Sweet Pea Births

Chandler, Arizona

Sweet Pea ​Births

...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

In Their Own Words: Erica ~ Part 1

Posted on August 25, 2017 at 11:54 AM
PART 1: My Breastfeeding Journey: The Greatest Gift of My Birth Experience

I’ve been breastfeeding my daughter, Scarlett, for a little over a year now, and it continues to be a very important part of our lives. I know many women in the United States choose to discontinue breastfeeding at a year, or sooner, for a variety of reasons. I have no judgment towards them. I can say I know that I won’t be one of them. I’m not sure how long we will continue to nurse, but I don’t see us stopping any time soon. 

I didn’t go into motherhood thinking I would be an “extended breastfeeder.” For those of you who have seen the HBO show Game of Thrones and saw the scene of Robin Arryn nursing well into childhood… that’s kind of what I thought of as “extended breastfeeding.”  I initially figured I’d give it a year and see how and where it went. Now that we’ve made it to 13 months and it’s going so well, it seems silly to even consider stopping. It is still a large part of her nourishment, an effective way to soothe and comfort her, and our special bonding time, among many other benefits. Also, there is this huge emotional component for me: I think of our breastfeeding relationship as the greatest gift of my birth experience.
 
I had a traumatic birth in July 2016. I planned a homebirth and ended up transferring to a hospital for an excruciating 52-hour induction that ended in a Cesarean birth. My daughter was 10 days past her anticipated due date and didn’t move enough on an ultrasound, which is what caused us to need the induction. After 2 more days of every horrible step of the induction process, and trying to hold out for an un-medicated birth, I became a statistic in the chain of interventions and one of the 1 in 3 American women whose babies are surgically delivered.  To make matters worse, Scarlett aspirated meconium at some point in our labor, and was whisked away to the NICU as soon as she was out. I didn’t get to hold her for 18 hours. I didn’t get to attempt to breastfeed until her third day of life.
 
After having everything on my birth plan derail to the horrific experience I endured, I was determined to feed my child the way that I had planned to; determined not to have breastfeeding taken from me as well. I couldn’t see her during those first 18 hours, but I pumped every 2 hours like a fiend. I was told not to try to get her to latch initially because of her difficulties breathing, but I brought her all of my colostrum, requested donor milk instead of formula until my milk came in, and continued to pump and pump and pump. Finally, on the third day of her life, I made milk, and her breathing improved, and I got to learn how to nurse my baby.
           
We needed help at first. We met with a lactation consultant, we used a nipple shield, and we used the football hold… I drank my weight in water and ate everything in sight for a while. On day 3 when I finally got to start nursing, the hospital had rules for me: I could only nurse her for 15 minutes, then I had to go and pump and she was given a bottle of expressed milk to finish her feed so they could determine exactly how much she ate. They had their reasons I’m sure, but the effect to me was oversupply. I was nursing a hungry baby, and then pumping directly after. When we were finally released on day 5, I was sent home with about 7 bottles of extra milk I had made. I didn’t know then that wasn’t typical.
 
When we got home, my husband soon grew tired of hearing, “Babe, I need my water bottle!” However, he and Scarlett were troopers. He kept me fed and hydrated, propped up, etc. She had a good latch and was always hungry. Within a few days we stopped using the nipple shield. Within a few weeks I could move a little better after the surgery and stopped doing the football hold. Things were going more smoothly, until I began to put together the effects my oversupply was having on Scarlett. My milk came spraying out with such force that she would sometimes gag and sputter. She would occasionally throw up all over us during or directly after eating. It was frustrating to feed her when she seemed overwhelmed by my milk. It was not fun to get vomited on. Repeatedly. And feel like I was smothering my baby with my giant, milk-tastic boobs.
 
I asked the doctor about it. He said spit up is normal. I said it’s a lot more than spit up… he said all kids throw up and not to worry about it. He was useless. I asked my Bradley teacher and La Leche League ladies and they gave me actual things to try: laid-back nursing, let gravity work for you, put baby on top of you, side-lying nursing, block nursing, burp her more frequently, stop pumping so much… all of which helped immensely. 

After a few months we finally got the hang of it. I’m glad I was able to make some adaptations to help us, and had the willpower and resources not to give up when it was hard. I honestly think my awful birth was instrumental in my steadfastness when it came to breastfeeding.
 
Click HERE for PART II of Erica and Scarlett’s story: Making It Work
 
Disclaimer: 
The material included in this video is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.  Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  This blog and related videos contain information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on our blog and videos do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.
 

Birthing From Within and Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: convenient to Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale

Categories: Bradley Method®, Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Breastfeeding Challenges, Breastfeeding support, In Their Own Words, World Breastfeeding Week

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

83 Comments

Reply Zhanna
6:12 AM on August 27, 2017 
Your persistence paid off and Scarlett is a little healthy munchkin. It is not easy to start and continue breastfeeding in a society that does not consider it a norm. For example, when most friends are formula-feeding, it is hard to find someone to ask questions or show how rewarding breastfeeding can be. I am happy for you and Scarlett and the bond that you have developed.
Reply jordan 12
6:12 AM on August 27, 2021 
I wish to get across my love for your kind-heartedness giving support to those who have the need for assistance with this particular concern. Your very own dedication to getting the solution throughout appears to be wonderfully advantageous and have continuously helped many people like me to reach their ambitions. Your own important information can mean a whole lot a person like me and a whole lot more to my office workers. Warm regards; from everyone of us.
jordan 12 http://www.jordan12.us.com
Reply stone island
6:13 AM on August 27, 2021 
I am also commenting to let you be aware of what a amazing encounter our child enjoyed studying your site. She figured out some issues, which included how it is like to possess an excellent giving nature to make many more without problems thoroughly grasp specific grueling things. You really surpassed visitors' desires. Thank you for churning out those invaluable, healthy, revealing and even easy tips about this topic to Sandra.
stone island http://www.stoneislands.us
Reply westbrook shoes
6:13 AM on August 27, 2021 
I wanted to create you the tiny note to help thank you so much again for your amazing information you've provided at this time. It is simply tremendously generous of people like you to supply extensively precisely what most people would've advertised for an ebook to help make some dough on their own, most importantly considering that you could have tried it if you ever decided. These inspiring ideas likewise acted to provide a good way to fully grasp that someone else have the identical desire the same as my personal own to know the truth lots more in respect of this condition. I am sure there are numerous more pleasurable times ahead for people who examine your blog.
westbrook shoes http://www.russellwestbrookshoes.us
Reply giannis shoes
6:14 AM on August 27, 2021 
I needed to put you that very little remark to thank you so much the moment again for all the pleasing guidelines you have featured at this time. It's certainly surprisingly generous with people like you to supply extensively all numerous people would've offered for an ebook in order to make some dough for their own end, specifically considering that you could have tried it if you ever decided. Those guidelines additionally served to become easy way to understand that most people have similar passion just as my very own to find out significantly more in terms of this issue. Certainly there are a lot more pleasurable times in the future for those who look into your website.
giannis shoes http://www.giannisantetokounmposhoes.us
Reply off white
6:15 AM on August 27, 2021 
I wanted to develop a brief note to appreciate you for these fabulous concepts you are showing on this site. My long internet research has finally been rewarded with awesome points to write about with my friends and classmates. I 'd declare that we site visitors actually are extremely blessed to dwell in a useful website with many outstanding professionals with interesting suggestions. I feel quite blessed to have seen your site and look forward to many more excellent minutes reading here. Thank you again for a lot of things.
off white http://www.offwhiteoutlet.us.org
Reply jordan 12
6:15 AM on August 27, 2021 
I am glad for writing to let you be aware of of the useful experience my friend's daughter enjoyed using your site. She mastered such a lot of things, which included what it is like to possess a marvelous teaching spirit to get a number of people without problems learn about a number of complicated topics. You actually did more than my expected results. I appreciate you for displaying such good, dependable, informative and as well as cool tips about that topic to Lizeth.
jordan 12 http://www.jordan12.us.com
Reply curry 5 shoes
6:15 AM on August 27, 2021 
I in addition to my pals were found to be examining the great secrets located on your web blog while all of a sudden got a terrible feeling I had not thanked the web blog owner for those strategies. These women became as a consequence very interested to study them and now have surely been loving those things. Thanks for indeed being so thoughtful and then for getting such remarkable issues most people are really eager to know about. Our sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to earlier.
curry 5 shoes http://www.curry5.us.com
Reply kyrie irving
6:16 AM on August 27, 2021 
I wanted to write you the very small observation to finally say thanks a lot yet again for your personal precious principles you have provided above. This is unbelievably open-handed with people like you to convey unreservedly what exactly a lot of folks could possibly have offered for an e book to help make some bucks on their own, and in particular now that you could have done it in case you desired. These points likewise worked like the great way to be sure that many people have the same eagerness really like my own to learn lots more around this condition. Certainly there are several more enjoyable opportunities up front for folks who read your blog.
kyrie irving http://www.kyrieirvingshoes.us.com
Reply kyrie shoes
8:20 AM on August 30, 2021 
I intended to write you a bit of remark in order to say thank you yet again considering the magnificent knowledge you've shared in this article. This is really seriously open-handed with people like you to supply easily all that a few people could have made available for an e-book to help make some dough on their own, and in particular considering that you might have done it if you ever wanted. Those tips additionally served like the great way to comprehend other individuals have the identical interest just as my own to know significantly more concerning this condition. I'm certain there are thousands of more enjoyable occasions in the future for folks who read your site.
kyrie shoes http://www.kyrie4shoes.us
Reply nike sb dunks
8:21 AM on August 30, 2021 
I as well as my buddies came analyzing the good procedures found on your web blog and all of the sudden got a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the site owner for them. The young men happened to be consequently excited to learn all of them and have in effect unquestionably been making the most of these things. I appreciate you for getting quite kind and then for finding such important ideas millions of individuals are really eager to discover. Our own sincere regret for not saying thanks to you earlier.
nike sb dunks http://www.sbdunk.us
Reply off white
8:22 AM on August 30, 2021 
I really wanted to jot down a small word to be able to say thanks to you for all of the unique ideas you are giving on this website. My particularly long internet lookup has now been recognized with pleasant knowledge to write about with my pals. I 'd state that that we readers are undeniably fortunate to live in a very good network with very many wonderful people with insightful suggestions. I feel rather happy to have come across the web site and look forward to some more exciting times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for everything.
off white http://www.off--white.us.com
Reply steph curry shoes
9:34 AM on September 3, 2021 
I wanted to put you one tiny word to help say thanks a lot as before relating to the fantastic knowledge you have shared in this case. It was so generous with people like you to supply openly all a number of us would've offered for sale for an e-book to get some dough for themselves, most importantly considering that you might have tried it if you considered necessary. Those principles in addition acted to be a fantastic way to be sure that many people have similar zeal really like my very own to figure out lots more with regard to this matter. I am certain there are lots of more pleasant instances up front for people who examine your website.
steph curry shoes http://www.stephcurry.us
Reply golden goose
9:36 AM on September 3, 2021 
I am glad for writing to let you know what a fabulous encounter our child enjoyed viewing yuor web blog. She even learned some details, which included what it is like to possess a great coaching mindset to get folks effortlessly learn about chosen extremely tough subject matter. You undoubtedly surpassed our desires. I appreciate you for imparting such effective, trustworthy, edifying and also easy tips on the topic to Emily.
golden goose http://www.goldengoose-outlet.us.com
Reply bape
9:36 AM on September 3, 2021 
My wife and i have been so peaceful when Chris could conclude his inquiry through your precious recommendations he had using your web site. It is now and again perplexing to just be freely giving solutions that many others might have been making money from. We discover we've got the blog owner to thank for this. The type of explanations you made, the straightforward website menu, the friendships you will assist to engender - it's got most awesome, and it is facilitating our son in addition to the family recognize that this topic is cool, which is certainly seriously serious. Thank you for the whole thing!
bape http://www.bathing-ape.us
Reply supreme clothing
9:37 AM on September 3, 2021 
Thank you a lot for providing individuals with such a brilliant possiblity to read from this site. It can be so great and full of fun for me personally and my office co-workers to search your website more than three times per week to study the fresh tips you have got. Not to mention, I'm certainly amazed with all the beautiful tips you give. Certain 4 points in this article are definitely the very best we've had.
supreme clothing http://www.supremesoutlet.us.com
Reply stone island hoodie
9:38 AM on September 3, 2021 
Needed to send you this very little remark just to say thank you as before with the unique things you have discussed here. This has been simply incredibly open-handed with people like you in giving unreservedly what a number of us might have supplied as an electronic book to help make some cash on their own, particularly considering the fact that you might well have tried it in case you wanted. Those basics as well worked to be the fantastic way to realize that many people have similar eagerness really like my own to understand many more when considering this matter. I believe there are millions of more enjoyable instances in the future for individuals who look into your blog post.
stone island hoodie http://www.stoneislands.us
Reply golden goose outlet
9:38 AM on September 3, 2021 
I and my pals were actually reading the best tips and tricks on the website and unexpectedly came up with an awful feeling I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those techniques. The young boys happened to be glad to learn them and already have without a doubt been making the most of them. I appreciate you for turning out to be really kind and then for opting for certain fine resources most people are really wanting to be aware of. My personal honest regret for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.
golden goose outlet http://www.goldengooseoutlets.us
Reply kyrie 5
9:39 AM on September 3, 2021 
My spouse and i ended up being very comfortable that Raymond managed to complete his analysis while using the precious recommendations he had out of the weblog. It is now and again perplexing to simply possibly be releasing information other folks have been trying to sell. And we also realize we have the writer to give thanks to for that. The main illustrations you've made, the straightforward website navigation, the relationships you can aid to instill - it's got mostly spectacular, and it's really facilitating our son in addition to us reason why the matter is exciting, which is certainly extremely vital. Many thanks for all the pieces!
kyrie 5 http://www.kyrie5.org
Reply supreme shirt
10:05 AM on September 5, 2021 
My spouse and i have been really ecstatic that Edward managed to complete his studies via the precious recommendations he came across from your web page. It is now and again perplexing to just choose to be giving freely strategies which usually others could have been making money from. And now we discover we've got the writer to appreciate for this. These explanations you have made, the simple web site menu, the relationships you help to promote - it's many sensational, and it's facilitating our son and our family know that that idea is cool, and that is exceedingly pressing. Many thanks for the whole lot!
supreme shirt http://www.supreme.us.org

Categories


/
Lightbox image