The Nursing Baby - Your Breastfeeding Stories

I'm a reader, so when I became pregnant I began reading what ever I could find. One book suggested attending La Leache Leage meeting while pregnant, so I did. My husband and I decide bf was the only thing to do. Kelsey Jo was born after about four hour labor, every thing was fine. Nurses pushed me to get food in her, and crumbling under pressure we started using a nipple guard. she nursed ok with it but being my first baby i thought it was fine. At 3 days old she was back in the hospital for a 5 day stay for jaundice. Than at two weeks we get a call that she was Hypothyrodism (her thyroid did not work) and had to take her to a childrens hospital two hours away. This problem explained her lack of enthusiasim to eat, because of her illness all she wanted to do was sleep. The doc told me "when her meds kick in she nurse faster than you can keep up". When this didn't happen and she still wouldn't bf without the nipple guard I was Ready to give up.(she was about 4 weeks) Then the ped doc told me "keep trying, she has tasted champage,she won't good back to beer" and after another tearful week everything clicked, no more nipple guard, no more tears!

Today she is 19 months and still bf 3 times most days. I know I have given her the best start to life. If you are pregnant and reading this, Know that breast milk is the ONLY food for your baby for the first six months of life. If you want the best for your new little person, BREAST IS BEST!

I have a story above,and when I went over it I saw that I didn't tell you very much of the good of breast feeding. Like when you know your baby is thriving because of you. When your relatives are getting on your nerves (all do at some point) and the baby gets hungry, you get her back and can cuddle and be together again while you feed her. When you go away for the weekend and don't need to worry about taking food for the baby. When she looks up while eating and gives you a heart melting smile. When she is crying and mommies breast calms her. When she looks at you and announces she wants "nunee" for the first time. When you look down at the sweetest thing you ever saw, as she was fallen asleep while nursing. Breast feeding has many benefits for both mother and child, but the bond it creates is almost magical. Kelsey is 19 mons. and I plan to let her decide when she doesn't need it any more, and I know my heart will ache for those times of quiet, peaceful and heartwarming hour spent, just Kelsey and me, skin to skin, discovering the new little girl my husband and I were given.