We made it!!! 12 months breastfeeding!!!
Well today our little girl turned ONE!!!!! :leap: And that means......... we've been breastfeeding for 12 MONTHS !!!!!
We had numerous problems in the first 4mths..... DD was born with a weak suck which took weeks to correct and for her to learn how to coordinate sucking with swallowing and breathing, we had attachment problems that led to VERY cracked bleeding nipples for weeks and one was so bad I had to express only from it for about 5 days, vasospasm of the nipple from the nipple damage, we struggled with DD's very low weight gains for the first 4mths with sometimes her losing weight :cry: and it took DD 5 weeks to gain her birth weight, I had to express 3hrly round the clock some days and feed her top ups (EBM & formula), we dealt with breast refusal on and off, thrush of the nipple, low milk supply on and off due to her weak sucking and poor attachment for weeks..... so my milk was up and down up and down until 4mths when it FINALLY established itself.
I have a thread in the BF support section dated in Feb.... I should find it. oh here it is https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ng-mother.html
I needed the help of a Lactation Consultant to come to our house every 2-3 days at one stage to help weigh DD and to give us a plan as to how to feed DD..... I needed that specialised care to continue BF'ing and it was so worth the money spent.
I am so proud of myself for being so determined and working so hard to be able to give my DD the best start in life, I am so proud of my DD for putting up with my strong perseverance and being ever so patient with Mummy who was adamant that I was not going to give up even though I had MANY days full of tears saying "I don't know if I can handle this any longer". But I took each day at a time, I then found myself taking weeks at a time..... and then months! I soon found myself leaving the house without having to bring with me a bottle of EBM or formula in my nappy bag incase DD refused the breast or incase I didn't have enough milk supply (it was up and down so much)..... to finally be able to exclusively BF my baby girl once again, was the BEST feeling in the world....... I had overcome the vicious cycle of feeding we were in and I DID it!!!!!!!!
I hope my story can inspire others to continue breastfeeding.... even with a bumpy start that many mothers encounter.... with lots of persistence, confidence, support around you (including those lovely girls in the BF thread THANK YOU ;) you know who you are)..... it CAN be done.
This is my story - thank you for reading it. It is a story that is so close to my heart.... I really honestly struggled to feed my little girl for so many weeks and to be where we are today.... its incredible. :dance: What a wonderful feeling. I have tears!!!! (that's not like me!!!) :lol:
I am now training with the ABA to become a Breastfeeding Counsellor in the hope I can help other Mum's to BF their babies and to overcome problems they encounter like I did!
Happy Birthday baby girl..... well done on making it to 12mths BF with Mummy. I love you and look forward to many more weeks/months if you are happy to continue.
xx
