When I became pregnant with my first child, I was pretty sure that I would feed him formula, because I was working.  I had been breastfed as a baby, but almost no one else that I knew had been.  Everyone I saw with babies were feeding them bottles.  Not to mention, that I was still sort of uncomfortable with even having a baby, much less feeding him from my breast.

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Luckily, my mother gave me a book that changed all of that for me.  It was The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by the La Leche League.  I learned that I could still work and breastfeed.  All I had to do was pump milk and store it for daytime feedings, when I would be away, and then I could breastfeed when I got home.   And, it was sooo much better for the baby.  I remember the book calling the milk “liquid gold,” because it is so valuable to babies.  That got me really excited about breastfeeding for my son.

It turned out that my son came seven weeks before his due date, and had to stay in the NICU for three weeks.  During this time, although I could not take him home and care for him the way I wanted, I could still give him the gift of my milk.  I was not allowed to nurse him freely, as I wished, because he was little, and the doctor did not want him to expend his energy eating.  He was also very hard to wake, so most of the time the nurses would feed him with a little tube that went down his throat.  I pumped milk for him in a room in the NICU everyday while he was there.  It was all I could really do to help him.

Once he got home, I got to really enjoy him.  And he really started to gain weight quickly! He gained a pound a week in those first few months, off of nothing but my milk.  I nursed him most of the time, but gave him a bottle every now and then because I knew I would be returning to work soon.  I was able to pump and breastfeed him for six months before I could no longer keep up my supply.  My work was emotionally and mentally demanding, and I traveled a lot, so it eventually was more than I could bare.  I started supplementing with formula, and within a month, my milk supply could no longer keep up with his demand.

Looking back, I wish I had tried harder to keep up my supply, but hose first few months are something that we will always treasure.  My sweet little boy in my arms after along day at work.  Eating at my breast and giving me those sweet little smiles.  I would nurse him until we both fell asleep on the sofa, where we would often stay during the night.  And I knew each day that he would be comforted by my milk while I was away!

If you are interested in breastfeeding, I would urge you to do it!  There are so many benefits for the mother and the baby, especially if he or she is premature or has other complications.  I would love to help answer any questions.  Just comment below or email me at staceykopp@hotmail.com.  Or, pick up the book I mentioned “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.”  It is a lot of help for first timers.

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