I found myself searching for excitement but I was sedated and exhausted and sore. The nurses were pushing formula as an easy transition since I was dazed and our baby (girl!) was jaundiced. I consented because I was now in the blur of motherhood and was taking any advice anyone offered.
If it weren’t for my husband, who was adamant about breastfeeding, Teya would have been on formula from day 2. He kindly, but firmly, declined every offer for a bottle during our 5 day stay after she was born.
I saved enough milk for about 2 months when we found out that I would have to have my thyroid “killed” with radioactive iodine. After taking this medication, breastfeeding would have to end so the radioactivity wouldn’t pass on to her through my milk. At 8 months she was weaned onto formula and we had a horrible time with it. For 4 excruciating weeks I couldn’t hold her at all because I was too radioactive for her to be near me. It was a very difficult time for all of us.
The day after the birth, I was exhausted and sore after 30 hours of labor, a hemorrhage, and tearing. My nipples were sore and I had a blister. In fact, by day three it was red and raw. My toes curled under, my belly cramped, and I cried whenever I nursed.
During our stay at the hospital things seemed to flow easily. It was not until my nipples started to crack that I was concerned about breastfeeding and I had nobody to call for help. I was determined to breastfeed and continued to latch him on as often as I could trying to ignore the excruciating pain of cracked nipples and engorgement.
Easton's heart rate was just too stagnant and not varied at all. Thank goodness for our doctor's amazing reactions, our second son was immediately helicoptered to Madera's Children's Hospital where he experienced the heating/cooling process of the brain as he got a major blood transfusion. Of course out of my mind and unable to even meet my baby, everything happened so quickly, I did the only thing I could do, I pumped! I pumped and I pumped and I pumped.
I had gestational diabetes and because of that the doctors didn't want me to go over my due date. I was induced and so began the birthing experience that was exactly the opposite of everything I wanted.
I’M LYING IN THE OPERATION RECOVERY ROOM AFTER AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION FOLLOWING 4 DAYS OF ON AND OFF AGAIN LABOR. I HAVEN’T SEEN MY SON IN AN HOUR AND THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS THE TIME TICKING AWAY AND THE BONDING TIME I’M LOSING.
I am Alexandra, a mother of 3, and a first time breast feeder. Like every birth, every child, and every experience, there are no two the same. I had my first son the day after I turned 24. It was new, and scary, and to be honest I don’t think anyone is ever really ready to be a parent. No matter how much you prepare yourself.
My name is Alli, I am 30 years old, and a mother of two darling children. My breastfeeding story is one of relative success. I am unsure where I got the idea that I would ‘exclusively breastfeed’ when my husband and I learned we were expecting our first child three years ago. I know that my mother breastfed; myself for only several months, and my younger brother for about a year. But I have no pictures, no memories to validate this. Only the information I was told.
I am Danya, mother of 4 girls. The choice to breastfeed was obvious to me. Fortunately, my mom breastfed all three of her babies in a time and place when breastfeeding wasn’t encouraged, so I had that influence. Also, living on the Central Coast made it easier for me since this is a breastfeeding-friendly environment.
My breastfeeding journey started shortly before my seventh month of pregnancy even began, when our son suddenly arrived 2.5 months early.
