Meagan Bellamy - new mom is a studying to be a Nutritionist.

Tell us your pregnancy story? I was a junior at EKU studying to be a Nutritionist when I first found out I was pregnant, my fiancée and I had been together for over 3 years at the time and wasn’t planning on having kids for a long time we wanted to wait till we both have graduated from college. Although this pregnancy was not planned it was not a mistake because that would imply he was unwanted - instead I call him my beautiful blessing. I’m still in school working towards my degree even though it will take me longer now I know it is the best thing to do for my baby to have a better future.

Any advice for women in early pregnancy? "My advice to women early on - if you plan on breastfeeding go ahead and do your research, buy books, meet with a lactation consultant one on one. You want to have your support system ready so when you encounter problems you have the tools to succeed".

Any struggles during pregnancy? "I had a pretty easy pregnancy, I was never sick, just really tired. I made sure I ate healthy (no sugar or white flour) and exercised as much as I could but I still gained way over the recommended weight gain. Strangers would always make rude comments like 'Are you expecting twins'? I learned to ignore those people because I knew I was healthy and my baby was healthy. As long as your healthcare provider thinks your weight gain is okay then you shouldn’t pay much attention to the numbers on the scale. I think every pregnancy is different and sometimes you need to gain more for your baby".

How did your labor go? "My doctor had scheduled me to have a C-section on July 16th at 10 am because he believed my baby was too big for me to deliver naturally and I never dilated even though my due date had come and gone. It was 1 am on the 16th and I woke up with contractions that were 5 min. apart. I went to the hospital but never progressed. My Doctor came in and thought it was best that I wait till my schedule time because there were no signs of distress, and to think I would have one more night to get some sleep. It turns out Jonas was wedged in my pelvis and he came out weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. 21 inches long, a beautiful healthy boy".

Tell us about the problems you had with breastfeeding? "From the beginning I knew I wanted to breastfeed because I knew it was the best possible start for him and for me. Not knowing much about it I just thought it would be easy and come naturally so I never did much research. Everything seemed to be going perfectly at the hospital or at least I thought it was. A nurse came in my room along with my baby and handed me a breast shield - she didn’t even give Jonas a chance to latch on nor did she tell me how to use it properly. When I got home everything went downhill, it was so painful when he nursed that I would have to bite down on a towel every time but I kept pushing through for him. I finally broke down and called a lactation consultan. She told me to take him off the breast and pump milk, which lead to mastitis. I couldn’t get Jonas to latch on anymore after bottle feeding him for 2 weeks. I called my local health department and they sent out a lactation consultant who worked with Jonas and I for hours and hours, night and day - all for free! Even though she got him to latch on properly it still was extremely painful even after he was finished nursing but I kept pushing through. I woke up one night in EXTREME pain and a high fever, I just wanted to die, it was the worst pain I have ever felt. I went to the ER and was sent to the infectious disease center because I had developed an infection in my breast. I had one week of IV treatments everyday and then a week of antibiotics and was told I couldn’t breastfeed anymore. I was heart broken after all the work I had put into it. I was so disappointed in myself and felt guilty. In the end I don’t regret trying to breastfeed or having to switch to formula. I know there are a lot of people out there who make other moms feel guilty for not breastfeeding but its your decision. My baby is just as healthy and happy - maybe even more so since I’m not stressed anymore. So everyone out there who looks down on other mothers not breastfeeding may not know their story. Mothers should stick together."

Helpful resources: "My local health department was the biggest help and you don’t have to be a low income family to use their resources. They have lactation consultants and even a program for first time parents called HANDS and all for free! A lactation consultant can cost hundreds of dollars if you hire one yourself. Baby Moon has classes and support groups for breastfeeding like a latching clinic. Maternity fairs were great, not only do you get free stuff but lots of information and classes."

Doctor: Dr. Looff- Women’s Care Center

Hospital: Central Baptist Hospital

Thanks to Lexington Aesthetics for sponsoring free gifts!