achievements

[mamajoan]

Just realized it has been three months since my whole week-in-the-hospital, gallbladder removal adventure. And there are parts of that experience that I never got around to writing about here (details probably of little interest to most). Well, someday maybe.

Of course, this also means it has been almost three months since I became an unemployed single mama. I never would have thought I'd still be here (and still be mostly sane) after this long. And no, I'm not thinking about the fact that this means my unemployment benefit allowance is half gone.

But the real point of my wanting to note this occasion is the bright spot: the fact of my relationship with Ruthie. Not that I thought six days of near-complete separation at that tender age would destroy our relationship or anything; but when I think about it, it's fairly amazing that we've managed to continue breastfeeding through it. I mean, I had my pump in the hospital and I tried to pump at least a couple times a day to keep things flowing, and my mom brought Ruthie to me to nurse at least once a day (after my extensively grilling the hospital staff on the safety of the many drugs I was getting); but between the drugs, the pain, the exhaustion, and the dehydration (did I mention I wasn't even allowed to drink water for 4 of those 6 days??), there was really very little flowing goin' on.

Many babies in Ruthie's position would likely have given up on the boob after all that. Certainly she took her bottles better during those 6 days than she ever has before or since. And to reiterate, I was so lucky to have had my enormous freezer stash, such that we didn't have to supplement with sandykidd's generously donated breastmilk until the final day.

But Ruthie took back to the boob like a champ, even in that first week home when there was undoubtedly very little coming out, and we both got so frustrated. She stuck it out with me, and here we are still nursing like a pair of pros.

I nursed Isaac until midway through my pregnancy with Ruthie, two and a half years. If you had told me I would be celebrating nursing #2 to not-quite-eight-months as a huge accomplishment, I would have scoffed. I still have the urge to blow it off as no big deal. But it IS a big deal, so I'm giving myself props. Go me! go my boobs! ;)

Comments

[ide-cyan.livejournal.com]

Go you! :-)

[victoriacatlady.livejournal.com]

Why the hell wouldn't they allow you to drink water for four days? That sounds extremely dangerous.

definitely go you!

[lightningrose.livejournal.com]

for me, my goal with breastfeeding is 1 year (since after a year the hormone levels drop & whatever protective effect breastfeeding has with my MS would probably be gone) but I'm trying to celebrate each successful month as its own accomplishment. (As my step-dad, the infant development researcher pointed out, breastfeeding for 6 weeks has serious benefits and we'd be doing great in the US if every baby got that much...) That said, given the challenges you've faced this go round (not to mention the fact that somethings, like quiet time with your infant, are just harder when you have another kid!), 8 months is very impressive. You rock!