On the road to motherhood
Catherine Young's book, Breastfeeding Anyway, was very helpful in ensuring
our breastfeeding success.
I hope that our story may in turn offer hope and encouragement to others.
My daughter Mylène and I had difficulty with latch for various reasons. I
have large soft breasts with large aeorlas. Mylène would suck her tongue -
a habit developed in utero and suckled at the breast while breastfeeding.
In addition, I was given a nipple shield to use after her birth due to the
size and shape of my breasts.
I was well prepared to begin a positive breastfeeding relationship. Armed
with information gathered at group support meetings, book reviews and with
my trusty nursing pillow, I awaited Mylène`s birth. As soon as she was
born, I introduced her to my breasts. I continued offering my breasts well
into the night. We were having difficulty as my nipples were retracting and
there was large amounts of breast tissue for such a small mouth. A nipple
shield was introduced in order to facilitate the latch. It was withdrawn
the next day, however the damage was done.
At first, Mylène seemed to be feeding well but she was losing weight,
brickstaining, had little bowel movements and was becoming listless. It
took a week before her suckling behavior was discovered despite frequent
verifications of her latch by health professionals. We attempted to correct
the latch but she was hungry, uncooperative and did not seem to have the
energy required to overcome these difficulties.
Exhausted, worried if not frantic and convinced that Mylène was starving to
death, I consulted a lactation consultant. Our work then began in earnest.
I expressed breastmilk continuously, or so it seemed, both night and day to
ensure my milk supply. We fed this milk to Mylène first with a syringe,
then a cup and when exhaustion became too great, a bottle was introduced. I
was discouraged and saddened as I believed that the introduction of a bottle
ruined all chances of establishing a breastfeeding relationship with my
daughter. I was, however, extremely relieved that she was eating. Her
bowel movements became regular, and she became a happy child. I imagined a
year of pumping and feeding resigning myself to a very limited schedule.
But my initial goal was achieved, she was drinking breastmilk!
We continued our attempts at breastfeeding. As her latch was still very
poor, a nipple shield was reintroduced. To my surprise, Mylène latched on
perfectly ! It was heaven! After weeks of pumping and feeding, we were
breastfeeding with a little help. My anxiety greatly diminished and I
accepted that the nipple shield would now be a part of our breastfeeding
relationship. Mylène was putting on weight and the feelings of distress
that so characterized our first few weeks together were gone.
We regularly attempted to breastfeed without the shield. She was not able
to latch on properly to my breasts. Then one day, to my amazement, she
figured it out! Mylène latched on properly. We now have a breastfeeding
relationship without the assistance of an artificial nipple. Mylène loves
to breastfeed and smiles before latching on to my breast. I should
mention that we are far from using the typical positions as Mylène enjoys
being sprawled out on my lap while nursing - but if it works.
Our path to breastfeeding success was far from the one expected but the end
result is certainly the same! It took a full month of hard work but it was
worth it. I've learned the importance of persevering and never giving up on
my daughter or myself.
~Lyne Girard
email: fgirard12@yahoo.ca
Inside Mother
Home
Subscribe!
What's New?
Mother's
Tea
Guest
Article
Homebirth
Editorial
Best
Articles
Breastfeeding
Dear Mother Dear
Reader Letters
Eternally
Pregnant
Circumcision
Read
past
issues
of our newsletter
Site Features
Book
Reviews
Mother Books
Cartoons!
Poems
Links
Birth
Stories
Site
Map
Advertising
Contact
Us
Birth,
Joy, & Raspberry Leaves
-a new video compiled by Catherine and Amanda Young
of The Compleat Mother
Go HERE for more information on the waterbirth video!
Click here to read:
The Farmer and the Obstetrician
Click here for the Home Sweet Homebirth (Video)
