Category Archives: breast-feeding

30 days of thanks: day 7

breast-feeding, gratitude October 29, 2012 Comments: 2

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I’m thankful for breast-feeding and all that it has meant to me over the past 8 years, 8 months and 15 days.  I’ve been breast-feeding for more days than not since Valentine’s Day 2004.

I’m so grateful that I have had this time with each of my babies. Jonah turned 13 months yesterday and he’s still nursing.  He’s my last baby so I will NOT be in any hurry to wean him. All of my babies have self-weaned by 14 months so we shall see what he decides. I’ll have to admit that I am a little touchy when someone asks “are you still nursing him?” I want to start quoting statistics like this one.

The World Health Organization recommends 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding with the addition of appropriate complementary foods until at least 2 years of age.

Then I realize, it’s not about anyone else.  It’s about a mother and her child.  This is a God-designed part of our relationship, as was conception, gestation and birth. When I realize that, it’s much easier to listen to someone else’s opinion. After all, it’s just an opinion and we all have them.

Why’s there a baby under that blanket?

breast-feeding, choices, priorities February 7, 2012 Comments: 2

I really didn’t plan on being some crazy, hippie breastfeeding activist.  It just sort-of happened. When I was pregnant with my first child I was given a copy of the book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.  My mom didn’t nurse me or my little brother so I really didn’t have any first-hand knowledge from anyone who had breastfed.  I did feel though, that I should make an effort because it made sense to me that God designed a woman’s body to be able to nourish her children. So I had decided this is what I would do.  It was the best option for my baby and I would make it happen. Easy as that, right?

Well…for some women maybe, but not for every woman.  When I had that first baby, I had to have help figuring out how to get him to latch on, then I needed reassurance that he was actually getting enough milk, then I needed to learn how to nurse while hiding so as not to make anyone else uncomfortable discreetly in public or at family gatherings.

Thankfully, Foster was a wonderful baby, not that every baby isn’t wonderful, but he was easy.  My milk came in, but not until day 4 and after that he nursed well, gained weight, slept 8 hours by the time he was 3 months old. I didn’t get mastitis or plugged ducts.

I had this breastfeeding thing in the bag! What a success I was!

Then I had Katie.  Baby #2.  When she was born I had a 20 month old to chase, she was a snacker (she would nurse for approx. 5 minutes and then nurse again 1 hour later) , she didn’t sleep, I got plugged ducts AND mastitis. She didn’t gain weight or have regular bowel movements. 

I sucked at breastfeeding! What a failure I was!

The thing is I have nursed all my babies, most until at least a year old.  But a few things I have learned along the way is that women do not have the encouragement or the support system that past generations had when it comes to feeding their children naturally.  I am not an anthropologist so I can’t give you any textbook facts here, but my theory is that back in the day when grandmothers, aunts, cousins were always with each other, they were able to see breastfeeding for what it was, the natural, expected way to feed your baby.  My mom didn’t even really think breastfeeding was an option.  They just showed you how to mix the formula and give the bottles.

I wouldn’t trade my time nursing my babies for anything.  The bonding alone makes the struggles and sacrifices worth it.  But, I also realize that it doesn’t mean I love my children more than a mom who couldn’t or wouldn’t breastfeed.

I need some sleep

baby, breast-feeding, Jonah, marriage January 24, 2012 Leave a comment

Remember when you had a 3 month old baby who slept 8-10 hours? Yeah, me neither.

 I have nursed all my babies, breast milk just doesn’t last like formula (apparently).  Also, when I had my first baby I followed all the rules for bedtime.  Well, all except the put them to sleep on their back rule.  I would get up and go to Foster’s room and nurse him on one side for approx. 10-15 minutes, change his diaper, nurse on the other side 10-15 minutes.  Then he would sleep another nice, long 4-5 hour stretch. 

Well, then came baby #2 and in our little 2 bedroom house that meant that Katie would be waking up her 2 year old brother in the night if she was crying incessantly (which she did).  Katie wanted to nurse for approx. 5 minutes and fall back asleep. Then she would sleep about 45 minutes and want to nurse again.  Enter, co-sleeping.  Chris was working 2nd shift then and so he would bunk on the sofa bed, while Katie and I had our bed.  And so it has been our routine for babies #3,4, and 5. 

I am thankful that I have a husband who is so understanding.  Although, it works for both of us.  He suffers from sofa bed uncomfort but doesn’t get woke up to feed or change a crying baby.

In fact, nobody hears the baby crying except mommy. 

Chris and the kids often say in the mornings, “I didn’t hear Jonah cry at all last night. Did he wake up at all?”  Ha, ha so funny.

I will try not to resent your long, peaceful night’s rest.

After all, it’s only for a season.