Friday, February 20, 2009

Hungry babies grow up

Lately I've seen a lot of amazing things about breastfeeding. And YES I'm a proud supporter of breastfeeding. Unfortunately, it wasn't something that came to me naturally. It took a lot of help and support from LaLeche League, Attachment Parenting folks, my husband, and friends to get me started and work through issues.

I am so overjoyed that I stuck with it. Now I can witness other moms I know nursing their babes with no regrets of my own. I don't have any awkward feelings or resentment. I am so proud of moms who choose to feed their babies and not cut them off at 2 months, 6 months or even a year. What is really awesome to me is when I take my sons to park days or other gatherings with friends, they get to witness this great miracle that they were also given for many months. A baby at the breast is a normal sight for them. They've seen more babies nursing from their mothers than they've seen baby bottles. At one point they had to ask what a baby bottle was when we were at someone's house.

I never condemn those who chose not to breastfeed or who can't for whatever reason. I am just a testament that it can be done and learned, if the desire and will is there. You just have to ask the right person for help and don't give up.

The health benefits are wonderful, and I am so grateful I didn't give up on myself. It was well worth the tears and sleepless nights. It was worth all the rude comments from people who didn't understand. It was worth it all. I look at my boys now and see how healthy they are. They are worth it!



Happy nursing!
~Heather xoxoxo


P.S. That is not me in the photo. I borrowed that. I lost the link. Sorry! I have photos of me nursing, but I would have to scan them. And I am still scanner incompetent. We just got a scanner, copier last year. I need a tutorial from my hubby.

Benefits of breastfeeding and websites for help:
~http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=20
~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast-feeding
~http://www.llli.org/nb.html

4 comments:

Beachbum said...

Yeah for the nursing! Breasts are great for the little ones. Thanks for posting this.

I was fortunate to have an easy time. I did get a bit restless tandem nursing, but we worked it out.

I also respect those who choose not to take this same path. As well, I do feel for those who couldn't make it work.

I'm so glad you stuck with it too!

Maybe someday I will be a lactation consultant. It may be something I turn to when my own need less of my time. Till then, though...I can only support and talk. Which, thankfully, I'm good at!

Thanks, again, for this post!

Heather's Moving Castle said...

Thanks! I know lots of moms who didn't have tears or sleepless nights. And I am so happy for them. But a lot of women (like me) have to get in tune with their bodies/nature and it can be tough with the first baby. It was so easy with my next child I tandem nursed. But it wasn't always easy. But I dont regret it at all.

Being a lactation consultant would be a great idea when kids are older. ;o)

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Alex Polikowsky said...

hey girl you know me !!! Love nursing my kids!
oh and you are it! check my blog!