going. And it finally got easier. So I set a new goal of a year. When we hit that milestone I decided we would take it month by month. At 18 months, I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder. And my depression came back when the doctor told me I had to wean. After more support and research, I weaned my daughter down to 1-2 times a day. But made a promise to her that she could nurse as long as she still asked for them when she woke and went to sleep. We weaned at 4 years old. A few months after her little sister was born. I don't regret nursing my daughter for 4 years. I regret that I did not get more pictures though. I'm so glad Andrea was able to capture this moment for us while I was 8 months pregnant with her little sister. (Who is still breastfeeding at 15 months.) "
- Colleen J.
"I knew from the moment I got that positive test that I wanted to breastfeed my son. I always thought that it was just something that went off without a hitch. The baby would be born, you'd latch them on and your milk would just flow out and you'd live happily ever after. Maybe that is the case with some people. It was not the case with us.
After a traumatic birth the only thing I felt like I still had any control over was breastfeeding my son but his latch was pretty horrific right from the start. He was born with a tongue tie and nobody would clip it for us at the hospital. Being that he was born the week of Thanksgiving, we had to wait until he was about 10 days old until we could get it done. After that, it was slightly better but he was still, literally shredding me, clamping down and my toes would curl in pain. He also couldn't stay latched to a bottle of even a paci. We both powered through the frustration, pain, mastitis (twice), slow weight gain and 5 different LC's (two said there was nothing wrong) until we finally found Beckman Oral Motor Clinic.
$40 and a couple of weeks of my just moving my fingers around in his mouth and he was nursing like a champ! I don't think I would have made it through the mental anguish of those first couple of months without support! I connected with a group at Tree of Life called Lika's Leaking Ladies, led by a IBCLC Allika Alce. My son and I have made some great friends through that support group. Even though we struggled I feel like it happened for a reason so we could spread awareness and meet the amazing people that we have along the way." - Andrea P.
"This photo meant I did it, I made it, we made it. We made it a year. Nourishing my baby from my body, the body that grew her, the way it was meant to be.
With my son it wasn't easy, I had cancer when I was pregnant with him and needed to have radiation therapy done and my oncologist was only comfortable letting me wait six months after birth. Then we had other issues, he had oral motor weakness and could never latch correctly so I took to pumping for him which still allowed me to provide him the best but I so badly wanted a real breastfeeding experience.
So when my daughter had a lip and tongue tie and breastfeeding was horribly painful I was heartbroken and almost gave up but I didn't and I took steps to fix our problems and we made it!
This photo makes me feel powerful and full of love"
oncologist was only comfortable letting me wait six months after birth. Then we had other issues, he had oral motor weakness and could never latch correctly so I took to pumping for him which still allowed me to provide him the best but I so badly wanted a real breastfeeding experience.
So when my daughter had a lip and tongue tie and breastfeeding was horribly painful I was heartbroken and almost gave up but I didn't and I took steps to fix our problems and we made it!
This photo makes me feel powerful and full of love" - Marie S.
"When I found out I was pregnant it didn't take me long to decide I wanted to breastfeed. My mother did not breastfeed and I had never been around breastfeeding moms but I was just drawn to it. I ordered a few recommended books like "the womanly art of breastfeeding" and "making more milk". However, nothing prepared me more than going to a breastfeeding group at my midwives office. The group, Lika's Leaking Ladies, has weekly meetings and a Facebook page where they answer any questions or concerns at any hour of the day/night. I started going to these meetings around 6 months pregnant. I'm so glad I did because I was not prepared for how awkward I felt watching these moms feed their children. Before going I had no clue I would feel strange about it but it really helped me start to view it as a normal thing to do. I had made a few friends in the group and felt very comfortable with the Lactation Consultant, Allika Garries-Alce, who ran the group. This helped me slowly gain confidence in this new journey I was about to begin.
My son did not take to nursing. My journey began with having one of the worst cases of engorgement that they had seen and on the verge of mastitis. We had to use a nipple shield for 4 months and he stayed in the 5th percentile until he latched all on his own. Now he is in the 95th percentile! I credit the group for helping me not feel stress and worry as we went through our rough patch. I truly believe a strong support system is how every mother should begin her breastfeeding journey." Shannon O.
Pro-Breastfeeding Business Commendation:
Cousin Vinnie's Family Sports Restaurant
of Leeseburg, Fl. by Shannon Orem
"The owner came up to our table while I was breastfeeding Dylan in the carrier. He said "are you breastfeeding?" And I said "yeah" as I waited to hear if he was going to complain or not. He said "that's wonderful! It's just so perfectly made for them".