Recent Articles
Breastfeeding in Netherlands
The best part about having a baby in the Netherlands, which goes hand in hand with their very naturalistic approach to early motherhood, is the enormous support when it comes to breastfeeding.
Cancer, Donor Eggs, and a Successful Feeding Journey
I always knew I wanted to breastfeed. When I envisioned motherhood, breastfeeding was an important aspect of that. My journey did not turn out the way I initially wanted, but I am proud of how far we made it and proud of my body. To understand my experience fully, let me provide some background.
My Breastfeeding Journey - Dealing With Diabetes and Low Supply
I recently gave birth to my second son, who was born at 35 weeks. In the months leading up to his birth, my prayers were for a healthy baby AND a beautiful breastfeeding journey. I was DETERMINED to breastfeed him no matter what. The journey thus far has not been easy, but worth it!
My Breastfeeding Journey - Balancing a Career, Difficulty Breastfeeding, and Motherhood
Despite her challenges, Grace remained determined to be the best mother and professional she could be. Now the mother of three, she still continues to pursue her passions for running, yoga, and weightlifting, and enjoys hobbies like SCUBA diving and collecting sea glass. Grace continued to excel in her career, using her expertise in therapeutics, medical devices, and more to make a positive impact in the biotech industry.
My Breastfeeding Journey - Dealing With a Tongue Tie and High Palate
With little National Health System (NHS) support, I hired a private lactation consultant to visit our home and watch a feed. I will never forget the devastation I felt when we learned my son had a tight posterior tongue tie and high palate (which was missed by several healthcare professionals). No wonder he couldn’t extract milk and was so distressed at the breast!
My Breastfeeding Journey - Agony, Control and Surrender
Breastfeeding is supposed to be easy, right? Hardly! Thrush, low supply, vasospasm, tongue tie, and clogged ducts, we went through it all. And came out a year later still loving each other.
Lactation Success Story #3: Bottles for Mom’s Mental Health
I often hear mothers think of breastfeeding as the first and primary step in taking care of their child- it establishes a sense of being a good mother or not right off the bat. However, many don’t realize that being a good mother comes from many facets beyond just a feeding plan! If you love, nurture, and care for your baby, you are indeed a good mom, no matter how you choose to feed!
My Breastfeeding Journey - Nipple Shields to the Rescue
For me, breastfeeding was the hardest part of becoming a mom. I wasn’t prepared for it at all. All the books I read and all the videos I watched made it seem like this blissful bonding experience for mom and baby. Until my turn came, and it just wasn’t at all.
My Breastfeeding Journey - Vasospasms and D-MER
Bad mother. The last thing any woman wants to hear. The one thing that she's trying not to be. Yet that's what I was told by my sister-in-law when I told her that I didn't know if I wanted to breastfeed. It is drilled into us as women that we are supposed to do certain things and be a certain way when we become mothers- not just by strangers and "society "but from family, friends, and other women who are supposed to be an ally and support systems.
My Breastfeeding Journey - How We Dealt With Bladder Exstrophy
I learned immediately after my son was born that this would not be as easy as I had imagined. My sweet boy was born with a rare condition called Bladder Exstrophy, and we didn't know anything about it until I delivered him. In short, his bladder was on the outside of his body. Doctors rushed him to NICU at a hospital an hour away immediately after I gave birth. My husband joined him, and I was left to begin this breastfeeding journey alone without my baby.
A Collection of Short Breastfeeding Stories
I got my women tribe and book club ladies to share and compare our breastfeeding stories. Our children are of various ages, from babies to teenagers, and some of us are stay-at-home moms, and some are working moms ranging from teachers to physios. It was an interesting collection of stories highlighting how normal breastfeeding is, with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
My Breastfeeding Journey: My Babies NEVER Slept!
While many would say I had an almost idyllic breastfeeding journey, those early years were some of the toughest of my life. My eldest son, Tor, was born in 2012, and when I was pregnant, I read everything I could get my hands on about the birthing process. I had an easy pregnancy and wonderfully event-free water birth.
My Breastfeeding Journey - Why I Became an IBCLC
Following a STAT Primary Cesarean Section, something that upset me greatly, I was DETERMINED that my breastfeeding journey would be a success. We made it 15 months with what I now believe was a posterior tongue tie, suck blister, excessive spit-up (due to a milk allergy we only discovered after weaning), mastitis SIX times, oversupply issues, and pumping while away from my baby during my 12-hour shifts.
My Breastfeeding Journey in NICU During COVID
I promised myself that it would be different this time - that I would be calm and allow my baby to feed wherever and whenever he needed. I would avoid all that time and stress expressing and sterilizing bottles. However, our plans rarely go according to plan. Never did I imagine that the journey would be this difficult.