This week’s story comes from Danielle. Danielle learned first hand how something so natural doesn’t always come easy. She pushed through and overcame obstacles to feed her son!

Before even getting pregnant I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my children. Being a nanny I always saw moms nursing their children and they made it seem so easy, so why would I ever be anxious about when it would be my turn? I was wrong! The first time I was stressed about breastfeeding was when I was pregnant, I feared if I would even have enough milk to feed my baby. The stress wasn’t even about a latch, it was the supply.

Fast forward to when my son was born, I had a complicated birth so after he arrived he was taken to the nicu for 6 hrs before I could even attempt to breastfeed. When it was time he wouldn’t latch, my nipples were considered too flat. While in the hospital the nurses wanted me to attempt to latch and then after a feed to pump out the colostrum to give my baby the next feed after attempting to latch again. Everytime I had to do this I called my nurse in to help me or to just evaluate what I was doing, cause of course being a first time mom I thought I was doing everything wrong! I probably apologized to my nurses more than I've apologized to anyone in my life, but that’s what they are there for.

After going home I had to use the boppy since the hold I had to have my baby in was so awkward, I also started using nipple shields although the nurses told me not to. I went on like this for 2 whole months!!!! On top of figuring out how to breastfeed after thinking it came so natural to moms (that’s a huge lie) my son had a dairy sensitivity. I had to cut out everything dairy in my diet to help my son thrive off of my breast milk and that was honestly so exhausting being on such a strict diet caring for not only myself but my son. Finally as my son got older it became more and more comfortable for us, it probably wasn’t till my son turned 8 months when I didn’t even have to think about what I was doing to feed him. Through our breastfeeding journey I donated 500+ ounces of breastmilk to other babies in need. I ended up having an oversupply and my son didn’t take bottles so anything I pumped I gave away. I told myself once he turned 1 I was going to stop but then 18 months came around and now my son just turned 2 years old on March 22nd 2020, we’re still going strong. Not sure or how to stop but I think at this point I’m leaving it up to him.

My advice for new moms who are having a hard time would be to be easy on yourself, both you and your baby are learning something very new. It takes a lot of time and patience but IT GETS EASIER! I actually hated hearing people tell me “it gets easier” because it doesn’t help me with what’s going on right then and there, but I promise it does get easier.