Third TrimesterBreastfeeding“I knew from the earliest stage of my pregnancy that I wanted to breastfeed. My daughter was born with a strong will and a definite opinion about what she did and didn’t like. The earliest stages of breastfeeding were hard for both of us! Lots of support, a good electric breast pump, and sheer determination were the only reasons she and I had a successful breastfeeding experience. I believe it is important to listen to your body, listen to your baby, and do what works best for you. I often tell friends that breastfeeding is the hardest thing they’ll ever do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call your friends who have successfully breastfed and ask their advice. Read everything you can get your hands on. Contact a lactation consultant in your area for serious problems. Talk to your child’s Pediatrician and visit popular websites like La Leche League International for information. If you have the desire to do it and feel discouraged, let me remind you that you CAN do it!” —Jenn, Central Kentucky, mother of two “When I was pregnant, all of the literature I read made me feel that breastfeeding was my only choice. I was physically able to provide breast milk for the first three and a half weeks of my daughter’s life, and it was a struggle. When complications escalated during a holiday weekend, I prepared my daughter a bottle of the formula that the hospital sent home with us. In less than a day I began to feel better when I noticed my baby had less gas and cried much less. My pediatrician concurred that the formula was more agreeable with her than my breast milk. When talking to some of my friends, I found that they too had difficulties with breastfeeding, yet none of us had really talked about it. We compared notes and came to the conclusion that there is so much pressure on new mothers to breastfeed that mothers who choose formula sometimes feel ashamed for no reason. Whether you choose to feed your little one breast milk or formula is a very personal decision and not something that you should feel bullied into. My advice to any new mother is to listen to your body, your heart, and to make the decision that is best for YOUR child. —Jenny, Central Kentucky, mother of one “I knew my kids would be fine however I fed them, but breastfeeding was best for me. There is an emotional component of breastfeeding that is so hard to define. For me, breastfeeding was almost an extension of my pregnancy—your body is continuing to nourish and grow this little being. When I decided to breastfeed my first child, I knew that breast milk would provide her with the nutrients that she needed, but what I didn’t know was the emotional bond that breastfeeding would create between the two of us. I love the closeness that I feel with my baby. I love that I don’t have to think about when something was made or how long has it been sitting out, because none of that matters when you are breastfeeding. I love that when I leave the house, I can be gone all day and all I need is a change of clothes for the baby, some diapers and wipes.” —Kelley, Lexington, mother of three “When I was pregnant with my first child, I read all the literature on breastfeeding and decided it was the best choice for my baby. Despite my son being hospitalized for dehydration at four days old, and with the help of the occassional supplemental bottle, I was able to successfully breastfeed my son until I returned to work. With my second and third children, I chose to use formula, because we had found it to be more convenient for our lifestyle. I believe that breastfeeding is something mother should try, but it is not always the best choice for every child. All of my children are healthy, happy, and intelligent—no matter which way I chose to feed them. As my favorite pediatrician once told me: A happy mother makes for a happy baby. Do what works best for you and your baby, and you can’t go wrong.” —Christina, Lexington, mother of three “I am really thankful that I was introduced to La Leche League early in my pregnancy. I attended a couple meetings at the end of my pregnancy. It was great to see other women nursing their babies and know that there was support for my decision to breastfeed. After my baby was born, we had some difficulties breastfeeding and I was glad that I had attended the meetings and knew the people I could call for support. I called a La Leche League Leader and the advice she gave me improved our breastfeeding problem immediately. We still had to work at it a little, but I never felt hesitant to call her back with more questions. I continue to attend La Leche League meetings now so that I can offer other Moms the support and encouragement that was given to me. La Leche League provides free Mother-to-Mother support and informational meetings, and Leaders provide free breastfeeding help and support. It is so great that there is an organization of wonderful, supportive and knowledgeable women to help Moms with breastfeeding. My only regret was that I didn’t make the call sooner!” —Cerise, Lexington, mother of one |
   
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