Goodbye Medela Pump in Style.
Its over.
I'll continue to nurse, but I'll have to offer at least 2-3 oz of formula after each nursing session.
ON THE BITTERSWEET SIDE... Let me introduce you to Megan. (Click on Megan to read her story.) Megan is one of my bestest bestest friends in the whole world. We share the same birthday. We both had blonde hair until I died mine brown, but I've bleached it back - so now we both HAVE blonde hair. We both adore pugs. We both got pregnant at about the same time. We both obsess about breast milk and breast feeding. Megan has twin girls. Two beautiful, healthy, amazing, smart, charming girls. And she nurses them when she can and pumps when she can't.
I won't lie... To listen to Megan talk about how much milk she produces in a day is like being on a strict diet and watching someone eat an entire chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate curls and chocolate ice cream, and chocolate wonderfulness.
Megan also has a huge heart. She's cheered me on through the trials and tribulations of breast feeding. And is fluent in my saga. (Click here if you want to be too.) Now that her girls are 9 months old, she's producing more milk than her girls need. So, each Wednesday Megan loads up her little cooler with breast milk and hands it over to me to take home. Are you shocked? Another mom's milk?
I guess some people would be weirded out by it. And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion and reaction - I challenge you to think like a parent and not a pervert... What if there was no formula? Remember that? Remember when there was no formula? Probably not. It was a LONG, LONG time ago. But its a true story! (There also used to be no running water or electricity too... but I digress!!!) Moms who found themselves in situations like mine found themselves a wet nurse. Someone to nurse their baby because they couldn't. Breast milk is best. There's no denying that. Formula is fine. I've had to use it from day one. But breast milk is alive with enzymes and immunoglobulins and all sorts of specific nutrients that a baby needs that can only come from the breast.
So, when Megan offered her breast milk for Adam, I humbly accepted it with so much gratitude. I know Megan well. I even seen her medicine cabinet! :-) She's a non smoker. A non drinker. Her worse offense is a serious sweets addiction. I think Adam is enjoying the sweeter milk!
I decided to write about it because I'm proud to be giving her milk to Adam. I'm not ashamed of it. I don't think its weird. I don't think its perverse. I made the decision carefully and deliberately. And I thought, just maybe.... someone out there needed to hear that.
Birthday Buddies!
Megan: Andy and I are very grateful and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love you!
i think that is awesome and NOT weird at all! what a great friend for sure!
ReplyDeleteWOW. That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said about me! ALL OF IT! Make me cry and make my heart swell with pride!!! I am so proud to be your friend and I am honored to be able to provide some of my milk to nourish Mr. AJ.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how difficult it must be to hear me talk about how much milk I make - I try not to in any way "rub it in" - yet at the same time I am SO glad that I make this much so I can help out! And who better to help but my God Son!?
I know I have said this before but I am absolutely going to say it again - you have been an absolutely amazing mommy to Adam. So many other women would have given up on breast feeding 9 months ago. But not you. Not Sheila. No. You were determined to do whatever you had to do to make sure that Adam got your milk. You couldn't go out to eat because there would be ingredients in the food that Adam was allergic to. You couldn't pick up a slice of bread, a taco, a piece of cake, without examining the ingredients and 9 times out of 10 you couldn't eat it. You couldn't have cheese, milk, or butter (three of my favorite things after chocolate). I can tell you that if it were me, I would have given up, no questions asked. But it wasn't me. It was you. And I have NEVER seen someone so determined. You amazed me. I was so impressed by you. Breastfeeding came easy to me. I've had no problem maintaining my milk supply. I was very very blessed in the baby feeding department. And I realize that. And I am thrilled that I can take my blessing and share it with others. I can't think of anyone better to share my milk with momma. Love and hugs your way =).
I saw that you commented and wanted to check up on your blog. I think you're really lucky to have such a close friend that offers you her milk for your baby. I've been struggling with a lower milk supply lately and wish I could do the same thing. Since she's almost a year old, I'm wondering if I can just supplement with cow's milk along with nursing her. But I understand your struggle with not producing enough milk. I don't think it's weird at all and I'm glad you wrote about it, someone will read it and either relate to it, or think hey, I can do that too (the sharing milk thing). Anyway, I hope you and your family are doing well :)
ReplyDelete