I've
been trying to write this first blog for months. I tried writing,
typing, hoping it would just come out of my head and magically create
itself. Instead, I would feel inspired, a span of time with no one to
attend to, a great idea and then BAM,
just like that it came and went. Home life keeps moving on. So please
bear with me because A. I need to write this to know that I can still
communicate with the outside world (I know many moms know the
feeling) B. Breastfeeding is awesome and C. Did I mention
Breastfeeding is awesome?
First, a little bit of
personal background: I'm a mother to three great children, two boys
and a girl. My oldest son, Basketball Boy, is my c-section baby. He
was my smallest baby at 7lb 14oz., and nursed for thirteen months. He
self weaned due to my pregnancy with his sister, which caused a drop
in supply, combined with poor knowledge of extended breastfeeding on
my part. My second baby, Flower Girl, was my first VBAC (vaginal
birth after a cesarean) and my biggest baby weighing in at 8lb 11oz.
She nursed for sixteen months and self weaned due to her father and I
separating, the subsequent divorce being too stressful for me to cope
with and, again, lack of knowledge on my part. Having my first two
children twenty months apart at the age of twenty-one and
twenty-three was an eye opener. Needless to say, I was thrust into
motherhood and all it entailed with little ones in the home. My third
baby, Hoss, came at a time when I was much more experienced as a
mother. I had time, education, and perspective under my belt. He
still threw me for a loop and that has led me to where I am now. He
has been nursing for twenty-nine months and counting. He was born via
VBAC on his guess date weighing 8lb 4oz and has literally demanded I
change as a parent, as a woman, and as a human being.
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| My family-2011 |
Now,
a little bit of educational background: I have been fascinated with
pregnancy and breastfeeding ever since I was a child. I remember
studying the anatomical pregnancy and lactating breast pictures in a
woman’s health encyclopedia of my mother's. Shortly after I had my
second child, I became a certified doula, which I loved, but it was
difficult to be on call once I became a single parent of two
toddlers. I started college shortly after my husband and I separated
and, although I tried with all of my might, going through a divorce
with two small toddlers, moving back home, and attending nursing
school nearly killed me (did you know you can have the flu, mono, and
scarlet fever all at the same time?). I was a semester away from
graduating and, due to severe test anxiety (had no clue at the time),
I failed a final exam by half of a point (don't change your
answers!). God was telling me that becoming an RN was not in the
cards at the time. (If only I hadn't spent a crazy amount of money
before I figured that out). I really would love to have a nursing
career and eventually fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a midwife
- just not right now. So, here I am. Since nursing school, I have
been a stay at home mother and have added homeschooler to the mix.
What does all this mean? Well, it means that I am passionate about my
role as a mother and as a breastfeeding advocate. So why Magic Milk?
When
I was twenty, I was pregnant with my first baby and I clearly
remember the flood of questions that came at me from good-intentioned
and curious mothers, family, friends, and even strangers in the check
out line. “When are you due?” “Boy or Girl?” “What type of
paci, soap, diapers?” But the only time I remember anyone asking if
I was breastfeeding (other than in my birthing class or at the Dr.'s
office) was in the hospital. I had not taken any classes or asked a
ton of questions, but I read a lot of books and was lucky to have a
family that was supportive in my choice to breastfeed. Yet, once my
son was born, the flood of unsolicited infant feeding advice was more
than I could take. Already dealing with the disappointment of an
urgent c-section, breastfeeding was something to keep me focused on
the positive and gave me a sense of accomplishment as a new mother.
After all of the breastfeeding horror/bashing stories or “formula
is just like/better than breast milk” comments, I knew I would be
lucky if I could nurse him at all, let alone to my projected three
month mark (my ex mother in law insisted on keeping a can of formula
in her house, just in case). Let the nursing journey begin!
Luckily for me, nursing came
pretty naturally for both my baby and myself; but that being said,
there are still concerns, doubts, and problematic situations that
arise in even the best breastfeeding relationships. Top all of that
with, shall we say, misinformed (but well-meaning) friends and family
and a society that is more than a bit squeamish at the *gasp*
sight of a mother putting a baby/toddler/child to breast. (We all
know that this same society prefers all women to keep their breasts
covered at all times. Ha…ha…ha… (sarcasm). It's no wonder that
breastfeeding in modern America is one of the biggest feats a woman
can conquer. But, it is the
most invaluable, all-love-giving, ever-abundant,
full-of-sweet-yummy-germ-killing-goodness, knows-no-limits resource
our world has to offer. This is why, my friends, I welcome you to
Magic Milk. I want to share with you all of the great things
breastfeeding our babies and toddlers has to offer not only babies, but ourselves, our partners, family/friends, and ultimately communities. The evidence-based data is there to prove it. I also
believe there is nothing like being taught by experience. I want to
create a place for mothers to come support and share with each other,
a place where we can encourage each other through the rough patches
and congratulate each other on providing the best of ourselves to our
children - knowing better and doing better. Welcome Magic Milk Mamas!
(And Supporters!)
I want to give a big thank you to April and Billy at BillyFann.com. They have done all of our graphics on our Facebook page and have been working on our soon to come official website! They are a great couple as well as awesome parents and have a work ethic like no other couple I've seen!
