#mommymonday

Changes through the years...

Lisa T. from Milaca, MN

Lisa has 5 children, ages ranging 28 to 5 years old.  She has experienced the changes in how breastfeeding practices were perceived and what education there was (not) provided - compared to now.

Lisa is actually my mom.  

When my first brother, Isaac, was born back in 2011, I remember my mom breastfeeding him.  Growing up, I never thought anything of it.  It was just something, normal.  I knew what breastfeeding was and even though I was a teenager it never ¨weirded¨ me out.

I asked my mom to shed some light on the differences from when she had me, to her youngest.  Which are over 20 years apart.

¨With my first baby back in 1991 (me), even WIC wasn't very supportive to young new mom. They didn't give resources, nor did the doctors. It evolved, obviously, over the years and by the time I had Henry back in 2014, support and education was abundant. Nursing moms weren't supported in the workplace very well back in the 90s...as compared to today.¨

My mom was only 21 when she gave birth to me.  She once told me, that when I was born, the nurse just swooped in and grabbed her breast to help her with latching.  As a mother myself, I cannot imagine how violating that must have felt.  My mom struggled with breastfeeding me for 6 weeks before she decided to bottle feed me.  To this day she is not sure why I struggled with latching, and not wanting to take the breast.  My mom calks it up to lack of education and support.

¨With my first child, I was pretty much on my own. With Henry and Dennis all the medical practitioners, WIC and even my insurance company had a nurse call me periodically to check on how nursing was going.¨ 

With my sister who was born almost 2 years after me, things went a little smoother.  However, the lack of support was still missing.  By the time she had my all three of my brothers, now ages 17, almost 7 and almost 5, she had breastfeeding and pumping down.

When it came time for me to have my son, I had no doubt that I was going to breastfeed and felt totally comfortable feeding in front of family like my mother had done.

I asked her what advice she would give all new breastfeeding moms... this is what she said:

¨My advice...embrace the magic of being able to breastfeed your baby. It's a special, bonding time that you will always have. Don't let anyone discourage you from nursing your baby when and where it's needed. Enjoy that time and let the baby nurse as long as they choose.¨

Thank you mom for sharing your story and wisdom!

Love your daughter,
​Amanda