How Shannon discovered Triple-Feeding in the NICU

This story comes from Shannon. Shannon discoved triple-feeding after a NICU stay with her first and found exclusive pumping the best option for her with her second. Read on to see how different her two stories are!

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My breastfeeding journey started when I delivered my son at 29 weeks.  I unfortunately had many complications and was initially concerned about getting well enough to visit my son. I received a care package from an organization Today Is A Good Day, with items to help navigate the NICU. Inside was a bracelet that had “One day at a time” inscribed on it.  That ended up being my motto for our NICU and breastfeeding journey. Although my son was doing well in the NICU in the back of my mind I knew at any minute that could change and each good day was a step closer to having my son home. Providing breast milk for him was one thing I felt like I had some control over.

“I was so proud of myself when I was able to fill that syringe up.”

I vaguely remember a nurse asking me while recovering on the mom unit if I started pumping.  Shortly after she got us a pump and educated my husband.  Next thing I remember my husband was cracking open heating pads, warming me and helping me self express into a medicine cup.  We would then pull up the colostrum into a 5 ml syringe.  Then my husband would take it to the NICU.  After 24 hours I was able to hold my son.  The nurses encouraged me to continue to pump every 2-4 hours and to look at pictures or videos of my son while pumping. I was then moved to the maternity unit which was rough because I could hear other families and babies crying.  I got a message from the NICU that I needed more milk.  And if I couldn’t produce enough I could consent to using donor milk.  I didn’t want to use donor milk because there was just a case advertised on the news about milk being contaminated.  Luckily my younger sister was also breastfeeding and donated 6 ounces. I had never seen anyone else pump and was shocked how quickly she got those 6 ounces.  This special gift gave me time to allow my milk to come in.  As the days went on my supply came in and I was happy to continue to have enough milk for my son.  I was never stressed about having enough because he was taking less than I was pumping. I quickly graduated from syringes to” snappies” which held 2.5 oz.  My son was about a month old when we attempted to latch, we gave it a few tries with a breast shield.  The breast shield was helpful but hard to manage with one hand, along with all the cords my son was attached to.  I didn’t have high expectations, I just wanted us both to get comfortable.  At this time he still had a feeding tube. 

Learning how to take a bottle in NICU.

Eventually he was introduced to a bottle and we all were concerned about how much he could drink.  Whatever he didn’t finish was then placed in his feeding tube. I wasn’t attempting to breastfeed because I wanted him to be able to drink independently and knew this was a big goal to accomplish to go home. As time went on I got in a rhythm with pumping.  I had a schedule, got a 2nd set of pieces and kept one set at the NICU and one set at home.  We would still attempt to latch before feeding here and there.  I will never forget the time I got a message from his nurse saying that he finished his first bottle. I was so excited and knew he was closer to coming home.  Then a few days later, he finished a bottle with me.  I felt so accomplished.  I was never concerned or disappointed we were not breastfeeding, I was just happy I had enough to feed him and that it was helping him grow.  Exactly 2 months after we entered the NICU we were discharged.  I still have the voicemail of the doctor stating that he was cleared to be discharged and it was a great day to go home.  The same doctor was there when we were leaving. He asked how breastfeeding was going and I admitted I hadn’t been trying much because I was concerned about him taking his feeds independently. He encouraged me to keep trying and reminded me that he was still not a full term baby. And that some 40 week babies take weeks to figure it out.

Once home I continued to pump. But would attempt to latch and then give him a bottle and then pump.  I think the correct term is triple feed.  We tried different positions.  He preferred to nurse while I was laying down on my side.  We had follow up appointments with his NICU provider and they encouraged visiting a lactation consultant.  We went and they helped us with additional positions to try.  We began to get more comfortable but were still triple feeding.  My maternity leave was quickly coming to an end and I was debating if I should continue attempting to breastfeed or just pump.  Then the pandemic hit, and we were going to be home longer. At this point it was a little added motivation. My son was about 6 months old when we figured it out. We exclusively breastfeed until he was 25 months old.  We only stopped because I was expecting baby two in a few weeks.

Our last milk bank donation!

My second breastfeeding experience was very different.  My second son was born at 37 weeks. He immediately attempted to latch after birth.  I had some difficulty getting in a comfortable position in the hospital but we kept giving it a shot. He would get very sleepy and fall asleep and was only nursing for  5-10 minutes. Lactation consultant suggested self expressing into a spoon. That’s what we did. Once we got home we continued to attempt to breastfeed but he would get frustrated or distracted by his big brother. I also felt bad nursing him in front of my first son because he wanted to nurse as well.  Eventually, out of habit  I began pumping and feeding my son with a bottle. He seemed to enjoy the bottle more and at the time I was just satisfied he was being fed and getting the nutrients to grow and flourish.  I exclusively pumped for my 2nd son until he was about 18 months. It wasn't always easy but it's what worked out best for us. He began to wean himself around 15 months. I had a hard time decreasing my pumping schedule and it took about two months to eliminate my milk. Now that my breastfeeding journeys are over I'm sometimes sad I didn't have the same motivation the second time around but remind myself I was blessed to have a great supply to provide to my boys and other babies.  I ended up donating 603 ounces to a local milk bank that supplied donor milk to NICUs. And also donated about another 600 ounces to local moms.  I'm still holding on to some and got two beautiful pieces made by Milk and Honey.  I decided to share my stories to show other moms that everyone's breastfeeding stories are different and unique.  Whatever your body was able to do whether it was days,  months or years it is an accomplishment and special memory you will have with your child or children. 

Shannon with both of her adorable boys!

Shannon showing off her Milk+Honey Petite Pearl Choker made with milk from both her boys and her Milk+Honey Pearl Earrings (also using both milks)!

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What do you think about Shannon’s story? We think she did amazing! Thanks for sharing Shannon!

Would you like to share your breastfeeding story on our blog? Submit it here!

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As a “thank you” for being an amazing supporter of Milk + Honey and reading to the bottom of this blog, we want to offer you a discount on anything in our collection! Please use code BLOG10 at checkout for 10% your order total.

Legend of the Boob: Common Myths and Truths About Breastfeeding

There are A LOT of breastfeeding myths out there. Sometimes they are enough to intimidate us into feeling defeated before we even start. Or, they’re enough to confuse us to the point where we question if we’re “doing it right.” Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be intimidating and confusing. We’re ready to tackle some of these myths and put your mind at ease! Keep reading to find out what WE think is the craziest myth of them all!

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1. Breastfeeding is easy.

WRONG! While it is true that breastfeeding may have its conveniences, it is far from easy. It can come with its own challenges. Breastfeeding requires a lot of time and investment. It is said that on average a woman spends 1,800 hours breastfeeding in a year. It basically rivals a full time job, except with $0 salary. There also tends to also be a bit of a learning curve. It’s not something that comes naturally for everyone and work needs to be put in to foster a healthy breastfeeding relationship.

2. The size of your breast determines how much milk you produce.

NOPE! The size of your breast is determined by the amount of fatty tissue. Glandular tissue is what is responsible for milk storage and production. It includes the lobes that produce the milk and ducts that carry the milk. Small breasts do not equal insufficient glandular tissue. (Note: insufficient glandular tissue is a thing, but it is not characterized by breast size alone. Speak to your physician or a lactation consultant if this is a concern for you.)

3. You can’t eat certain foods.

NEGATIVE! Unless you find your baby has an allergy or intolerance, you do NOT need to change your diet. Just think of all the new foods, flavors, and nutrients you can expose your child to through your milk. You may find your baby gets more irritable with certain foods, but you don’t need to cut things out right from the start. Some exceptions to consider (for everyone really) are fish high in mercury, excessive caffeine, and alcohol.

4. Breastfeeding hurts.

WRONG-O! Yes, it’s true that you may feel some initial discomfort. Your nipples can be tender and your breasts engorged. However, any consistent and persisting pain should be evaluated by a lactation consultant to determine if there is a latch issue or something else underlying.

5. You can’t breastfeed when you’re sick.

FALSE…mostly. While there are certainly contraindications, for the most part, any minor illness you are fighting will produce and transfer antibodies to your baby through your breastmilk. You may have noticed, or will notice, a slight change in color with this milk. If you have concern about contact with baby during your illness, pumped milk will eliminate contact and still transfer antibodies for immunity. And of course, contact your physician with questions regarding specific illness and prescribed medications.

Check out the amazing difference between these two milks- one before a viral infection, and one during. Notice the change in color resembling higher antibody colostrum.

Image found at Parents.com.

6. If you can’t start right away, then you won’t be able to produce milk and breastfeed.

NEGATORY! If your baby is unable to latch right away, there are still things you can do to promote your milk supply! Skin to skin contact plays a key role in increasing hormones needed to produce. Keep your baby close as often as possible. Seeking out assistance from a lactation counselor to come up with an appropriate plan for pumping can also help get you started on the right track.

7. Milk “comes in” by day 3. If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to breastfeed.

FAKE NEWS! When your baby arrives, you are already producing colostrum. While many women report their milk “coming in” by day 3, for others it can take up to 5 days (or more.) The process can be very slow and gradual, and for others they may wake up one day completely engorged. There can be many factors that impact this feeling of fullness, including cesarean, iv fluids, pain medications used, length of labor, stress/birth trauma, blood loss, and retained placenta.

8. You have to wean your baby by age 1 or else they’ll never wean by themselves.

NO! Though sometimes it may feel never-ending, your child won’t go to college still breastfeeding. Promise. The average age of self weaning is between 2.5 and 4. Self weaning up to age 5, or longer, is still within a “normal” range. If self weaning is too much for you, then take on a mother-led, gentle weaning approach. You can read more about gentle weaning in previous blogs: links below.

9. Breastmilk after 1 year is “just for the mother” and has no benefit for the child.

UGH, NOOOOO! Breastmilk has no expiration date. It is constantly changing and adapting to suit your child’s needs. It does not stop being beneficial to your child on their first birthday, or by any date. The composition of breastmilk changes with your growing child, so at one year it has been found to have higher antibodies (think of those newly mobile kids putting everything in their mouths,) higher protein levels, and decreased carbohydrates. Don’t let anyone tell you it stops being beneficial at a certain time.

10. Breastfeeding is private and valuing and honoring your breastfeeding journey is WEIRD.

INCONCEIVABLE! You have spent countless hours along this journey. You’ve shared some incredibly beautiful and probably some incredibly difficult moments. Cherish them, honor them, and be proud of your accomplishments, no matter how smooth or ugly it may have been. Your precious memories preserved could look like this!

Alaina Leimbach, CLC (certified lactation counselor)

Office Administrator at Milk+Honey

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What do you think of these common breastfeeding myths? Have you heard of any of these or have they played a role in your breastfeeding journey?

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As a “thank you” for being an amazing supporter of Milk + Honey and reading to the bottom of this blog, we want to offer you a discount on anything in our collection! Please use code BLOG10 at checkout for 10% your order total.

Raquel's Story of Breastfeeding Rainbow Twins

Our story this week comes from Raquel. She shares her story of loss and then learning to breastfeed rainbow twins.

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. It is a deep sadness that I feel in my bones when I read that one in four women will lose a baby during pregnancy, delivery, or infancy. My husband and I lost 2 pregnancies prior to bringing our rainbow babies into the world. While these losses were heartbreaking, I am convinced that they made me into the mother I am today. I believe they taught me the resiliency I would need for breastfeeding and mothering my children.

After a challenging twin pregnancy, at 38 weeks, I gave birth via cesarean section to my two perfect little girls. While the doctors were stitching me back together, I was unable to hold my girls, but my husband would alternate bringing their sweet pink cheeks to mine. Finally, as they were about to roll me out of the OR and into the recovery room, the nurses helped to place them both on my chest. It was pure bliss. We would spend the next magical golden hour skin to skin in the recovery room and the girls instinctively knew how to find what they needed. I assumed this meant that breastfeeding would be simple for us. I was wrong. Breastfeeding my twin girls was physically exhausting, mentally taxing, and sometimes painful. It was also some of my favorite moments of motherhood, an incredible bonding experience with my daughters, and one of my proudest accomplishments.

Initially both babies were jaundiced and losing too much weight so it was recommended to start to give them some formula. I was determined to continue to try breastfeeding so a lactation consultant helped us figure out how to feed the girls with a tube and syringe system. This was quite the episode.  Ideally, we would have 3 adults present each time I attempted to breastfeed (every 2-3 hours). My husband would usually help me set up and hold the tube and syringe system while I tried to get the first baby to latch. Another person would hold the 2nd baby and try to keep her from screaming while she waited to be fed. We would then have to switch the babies and do it all a 2nd time. Finally, after both babies had eaten and fallen back asleep, I would pump to try to get my supply up. I was lucky if I could rest for 45 minutes before getting ready to do it all over again. To say it was exhausting, is a dramatic understatement. 
My husband was extremely encouraging and kept reminding me of how badly I wanted to be able to breastfeed, but on the 6th day of using the tube and syringe method, my milk had still not fully come in. I made a “one last effort” appointment with a lactation consultant for the next day. I decided that if things were not going smoothly by this appointment, I would switch to formula in bottles. By some magic, my milk came in fully on day 7. The lactation consultant showed me how to set myself up to tandem feed both babies at the same time, and support them with a bunch of pillows, blankets and burp cloths. Everything just kind of clicked for all 3 of us. Eventually I even figured out that with about 6 different pillows (breastfeeding and regular) and a couple of burp cloths I could set us all up and successfully tandem feed my twins all on my own. While at times, it was still uncomfortable or challenging, overall breastfeeding went well for us for the next few months.

At 3 months, I went back to work full time. I would have to pump; however, the volume of milk that I needed to pump was ridiculously large to feed two babies. I actually pooled all my milk in a large insulated thermos instead of taking up space in the community fridge with half a dozen small bottles. Unfortunately, on more than 1 occasion, I had a hard time opening the thermos as the lid got stuck and had to ask for help opening it. I learned very quickly that I should have warned my coworker what the thermos was for when I saw the look of horror on her face when she realized what she was handling. It wasn’t because she thought it was gross, but because she fully understood how precious that liquid was. I was also lucky enough to be able to purchase a hands-free in bra pump. This was critical to my success with pumping as I was able to pump in the car driving to and from work and even at my desk. I still closed the door for privacy, but there was a time when I forgot to lock it. A coworker came in, had a conversation with me and left without even noticing that I was pumping! Things like the thermos, hands free pump and having a private office did make pumping at work logistically easier for me (and provided some funny moments); however, it was still so challenging mentally and physically. I hated pumping, and yet I still really loved our sweet quiet breast-feeding times first thing in the morning or right before bed.

At 6 months, my supply started to dip and I needed to start supplementing with formula again. I continued to breastfeed as much as I could. By 9 months, I had a strong feeling of dread every time I had to pump at work and decided it was time to stop. My milk supply continued to drop, but I still breastfeed them a few times a day while also giving them food and formula as they needed.

I am so grateful to say that I was able to breastfeed to some extent until the girls were 17 months old. Unfortunately, we were not able to stop on our own terms. I developed a medical problem that required medication that I wasn’t allowed to breastfeed while taking. Prior to taking the first dose, I went home and had 1 last focused breastfeeding session with them. It was just me and my girls as we enjoyed the sweet, calm, special bonding moments for one last time. We closed out our breastfeeding journey and I reflected on how grateful I am for everything that led me to that moment. The loss of our first two babies in pregnancies that ended too soon. The support system that held me together during the most challenging time of my life. My loving husband and amazing father to our beautiful rainbow babies. And all the time, dedication, determination, and a lot of luck that was required throughout our breastfeeding journey.

Raquel’s Necklace is the Heirloom Milk+Honey(comb) Necklace in Yellow Gold. (The earrings are discontinued - SORRY!)

I now wear my Milk and Honey{comb} necklace as a reminder and symbol of this entire journey. Two cells have tiny gold flakes to represent our first two angel babies. Two other cells have pink flakes to represent our twin girls. There are a few cells left open to represent the openness to what the future may hold. For me, the honeycomb represents the support system that held me together and continues to support and help us raise our two daughters.

The other day, I took my now one and a half year old toddlers outside to see their first rainbow. I was brought back to Mother’s Day 2020 when I saw a huge double rainbow after taking a positive pregnancy test. I was cautiously hopeful for the future and what could be, but I couldn’t even have imagined that my double rainbow would end up being these two amazing little girls. I think back on how far we’ve come and everything we have overcome and I am honestly just in awe of our little family. Our breastfeeding journey was not simple. It involved tubes, syringes, pumping, bottles, lots of pillows and even more support from our “bee hive”. It was beautiful though, just like the rainbow arched over our backyard.

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Raquel, thank you so much for sharing your story! You are amazing - overcoming all those obstacles!

What do you think of Raquel’s story? Would you like to share your breastfeeding story on our blog? Submit it here!

Jaci's Breastfeeding Story

Our story this week comes from Jaci. Jaci shares about her breastfeeding story that started during the height of the pandemic and how she learned so much from her experience that helped her prepare her for breastfeeding her second child.

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My breastfeeding journey is not at all what I would have expected it to be. With my first son, I knew I wanted to breastfeed but I was not prepared for how hard and at times stressful it can be. From the beginning I worried things were not going to be successful. I was not allowed to do skin to skin and he and I were separated for 12 hours. My son was born in April 2020 when the world was still new to COVID. I was induced after hours of being in labor and pushing, I had a fever at one point and they immediately treated me as if I had COVID. I was not allowed to hold my son until I had a negative COVID test. I was hit with so many overwhelming thoughts and feelings but one fear was “is this time away from my son going to ruin my chances at breastfeeding?”

While my son and I were separated, I had a pump in my room and I was able to produce a little colostrum to send with the nurses. Making an already traumatizing experience even worse, I had a few nurses who made me feel like I was failing at being able to properly provide for my son. Once we were finally reunited, I had a brief visit from the lactation consultant who made me feel inadequate. Not to mention, I felt things were very rushed and I left the hospital feeling like I still had no idea what I was doing. Because of the pandemic it was hard to find any additional support. 

For the first few weeks of becoming a mom and battling postpartum depression, I was figuring out how to breastfeed. I dealt with incorrect latches, supply issues and the feeling that I should just give up. However, I stuck with it and I was able to successfully breastfeed for 18 months, surpassing any time frame I had originally imagined. When it came time to wean I wasn’t mentally or physically prepared for just how hard it would be. To my surprise my son handled it well, it was me who shed the tears.

The bond I was able to have with my son because of our breastfeeding journey is incredibly special. All thanks to the cluster feedings, long nights, sick days, times of comfort and so much more. It came as quite the surprise when just a month after I stopped nursing I found out I was pregnant. Here I am now almost 3 months into another breastfeeding journey. This time, one that started from the moment my son was born. 

With my experience and knowledge from before, I’m feeling more confident today and thankfully we’re off to a good start. It’s true each baby is different but the bond and extra love that builds from breastfeeding is the same. This time, I also feel extra grateful to be in a position where I can work from home and keep my baby home with me. I can tell you now, I don’t miss having to pump in a bathroom or random storage space with no lock. 

I hope to make it to a year this final time and I know when it’s time to stop it will be even harder than the last. I know how lucky I am to be able to provide for my boys and I don’t take a single day for granted.

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What do you think about Jaci’s story? We think she did amazing! Thanks for sharing Jaci!

Would you like to share your breastfeeding story on our blog?

Meet Ashley!

We’re taking a few weeks to share a little bit about each of our team members here at Milk+Honey! This week, we’re sharing a little about Ashley.

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I am a Homeschool mama of two - a 7 year old girl and 2 year old boy. I had two wildly different births and breastfeeding experiences including a VBAC! In high school I was a Majorette and loved to sing at school and church. I married my high-school sweetheart and been married almost 12 years. I love being at the beach, finding a new trail to walk in the woods or really any adventure with my friends and kids! I’ve lived in 3 states and overseas in Europe as a military spouse before settling down roots in Maryland. I studied Elementary Education and have had several fun careers as we moved around with the military. I love meeting new people, traveling, making new recipes and live music! 90’s country and old hymns are my favorite when my kids aren't jammin’ out the SING 2 soundtrack It is my dream to one day own a tiny house or renovated school bus and travel with my family. As a kid I hated my natural red hair and freckles but now I love how unique they are and seeing my daughters freckles come in has been the best!

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What’s your favorite color?

Jade Green

How do you like your coffee?

In the cold months, hot americano with steamed oat milk and cinnamon.

In hot weather, cold brew with oat milk and a little caramel.

What’s your favorite candy/dessert?

My favorite candy is Twizzlers or Dark Chocolate Mint M&Ms. My favorite dessert is PIE!

What is your LEAST favorite job/responsibility at Milk+Honey?

I love making jewelry but really dislike giant chunks of umbilical cord for pieces. Haha.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy quality time with friends and family, whether it’s outdoors exploring, hiking, or jamming out to good music. I love all that fun stuff!

Ashley’s daughter - Audrey

Asley’s son - Henry

Petite Pearl Choker with one 8mm size pearl. Simple and elegant with breastmilk,

What is your top pick (favorite piece) of jewelry from the Milk+Honey collection?

Pearl Choker

Classic Round Ring

Swaddled pearl Earrings

Heirloom Honeycomb Band

One of Ashley’s favorite pieces she’s made - a hexagon ring in yellow gold with a hammered band. Customer sent breastmilk and flower petals and requested we add a little white pigment and yellow gold flakes.

What is your favorite design of all the pieces we’ve made?

“I love ombre pieces.

I also love all the simple pieces that are just white pigment and pearl shimmer. So classy!

My favorite pieces to make are with fresh flowers and one of my favorite that I made was a hexagon ring with flowers and gold flakes!

I loved the ocean ring I made and the story with it! It turned out beautiful!”

What are some of your favorite products in our Amazon Shop?

All of the nature books for kids: Wild and Free, The Brave Learner and Julia Rothman Collection

My kids loved the bamboo plates and utensils with the suction cup bottom.

All the Earth mama products from teas to nipple butter.

The Solly Baby Wrap was a God send with both of my kids.

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What does the team say about Ashley?

“Ashley is the sweetest and always has a smile. I feel confident she doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She is incredibly positive and can find the light in any situation or challenge. “ - Alaina

“Ashley is literally the sweetest and most generous person to walk this planet. We all try to be more like Ashley!” - Maria

“When I think of Ashley and her role with Milk+Honey I would describe her as the mother of the group. Ashley is super kind hearted and is always making sure everyone is okay and doing well. She is very thoughtful and I love working with her. “ - Meghan

“Ashley is so sweet and bubbly. She is also very talented.” - Stacy

“Ashley is one of the most kind and sweetest people I know! She is so encouraging and being around her makes me want to be a better person. I find myself speaking more kindness and encourage others more after spending time with her.” - Terri

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Megan's Breastfeeding Story from the NICU

Our breastfeeding story this week comes from Megan. Megan shares her story of pumping for her daughter in the NICU.

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My breastfeeding story is not the typical one or the story I thought I would have. My husband and I are high school sweethearts and imagined having multiple children early on. We waited until we were 28 to get married, traveled a bit, and I decided to get off of birth control after a year of marriage. My doctor warned me it could take some time to regulate, but I was not ready for the journey we were going to have. 

We started trying to conceive in 2018 and did not have an easy time. My period never came and after 6 months of trying to regulate, I had to be put on medication to induce my period. My gynecologist at the time did blood work and realized I was not ovulating when I was supposed to be and that my testosterone was high. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2018 and was sent to a PCOS specialist/Fertility doctor. At this time, I was working for a school that did not cover fertility treatments, so we had to wait until I changed jobs and/or switched to my husband's insurance. Thankfully I got a new teaching job in a District that covered fertility in 2019. 

The reason that we went to this specific fertility doctor was because he was a PCOS specialist. My husband and I both did bloodwork and I was put on Metformin to help with my PCOS and to lose weight. At this time I began working out and watching what I was eating, trying to be healthy so I could conceive. The only way I would get a regular period was if I was weight lifting 3 times a week and was under a certain weight. This was not the best time of my life and then COVID happened and the world stopped. 

We had to pause all our fertility treatments/plans because of COVID. Once we were able to begin again, things that happened at our doctor started to question if we were at the right fertility office for us. They gave us condescending information, wanted my husband to retake tests that he already took, and finally they gave us wrong test results. This last step was when we decided we needed to find a new fertility doctor. We ended up switching fertility doctors and got very lucky and got pregnant on our first round of IUI in January of 2021, with a due date of September 28. We decided we didn’t want to know the gender and wanted to be surprised. 

Since this was a fertility pregnancy and with a diagnosis of a short cervix, I was considered high risk. I would see my normal OB and then a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor regularly. While preparing for the baby and not knowing the gender, we decided to make the nursery a Harry Potter theme. My husband and I are both obsessed with books and movies. This would be a perfect theme for our new addition. We had our nursery planned, showers planned, a mini babymoon planned and were so excited for the third trimester! 

During our babymoon, I started having leg pain and chest pain. I was 27 weeks and was cleared to travel by my OB. I assumed it was just because we drove 8 hours to Tennessee and was being affected by the elevation. I was swollen for most of my pregnancy, but my blood pressure was always okay. When we got back from Tennessee, I had my normal 28 week check up (even though I was 27+3 at the time). The OB found protein in my urine and my liver enzymes were elevated. 

I was first hospitalized on July 2, 2021 for preeclampsia monitoring. We spent the 4th of July weekend in the hospital, but were lucky since we had a surround sound view of fireworks. By Monday, my liver enzymes went back to normal and I was put on bedrest at home with weekly appointments with my MFM doctor and my OB. I was not allowed to start the school year in August, and was told we were going to keep the baby in for as long as possible. Three days after I was released from the hospital at my first MFM appointment, I was hospitalized again because my baby’s umbilical cord was being affected by my blood pressure being so high. 

I delivered our daughter on July 8, 2021 (we didn’t know what we were having!) at 28+2. We named her Nora. My preeclampsia turned into HELLP syndrome and I had an emergency c-section, which I was put under for. My platelets were at 44 when I went into surgery and I needed a blood transfusion. She was in the NICU for 76 days and my breastfeeding journey was pumping because that was literally the only thing I could do. Since I am a teacher and on summer break, I was pumping every 3-4 hours – at home and while visiting Nora in the NICU. When Nora was first born, she was only getting a very tiny amount, so each of my pumps was feeding her for a few days. I had a fairly normal supply and would pump anywhere from 2-6 ounces every pump. I filled up the NICU freezer and our freezer at home. It was a long time until I actually had to bring milk to the hospital since I pumped there everyday. 

Due to all this pumping and freezing, I was able to feed Nora through her NICU stay and up until she was 4 months old / 1 month adjusted. Nora was able to come home on September 22, 2021. I stopped fresh pumping in the beginning of October, and she ate all of the frozen milk. 

Pumping was exhausting, but it was the only thing I had control of while she was in the NICU. It, honestly, was the only thing that made me feel like a real mom for those 76 days. I found Milk + Honey on Instagram, and at first I thought it was weird…. But then I started my own journey and realized how special this is and how time consuming and close it made me and Nora.

I got a ring and I wear it on my thumb. It has gold and red flakes - gold and red to represent Gryffindor House and red for Nora’s birthstone, which is a Ruby. I adore my breast milk mothers ring because it reminds me of what Nora and I overcame and how our relationship started. If Nora would be lucky enough to attend Hogwarts, she would for sure be in Gryffindor House for her bravery. It’s amazing to me how much she has already done in her short life and I am so lucky to be her mother through this all.

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What do you think about Megan’s story? We think she did an awesome job! Thanks for sharing Megan!

Would you like to share your breastfeeding story on our blog? Submit it here!

Alyssa's Breastfeeding Story

This breastfeeding story comes from Alyssa. Alyssa had two different journeys breastfeeding her sons and learned some valuable life lessons!

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When our first son was born, it was my goal to breastfeed for 6 months. I was certain I wouldn’t want to go beyond that and would happily relinquish feeding duty to his dad at that time. Well, I breastfed our first son until he was 17 months old. Aside from the usual aches, pains, and learning curves, it was a pretty easy journey. He latched right away, my milk came in right on time, and before I knew it I could feed him while simultaneously folding laundry or cooking dinner. Despite intermittently feeling like a human pacifier, I really enjoyed our breastfeeding journey and was all sorts of emotional when my son decided he was done out of the blue one day. I had been a slight over-supplier so I was able to donate about 80 ounces I had left over to a baby that had been adopted. The whole journey felt so great, I would dare say perfect, so when I got pregnant with our second baby I expected the same thing. 

Insert sarcastic laughter here.*

Our second son came into this world thinking everything would be given to him with minimal effort on his part. He had a lazy latch, he lost nearly 10% of his body weight by 3 days old, his bilirubin was borderline, and my milk trickled in slowly which resulted in us nearly having to supplement with formula. Gasp! Supplementing was absolutely not an option in my mind at the time so I shoved my toddler over to my husband and breastfed nearly 24/7 for the next 2 days in an attempt to fix everything. Which I did. I was thrilled when our son’s weight surpassed his birth weight and his bilirubin levels returned to normal within a week of delivery. I thought the worst was behind us until a white-coated tongue reared its ugly head and our sweet babe was diagnosed with thrush. For 5 weeks, I gave him oral nystatin 4 times per day and applied clotrimazole cream to my nipples after every single feed. I sterilized all of my pump equipment and washed everything that came in touch with my breastmilk on a daily basis. I remember thinking to myself that I’d rather have mastitis because it’d be easier to treat. So when the aching and redness started, I laughed and cursed at myself. Our little guy had a tongue tie, so we had that revised and I finished antibiotics and was back to normal for a few days. And then the body aches and redness came back with a vengeance. 

Since his birth 5 months ago, I have had 7 bouts of mastitis resulting in multiple antibiotics, 2 mammograms, decreased milk supply, and the seemingly dreaded necessity to supplement with formula. This decision came with so much anxiety, feelings of guilt, and lots of tears. I felt like a failure. I spend portions of my day working in healthcare telling moms that “fed is best”, but I couldn’t accept that myself. My loving, supportive, encouraging husband assured me that I was doing such a great job; that supplementing was not a sign of failure. I have successfully built my supply back up since this most recent bout of mastitis but we continue to supplement because our son seems to be a bottomless pit. I am so glad I continue to provide for him, but I am also happy that my husband can tag in and give him a bottle from time to time so that I can spend more time with our toddler or get a stretch of sleep once in a blue moon. 

This breastfeeding journey has been nothing compared to my first. It has come with different forms of growth, a different appreciation for the challenges that cause mothers to quit breastfeeding, a deeper sense of satisfaction in overcoming obstacle after obstacle, and letting go of the plans I made and going with the flow instead. At the end of the day, I am just as proud of this journey as I am of my first, even if I am unable to breastfeed as long as I did previously. By sharing my story, it is my hope that any woman who reads it feels accomplished no matter what her story is. Though each story is unique, every woman should feel proud of bringing a life into the world and making the often tough decisions necessary to ensure her child is happy and healthy. Because we may not be perfect, but we are exactly what our children need. And sometimes we forget how incredibly amazing we are.

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What do you think about Alyssa’s story? We think she is amazing! Thanks for sharing Alyssa!

Did you face the possibility of supplementing or formula feeding your baby due to issues with breastfeeding? How did you work through that decision? Let us know in the comments below!

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