My Breastfeeding Journey
This month is BreastFeeding Awareness Month, and the last week of August is Black BreastFeeding Awareness Week. This is the 7th year that Black BreastFeeding Awareness Week has existed with the goal of bring to light that black women are breasting feeding at 58% versus white women breastfeeding at 75% according to the CDC.
There are several reasons why some women choose not to breast feed, and often times it is linked to the lack of support around it.
Breastfeeding can be very difficult!
And if you are not in a supportive environment, breastfeeding may seem impossible when trying to juggle life, a new baby, and body changes. It is often easier to just choose to use formula.
Top 5 Reason Why Black Breastfeeding Week is Important
My Breastfeeding Journey
For me, breastfeeding, in the beginning, was something that came pretty easy for us compared to other women’s journey. Even though, I didn’t see Klay until hours after birth, once they gave him to me he latched on right away.
It took some time for us to get it right though. With the help of the hospital’s lactation specialist, we were able to get great rhythm.
I started using a pump right away while breastfeeding, and it stimulated my flow even more. I was able to store a freezer full of milk in the first 2 months of Klay being born.
Breastfeeding While Working
I felt like I had complete control of my breastfeeding life until I started going back to work!
I put scheduled time on my calendar for pumping throughout the the day to ensure I would be able to keep up my flow. It made sense, but it got hard. Meetings would run long, the pump room would be unavailable, I wouldn’t be able to use my office, and the list just got long.
He is Colicky…Stop Breastfeeding!
On top of trying to find a way to fit pumping in my work life, Klay was colicky in his first 4 months. Everyone kept suggesting to switch to formula. And that made me feel like something was wrong with my milk.
I honestly felt like giving up, but Klay wasn’t having it! My son loved his milk, and if it wasn’t for him finding comfort in breastfeeding, I think it would have been a little easier to stop.
We started doing half breastmilk, half formula with Klay. He could tell the difference. And he often would get mad if you tried giving him formula.
So, I changed my diet to figure out what was causing him to be colicky. And slowly got him back to drinking breast milk full time. But, while doing that, we were still breastfeeding in the morning and at night. He wouldn’t have it any other way!
Now… With Baby Teeth!
Klay will soon be turning one, and we are still breastfeeding!! Even with his 8 teeth… We are still going strong. I kindly let Klay know when he is getting too excited, and taught him how to be gentle with mommy. He got the message, and we are both equally happy.
Let me be the first to tell you… You can do it!!
It make get hard, but if you want to breastfeed… You can!
