Rough Start

I remember walking in my house and telling my husband I was going to breastfeed.  His reply, "I didn't know you were pregnant."  I wasn't.  I had just returned from visiting my cousin, Veronica, who had just had her daughter.  (You can red her story here as well.)  She was in so much pain from her c-section and from breastfeeding, yet she sat there and explained to me the importance of breastfeeding.  I knew then and there that if a woman could be in so much pain and still stand behind breastfeeding, it was something that shouled be important to me as well.

When I had my son, Jadyen, I immediately started nursing him. I was so relieved when he latched on and it didn’t hurt one bit. Then things took a turn. The day I was discharged the nurse explained to me that he hadn’t urinated yet so that must mean that he is not getting “enough” breast milk. She suggested I try alternating with formula. I started to cry, had I been starving him the first two days of his life? I went home and waited for him to pee. Nothing. I gave in I didn’t want to starve my baby. My husband fed him formula and I cried on the bathroom floor. 

I woke up the next morning so discouraged. My husband fed him formula again as I cried. My wonderful and encouraging husband knew how important breast milk was for our son so he told me that would be the last bottle he would give him. He encouraged me to call someone for advice, so I did. I called a La Leche consultant and she explained to me that my milk hadn’t come in yet and that my son was getting “enough.” She told me the most important action I could take was to continue nursing. She also explained my body would produce as much as Jayden needed. Two days later I awoke to a completely soaked t-shirt, MILK!

My son is now six months and I am still breastfeeding. I love looking down and seeing his eyes stare at me. I love when his tiny hand caresses my breast as if to say, “thank you mommy.”   My eyes water when I look down and see how healthy he looks and see the little rolls on his legs and thinking I did that. And then, just when a tear starts rolling down my face he bites down on my nipple with his strong gums and smiles. Holding my breathe in pain all I can do is smile back.

My boobs are for my son who is my whole life. I only want the best for him and because of that I choose to breastfeed. I love every minute of it and I am grateful that I have such strong women by my side to encourage me, thanks cuz, thanks tia (I bought myself “one cheapy watchcloth” and scrubbed my tetas.”) And even though my mommy didn’t breast feed me (at that time formula was big and they didn’t know all the benefits of breastfeeding – or so she says lol I'm only kidding mom I swear) thanks for supporting me now.

Martiza lives in Browns Mills, NJ with her son Jayden, her Rottweiler Brooklyn (her first baby) and wonderful husband Edward. She is a legal assistant in a law firm in NY.  She says, "I didn’t think I would love being a mom so much but I do and breastfeeding is just icing on the cake!'

Thankful Thursday

For some reason, it seems like this week has gone by fast.  Just another sign I guess that we should be cherishing the time spent with our loved ones.  This week I'm thankful for and truly humbled by the success of YUMMommy.  No, I may not have 500 followers, but still this blog is a success.  Why?  Well, honestly while my mission was to touch others with the sharing of my experiences, I never expected even 50 people to care about what I had to say.

Your continued support and adoration means the world to me.  This blog has opened up the door for so many of my other projects that I have in the works right now.  It's allowed me the opportunity to meet some very amazing people.  I've been through some really dark moments in my life and this blog is showing me that there is sunshine and happiness.  In a way, this blog is helping me to prove to myself that despite of my past, I am worthy of good things.

I am also thankful for my loving family as always.  My mom called me earlier this week.  She knew that I had an issue that was bothering me and she called to let me know that she keeping me in prayer.  When she told me what her prayer was, I was shocked to learn that it was the same thing that I had been praying to God.  Talk about Him sending you signs.

I'm thankful that my mom is my prayer warrior (look it up if you don't know).  I'm not holier than thou but I take my relationship with God seriously.  I'm thankful that He is showing me how to go deeper in my faith and let Him move my mountains.

I am also thankful that JJ's eczema is clearing up on his face.  The pediatrician had to put him on a stronger steroid for his body but the one for his face is working very well.  He's also sleeping completely through the night at two months!!  People say that I have miracle babies because most babies don't start sleeping through the night until after 3 months.  I like to credit our co-sleeping arrangement to that.

I am thankful to all my guest bloggers for sharing their breastfeeding adventures with us.  They're keeping it real and giving you other moms and moms to be the real skinny on what breastfeeding and pumping is all about.  It's not all rainbows and skittles like the magazines try to portray it.  It's work.  Hard work but well worth the benefits if you can do it.

What are you thankful for this week?

Thank you mama for giving me the boob……

I figured that nursing was just one of those things that I being a Latina “had” to do. Of course I would nurse, my family for generation upon generation nursed all their babies. I almost felt obligated to do so. I knew that nursing was good and yada, yada yada but I didn’t see what the big deal was honestly speaking.

Now to put this in perspective, my mama gave birth to all 4 of us sans epidurals and nursed all of us until we were at least one. The minute I told her I was preggers she said “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas’”. As wonderful as that sounded…..I never did it and boy did I live to regret it. Nursing was what the women in my family did. It was expected. I figured I would give nursing a shot and that was that.

The day I delivered my beautiful daughter Camilla via an emergency c section due to “fauilue to descend” (yeah….we will talk about this load of crap on a later date) I was almost in a fog right after surgery. I remember being wheeled into recovery and seeing my husband and asking him to leave me and go be with Camilla. After about 45 minutes, I was brought to my room, which was now filled with about a dozen friends and family. As my daughter was brought into my room, my mother tells me to “get ready”. I didn’t know what she was talking about…I just could not believe I had “real”  baby. “Get ready” meant take my boob out. So I did and carefully placed Camilla into a “football” hold that I had seen in one of my pregnancy magazines. My mother looked at me with a bewildered look “what is that??”  “La football hold” I muttered. That lasted all of 2 minutes before the women in my room told me to hold her cross body so I did.  Camilla ate furiously. I thought “wow this is great….pretty easy”. Then came the next day…….

So up until 24 hours after my C-section, nursing really wasn’t too bad. Then the drugs wore off and my mid section felt like someone had sliced me open and ripped a baby out of me.  Every time Camilla ate I wanted to quit. Every time she cried for milk…I cried. My nipples hurt so bad. The nurses helped, a lactation consultant helped…but NURSING STILL HURT!!!

When we were all finally sent home my mama was there waiting for us. Almost immediately after getting home, Camilla cried because it was time to eat and yup I started to cry anticipating the pain. My nipples were raw! I wanted to quit so bad. Here is where my wonderful mama came to my rescue. Whenever I complained she said to me “that’s Camilla’s milk not yours..give HER, HER milk”  and “soon it will not hurt anymore."

When I thought about the milk rapidly filling my boobs as my baby’s milk, it all of a sudden was not about me anymore. I would prop my feet up, relax my shoulders and nurse. I wanted Camilla to have “her” milk. I felt like I finally understood why the women in my family nursed….it was because what else would your baby eat?  I have to say that all the pain was gone in about a week and now that I am on my second 100% nursed baby….I LOVE NURSING. I love that semi smilie face my 9 month old son gets in his sleepy eyes after getting a full tummy of his milk. I love that nod and smile you get from other moms when you are nursing in public. I love that my kids can be around sick adults and fight the germs. I love everything that breast milk has given to my children. But most of all, I love you mama for helping me, coaching me and just being their for me and my boobs.

PS. When your about 8 months pregnant, don’t forget to “buy jourself one cheapy watchcloth and scrub your tetas.”

Veronica Avery lives in Hillsborough, NJ with her two children Camilla and Caden and wonderful husband Rodney. She teaches elementary school in Newark, NJ.  She loves all things nursing and is living proof that nursing mamas can wear heels, make-up and skinny jeans.  

The Best Start

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I quickly purchased all the books I could to prepare myself for my impending motherhood.  After thorough research, I knew that breastfeeding would be the choice for me.  But, when my daughter was delivered by emergency C-section 3 weeks early, she struggled to latch on that first time and her tiny preemie mouth couldn’t seem to make it work.  Thankfully, I had wonderful lactation nurses who helped me, not just in the hospital, but also after we went home.  As frustrating as it was at times, I refused to give up.  

We finally got the hang of it and I proceeded to nurse her exclusively for an entire year.   As she grew older, I found it odd that all her friends were sick so often and she never was.  She had the occasional cold here and there, but no allergies and she didn’t get the stomach flu until she was 4.

I found out I was pregnant with my son in 2007 and immediately, I knew it was time to pull out my Boppy pillow & Medela pump again.  But, little did I know what a challenge lay ahead of me.  He made it full term, unlike his sister, but he had several medical problems.  Breastfeeding him was the most difficult experience…not at all the special bonding time I had experienced with my first.  But, again, I steeled my will and continued to try everything I could to make it work. 

 He was later diagnosed with GERD (a severe case of acid reflux), which was why he would scream when laying down & nursing.  I had to buy a different nursing pillow that helped prop him up and I learned to burp him more frequently for relief.  Even though we had found our rhythm, he abruptly decided he was done with nursing at 6 months old.  But, instead of giving up, I kept pumping (up to 6 times a day during growth spurts) – even when it meant setting my alarm for 4:00am to pump the milk he would need for breakfast.  I continued this until he was weaned at the 1 year mark.

Looking back on it now, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t do it any differently.  My kids are some of the healthiest in our circle of friends and I truly believe it is because I gave them the best start they could possibly have.  Even though I have battle wounds from my years of nursing – going from a C cup down to an A and nearly destroying my breast tissue from all that pumping.  It was a sacrifice that I would gladly make again – because motherhood is about being selfless, caring for your kids no matter what the cost & giving them all that you can.  And, let’s face it…they’re worth it!

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I am a wife of 11 years and a stay at home mom (kids ages 7 and 3).  I write the blog Penny Pincher Fashion, where you will NOT find me talking about breastfeeding or my adventures in mommy-hood.  But, as much as I love all things fashion & beauty, my family will always come first!http://www.pennypincherfashion.com/

Romance Wednesday: Support

As you all know, it's National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!!  And I am a breastfeeding mom.  Today also happens to Romance Wednesday.  So, I've decided to combine the two.  

I started breastfeeding in 2008 when Moo was born.  For me formula wasn't even an option.  It's my belief that breastfeeding is how God intended for us to feed and nurture our children if were able to.  Not to mention, I had an allergy to diary throughout my entire pregnancy and figured that my baby was most likely allergic.  I'm not even sure how my strong desire to be a breastfeeding mother started or where it came from.

I just know that one day my husband and I were talking about things we wanted to do after the baby was born.  He asked if I was going to breastfeed or use formula and I replied "Breastfeed."  I didn't even take a moment to think about it.  The words just kind of rolled off my tongue.  I was kind of shocked at how certain and confident I felt about my choice.

At first, my husband wasn't on board with the whole idea of me breastfeeding.  His fear was what every man's fear is---the changing of the boobs. LOL. I just had to break it down to him that I was breastfeeding end of discussion.  If my boobs changing was going to be an issue then he could walk.  He sobered up quickly.

Knowing how he felt about breastfeeding, I was kind of shocked that when I came home from the hospital he was so supportive.  That first night was rough.  I was sore from my stitches and the whole getting up and out of bed was not going to work.  Thankfully, my husband did all the getting up and out of bed.  We weren't initially going to co-sleep, but it somehow morphed into just that. (Later post.)

I kept waiting for him to pressure me to switch to formula but he didn't.  He stuck right by me.  He kept my ice packs frozen to help with my engorgement, made sure I was comfortable and did store runs for milk pads and nipple cream.  And when my mom (who I thought would have been my biggest supporter) turned out to be the one who kept hounding me about putting Moo on soy formula or pumping only, it was my husband who stood up for me.  

Breastfeeding showed us both somethings.  It showed me that I could follow through on a long term commitment and that he really was my biggest supporter.  It showed him that he wasn't with me because of my boobs.  He was with me because of who I was and not what my assets looked like.

Here I am on round two and he's even more supportive than ever.  We did have a little power struggle early on but like last time he realized breastfeeding was truly what was best for us and JJ.  So, ladies don't give up on breastfeeding if it's what you want to do. So, what your partner or family doesn't support you.  Keep doing it and eventually they'll either get on board or shut up about it.

Men, the same way you like for us to be understanding of your video game and sports habits, we expect the same when it comes to breastfeeding.

Pumping Only

Being pregnant with number two everything is different. I so thought I was having a girl, because this pregnancy was so different from my first son. It's so different that I want to give him the best life I can give him. That's why I am choosing to pump.

When I had my first son at 18 years old, I knew that breastmilk was what was best for him, but I felt overwhelmed by the whole process. I wanted him to have the best life, but I was going through postpartum, I already felt like he was ruining my life, I just wasn't into the bonding thing yet. That is when I was given a pump. I didn't know ANYTHING about pumping. I wanted him on formula, but my husband wanted him on breastmilk. So I made a compromise. I said I was going to try it for 2 weeks and if I didn't like it back to formula he was going. Well I was not educated enough to know that 2 weeks is not long enough time get your milk in, or that the pain eventually goes away.


I am now more prepared. I feel more educated. I am choosing to pump only because I will be gone from him 4-6 hours a day. I also have a very active husband who really wants to be involved. Pumping gives me the best of both worlds. I give him the best milk, and he can still get a bottle so my husband can give that to him and still get his bonding time. Do I advise everyone to pump? No. If you can get the bond with your baby and he or she latches on by all means breastfeed.

If you are like me and only thinking about pumping I am across this posting for us. I think this posting really gave me the info I needed and the confidence I needed to make pumping happen. I will be in school pumping and I thought it would be awkward. I know understand that breast milk is a beautiful thing and instead of being embarrassed to pump in class I  think I am going to be proud.

Did you pump or breastfeed? Any advice for a pumping mother?

Kanesha Morrison lives in Oklahoma with her husband and one-year-old son. She loves to speak on parenting, marriage, school, but most of all MONEY. She is a full-time stay at home mom, who blogs about her journey through life. Please check her out and read her atMoneyMattersMama.com

Happy Breastfeeding

Awareness Month!!!

Yes, ladies August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  Here on YUMMommy, we will be having several lovely moms guest posting about their experiences with breastfeeding/pumping and why they feel breastmilk is the best option for their children.  I hope that you all will come by and support Breastfeeding Awareness Month.  I can guarantee you that these ladies keep it real in their posts.  They give you the real skinny on what breastfeeding is like.

Also, if you are a breastfeeding mom and would like guest post feel free to drop me an email.  I still have room for more posts!!

Return of the Moo

Yay,  I am so glad to have my Moo back home!!  I've missed her like crazy. Sounds weird considering I just gave birth almost a week ago, but it's true. I thought that I would be so occupied with JJ that I wouldn't miss her as much.  Not the case.

Every day she called to tell me good morning and blow kisses to her baby brother and she called me at night before she went to bed to see how my day went. I know Moo is so thoughtful. That's one trait I hope she never loses as she continues to get older.

Anyways, I was beyond thrilled to see her when I pulled up to my mom's house.  I couldn't believe how big she looked.  Being away from her for five days made it seem like I'd been away from her for a lifetime almost.  Even the hubby commented that she looked bigger and different some how.  Not sure if it's possible but it could be.

We're now back home and Moo is more than taken with our new bundle of joy. She has already told me a million times how cute he looks.  And at the slightest sound she runs to check on him and make sure he's ok.  She's dying to hold and rock him but we have to help practice being gentle first because she's a little bit rough.

I'm really glad that she's not being standoffish towards him because that was one of my biggest fears.  They had a little time to bond in the hospital, but with her being away for those couple of days I wasn't sure if she was going to relapse.  I've read about a few new moms who've had babies recently and the older siblings weren't as receptive.  So, I feel really blessed that it has been the complete opposite with Moo.

Our challenge for tonight is figuring out how to co-sleep with two kids.  I'm still trying to get JJ used to sleeping in his bassinet. So, here's to hoping that tonight goes smooth.  Thankfully, the hubby has been great with keeping Moo occupied and is putting her to sleep as it is now after 11 and way past her bedtime.

Still engorged and in a little pain, but making an appointment with my lactation specialist for next week. I've tried pumping, the cabbage leaf thing, cool compresses and tonight I'm going to try using warm compresses.  I tried hand expressing milk in the shower and nothing would come out.  Of course, I wasn't even thinking about hooking up the pump and using it in the shower. Electricity and water don't mix.

So, please pray that I get some relief soon. I remember being engorged with Moo but it was gone by that third day.  Anyways, I'm off to pump and put on a warm water bag.  Good night!!

Back in the Rodeo

While it's not hard to believe that I just delivered five days ago, it is hard to believe that I am not completely exhausted.  I mean I was like ready to pass out tired after I had Moo.  This time around I am much less tired and drained. I guess it's because I've been chasing after a busy two year old my entire pregnancy and my body has gotten used to being in high energy mode.

I had forgotten that babies sleep so much.   I mean literally all JJ wants to do is sleep, eat and poop.  Speaking of poop, he really poops a lot!!!  His every waking moment seems to be spent getting his diaper changed by Daddy of course. We made a deal that I'll breast feed and he'll do the diapers. SCORE!!

I have to admit that the hubby and I bumped heads on the whole breastfeeding thing in the hospital the first two days.  Monday, I went to sleep only to wake up later on that night and see three bottles of formula sitting on the table next to me.  I was confused because I know that in my birthing plan/wishlist I had specifically requested that no formula be given to JJ.  I turned to voice that much to my husband and spotted him feeding JJ a bottle!!

I was mad!!  I know that some people say this shouldn't have been such a big deal, but he already knew that I want to give JJ breast milk exclusively. And we even went out and got a breast pump so that he could be part of the feedings as well. So, why would he give JJ a bottle of formula.  Doesn't he know that the first few days are crucial to getting babies to latch on and forming their milk preferences.  Needless to say I had to break him down a notch.  I thought he had gotten the message until he asked if he could give him a bottle the next day.

At that point, I wanted to kind of wanted go up side his head.  Was he trying me?  I gave him the don't mess me with me look.  Thankfully, that was the end of the milk battle and the formula sat untouched the remainder of our stay.  That third day I woke up in such pain in my breasts.  Yep, you guessed it...I was engorged!!

I couldn't believe how quick my milk had come in and that so much of it had come in.  I made sure to nurse JJ for every feeding and pumped once.  The lactation specialist paid me a visit and told me that I shouldn't pump excessively because it would trick my body into thinking that I had twins and then I'd be permanently engorged.

Well, I hate to say it but I think that I'm going to have to start pumping more because I'm still engorged and it's spread to under my right arm.  It's very uncomfortable. So, I'm going to make an appointment for Monday if I can't get it to go down.

There wasn't in any tearing this time around. THANK GOD!!  I was so surprised because JJ only weighed an ounce less than Moo when she was born.  However, he seems so much smaller. I mean my poor baby is skinny.  I have to fatten him up.

This time around though, the hubby took paternity leave and now has new appreciation for me as a mom.  He sees first hand what all goes into taking care of a newborn. Yes, they sleep a lot but they're up it's nonstop attention and things to do.  He told me a million times that he can't imagine how I made it with Moo during the day while he was at work.

I'm trying not to do everything but at the same time I don't want to get dependent on his doing too much because he'll be back to work before I know it. I mean his three weeks are almost up. It's Friday and time just seems to have flown by already.  However, I am grateful to have his help and to see him bonding with our son.  The pride and joy that I see in his eyes just melts my heart.

Overall, I'm really glad to be back in the rodeo of having a newborn.  Although, this pregnancy was unexpected, it is a great blessing.  In fact, we've decided that we may want to add more to our family. Shocker, I know because I've been doing nothing much talking about how JJ would be our last baby.  But seeing him come out of the womb and holding him just opened our eyes to what a gift having babies really is.

We're not going to be like 19 Kids & Counting but we do want to add at least one more in the future when we're settled into our dream house and my career has taken off and we're both financially able to contribute to the household finances.  My heart is just so full and it feels like life can only get better for us from this point forward.