🤱🏻 A Breastfeeding Journey Cut Short👨🏻‍🍼

Breastfeeding & Pumping
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July 18, 2020 — my first baby. :brown_heart:

Every mama has that first proud mommy moment she’ll never forget. Mine was the moment my son latched onto me the first time I held him.

It wasn’t something that was practiced or planned. I was a new mommy, I was exhausted, overwhelmed & had no idea what I was doing… but somehow he did it on his own without trying, it felt right it felt natural. I looked down at him & instantly felt our bond outside of the womb. I felt so PROUD! In this moment I was feeding my baby. I was his proud mama.

The first two months of breastfeeding were everything I hoped it would be. Despite the cracked and sore nipples. Again, didn’t know the power of hydrogel pads, nipple shields & nipple balm. I was overproducing, had a freezer stash & felt so confident. Then around 3 months postpartum, after getting the Depo shot (birth control), my supply completely tanked.

I was devastated!

During COVID, when toilet paper & formula was also difficult to find, I felt so much pressure & guilt. I tried everything! Lactation treats, supplements, my own homemade lactation snacks, staying hydrate, pumping methods… but nothing brought my supply back. :frowning:

I was able to stretch breastfeeding & my freezer stash until he was 8 months old, also by combo feeding… but I’ll never forget the heartbreak of feeling like my breastfeeding journey ended before I was ready.

Mamas, this is your reminder to ask questions, do your research & advocate for yourself before you accept any birth control before being discharged. I wish I had known more about how certain birth control options could impact milk supply.

If I could go back, I would’ve protected my supply. But I do remind myself that I was a first time mom doing the best I could with the information I had.

& that no matter how you feed your baby, you are still an incredible mama.

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Sorry you had to go through that! We had the toughest time when we were pregnant and delivered during the pandemic, too. Sometimes we just have to learn the hard way and pass along our experience so another mama doesn’t have to go through the same thing. Sending hugs! I appreciate post like this so other mamas will be knowledgeable about this kind of things. Hugs

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Thank you, angel​:folded_hands:t3: :people_hugging:

Everything about being a new mom is truly trial & error. Doing it during a pandemic made it even harder, but I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me.

It helped me know what I wanted to do differently with my second and third babies & I love being able to share my experience with other mamas who are expecting or have gone through something similar. This is what this community is all about :brown_heart:

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Thank you for sharing this it will definitely Help another momma! I’m sorry you had to go through that. I really wish there was more information offered to new mommas

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I just wanna send you a big hug! I’m sorry you had to endure that. Thank you for the information to help another mama out!

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I most definitely feel like if they offer it they should also warn mamas what could happen to their milk supply.

I truly hope this helps another mom out who is expecting :folded_hands:t3::brown_heart::slightly_smiling_face:

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:people_hugging:

Thank you!! I really hope so too! Because I really wish I had known. :smiling_face_with_tear:

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Thank you for sharing your story. And please remember that you also such an incredible mother. I really wish there were more information out there especially for new moms

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Same! I really hope moms come across my post to read and it helps them :brown_heart:

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Wow this is so powerful! Thank you so much for sharing mama. :purple_heart::teddy_bear: There’s so much insight in your experience and at 17mo pp, I still find myself thinking “if only I knew about … sooner”. :face_holding_back_tears: You’re amazing! :blush:

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Thank you for sharing your story with us. I will stop birth control drugs maybe it affects my milk production too . I learn something new

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What a hard time, I’m so sorry!!:heart::heart: You made it through to the other side though!! Extremely impressive. And you’re here to tell us your story!! Thank you so much for sharing

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I also had my first during Covid in oct2020 and wow it was so hard! No lactation help, I was scared to take the baby out for help too and worried about everything being at a shortage!

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There are a lot of… if I would’ve knowns, but this one totally takes the cake! Thank you for being here :brown_heart: I appreciate you reading my journey through my first season of motherhood. :people_hugging:

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Of course hun!! & yes! I pray that it is helpful. I hope to hear an update to see if it was! :heart_hands:t3:

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Let’s just never have a pandemic again!!! Haha. Thank you for the sweet words :heart_hands:t3: you’re always so supportive.

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Yes! You know exactly what I was going through during Covid. My husband couldn’t come to any of my dr. Appointments. I was at peak and isolated. It was awful. Thank goodness we made it through :raising_hands:t2:

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I will surely give you an update! And use no pandemic again

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I’m sorry you had to go through that!! You did one heck of a job as a first time mom! I learned the hard way so many times

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Amen to that momma. No more pandemics!! No need to thank me for the support! I am so happy I can offer something to moms​:heart: but you are welcome :heart: this community is so wonderful!! We all need it :heart::face_blowing_a_kiss::smiling_face_with_three_hearts: