing couple involved with LLL and my sweet son has never had a drop of formula! I plan to nurse him forever! I was meant to give my baby this special gift and only wish I would have done the same for my other children. Nursing is so incredible. I love this. Is anything in life any better? I don't see how it can be.

None of my four siblings or I were breastfed at all. My mom's excuse seems crazy to me now that I successfully breastfed my daughter for 12 months after weeks of pain, confusion, and low milk supply. I am so happy and proud to say I did not give up. When I was growing up, my mom constantly told everyone including myself that I was her only child that slept through the night. She would just give me the bottle and place me in my crib. I would fall asleep by myself. She also commented that I was given evaporated milk. She also told me that I was always constipated throughout my infant year. Not to mention my cronic ear infections which left me semi-deaf from my right ear. When I found out I was pregnant, I was entering my second trimester. I headed to the public library and researched on everything which mentioned anything about pregnancy. I came across so many books and articles which clearly stated the ongoing advantages to breastfeeding and the many disadvantages to bottlefeeding. There is where I found out that my constipation as a baby was due to the milk my mom was so ignorantly feeding me via the bottle which I was holding while lying on my side in my crib. I also realized that that was the reason for my ear infections thoughout my childhood. At that moment, I vowed to breastfeed my children. I wanted to save my child from the ear pain I suffered as a child. I became educated on how to breasfeed my child. At my 36th week of my pregnancy, the doctor diagnosed that I had a rare pregnancy disease called Hellp syndrome and the only cure was to deliver. I was under so many different forms of drugs for a few days until I was forced to deliver via cesarean. When my daughter was finally born prematurely, I did not get her until about four hours later. Despite my constant warnings to the nurses, some nurse still bottle fed my newborn. When I finally got her in my arms and on my breast, she cried and cried as if she was being tortured by me. I still insisted on breastfeeding her. The nurses, my mother, and my husband insisted that I formula feed her due to the lack of milk supply at the time. I refused and complained. The following day, my nipples began to feel hot. Upon dismissal from the hospital, the nurse insisted that I take the formula provided by the hospital. My husband took it. At home, it sat at the corner of the dresser. My husband constantly eyed it as he just heard our newborn literally yell in desparation and he saw my nipples red. I still did not give up as I sat on my bed re-reading all I had read for the past 7 months. Then the doctor told us she had jaundice, and that I must stop nursing her for a few days. That is when the formula came in handy. I began expressing until it was okay to continue. I refused to bottle feed my baby knowing that God had given me the luxury to feed my baby, so my husband had the honor of feeding her for two days. I was so afraid my daughter would get confused. To turn a horror story into a success story began the day of my daughter's doctor visit. She was back on my breast, we both learned how to latch on, and I was not as sore. The nurse weighed her. She had gained a full pound in less than a week. I knew she was growing because I had the power and the love to guide her through her growth. I was the full source of her nourishment and the reason for her weight gain week after week. What kept me going after her first month's anniversary was the struggle I had subjected myself to the first week of her life. My words were, "If I came this far, why not try one more month. "I found myself saying that until I reached six months. My words then were. "I successfully nursed my beautiful and healthy daughter for half a year, why not do it another half year," so I did. The result of my determination and my ultimate desire to give my daughter the very best had definitely been rewarding for the whole family. We have an unbreakable bond, she is very bright. She has not gotten ill. She learned to walk, talk, and potty at a very young age. Despite what others say. I know it is due to the love and devotion her mommy gave to her the first year of her life. I knew I was doing the right thing when she first looked up at me with her beautiful eyes and caressed my face while she nursed. It's as if she was saying to me, "Thank you mommy, for giving me the VERY BEST!"

Why I Breastfeed…

The first answer that comes to mind is, “because it’s there!” Before I ever had a baby, I knew I’d breastfeed for just this reason. Pre-baby, I was not aware of the many benefits of breastfeeding.

Now that I am a breastfeeding mom, I see so clearly that breastfeeding simply “because it’s there” is only the tip of the iceberg! There really is so much more to the nursing relationship than just providing nourishment. I have become so aware of these benefits that I just couldn’t imagine why anyone would choose formula over breastfeeding without becoming educated and trying first.

The way I see it is in a best case scenario, your baby will latch on immediately after birth and mommy and baby are off to a wonderful nursing relationship. The worst case scenario is that for one reason or another, it might take up to 8 weeks to establish a good nursing relationship and a few more to make it great! Even in the worst case, why someone would use the excuse, “it just took up too much time,” confounds me. After all, you have just committed the rest of your life to being a parent (hopefully at least the next 50 years). What’s 8 weeks of at least the next 50 years? Especially when the benefits of breastfeeding will last a lifetime.

The best way to ensure a great nursing relationship is to educate yourself and to build a support system during pregnancy. Don’t wait until the baby is here. If you have problems, such as the flat and inverted nipples I had to deal with, the personnel at the hospital or birthing center are probably not equipped to help you deal with any of the many problems that might occur. And before you know it, you’re bringing a baby and formula home from the hospital. I attribute a lot of the education and support I received from friends and the La Leche League, prior to the birth of my baby on my success on overcoming nipple and latch on problems. I was also very lucky in that many of the nurses that attended me were pro-breastfeeding.

There are so many benefits to breastfeeding that I don’t know where to begin. So I’ll start with some of the benefits that became obvious all on their own.

1) I finally had a great excuse for why the dishes weren’t done, or the laundry, or the bed’s not made…Breastfeeding forced me to sit down and relax; many times a day.

2) Due to this forced relaxation, I learned to prioritize what is truly important.

3) I learned, very quickly, to know when my daughter was hungry. She told me, not a clock. This meant that I dealt with very little crying, instead, just a few distinct head movements and she was happily nursing away.

4) It’s free, always the right temperature, always the right amount (no wasting), and always the right consistency.

5) NEVER any bottles to clean and prepare 6) Going out is so easy, just need a diaper or two and a change of clothes and away we go!

Here are some of the benefits that I learned while educating myself.

1) Breastfeeding immediately after birth helps your uterus to contract.

2) The nursing mom produces the hormone prolactin. This has been called the “mothering” hormone. It is the hormone that allows the calming and peaceful sensation to overtake you.

3) Breastmilk is so much more than just nourishment. It is chock full of antibodies to help give your baby’s immature immune system a boost.

4) Studies have shown that breastfeeding moms have lower incidence of pre-menopausal ovarian, uterine and breast cancers. AND this lowered incident is passed on to the nursing baby girl!!!

5) Breastfed babies don’t get constipated.

6) Breastfed babies do not need vitamin supplements. The list of benefits goes on and on. But the best thing I have learned through my breastfeeding relationship is a great respect for my body. My body housed and produced a healthy baby after 9 months. Now my body produces not only a life sustaining substance, but a substance that is helping my baby to grow and thrive. After providing myself with the best prenatal care possible, why would I then turn over the health of my baby to a formula company who’s only concern is money. I see my breastmilk as tangible love and breastfeeding is but the first and most important way for me to give this love to my child.