When I found out I was pregnant with DS#1, of course, I began reading and did a lot of research on pregnancy and what it would be like. I’m not going to lie to you guys and tell you it was all great and didn’t have a huge impact on me. I’m a hypochondriac and I am 100% fully aware of this fact. So reading medical information on the internet is one of the worst things I can do! So I stopped! The one thing I did not research, but should have was breastfeeding. As I previously stated, it did NOT come easily for me. What ended up happening was I was able to breastfeed DS#1 from the time he was born until he was about 3 weeks old. We did supplement with formula at the recommendation of the hospital staff. Details are fuzzy for me because I had a cesarean section and I was quite heavily drugged while in the hospital. So I did end up going to one appointment with a lactation consultant in my area and she was amazing! But unfortunately her efforts were futile being that I was so unprepared to breastfeed. My guess is that I did not drink enough water, for starters. There were many other factors that I’m uncertain of. From everything I’ve been told, the psychiatric medications for my bipolar disorder should not have made my milk dry up completely. Needless to say, I was devastated when nothing worked to increase my milk supply and it dried up after only 3 weeks. I literally cried daily for close to a year. I think that this incident was a large contributor to my postpartum depression as well. But you live and you learn! DS#2 has an advantage in that I really did learn and I have researched my little head off in preparation to breastfeed him!
Now that I am carrying baby #2, I see the error of my ways from my 1st breastfeeding experience! My very first step was to read and research any and everything on breastfeeding I could find. That begun shortly after I found out I was pregnant. I always said that if I had another baby, I’d make sure breastfeeding would work out for us! So the positive thinking began. I feel as though I’ve done a good job with that part so far. I have my doubtful moments and moments of weakness when I think, gosh, is this really gonna work this time? But really there’s no reason it shouldn’t. My next step later in pregnancy was to 1st order my free breast pump through my insurance. If you’re reading this and you’re pregnant and don’t know about this, CALL YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER NOW! I upgraded my pump, so I got a $400 breast pump for $71! Great deal, if you ask me! Next on my agenda was to find a lactation consultant. Most insurances (as far as I know) pay all or majority of lactation services for in network providers. I got very lucky, because there is only 1 IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) in my network for my health insurance and she made a house call. Now I was told, by a representative from my insurance company that this is supposed to be 100% covered, but we’ll see if I get any sort of bill. Next I’ll talk about my visit with the IBCLC!
Her name is Rene Moore and she is an IBCLC. She works out of Cave Creek, AZ. This is approximately 30 miles from where I live. So you can imagine my surprise when she told me she’d come to me. I honestly thought that was something LC’s (Lactation Consultants- for short) did only after you gave birth and were home recovering with your newborn. But I didn’t question it after what my insurance company representative had told me. Rene was extremely prompt and professional. What made me the most happy is how nice and compassionate she was and the fact that I felt like I “clicked” with her enough to feel completely comfortable asking ALL of my 20 million questions! This is her passion and it shows more than I can even begin to describe! It’s not convenient for an IBCLC to be contracted with an insurance company, so I made it a point to thank her for what she does and to let her know how grateful I am for people like her who go above and beyond what’s necessary to help others. Anyway… So she thoroughly answered every last one of my questions and I was quite impressed by her extensive knowledge! I think that having an IBCLC in your corner when you’ve had troubles breastfeeding in the past is something that’s crucial! For the information you receive from this person, as well as the support. I feel more than ready to take on this next chapter of being a mother and I hope all works out in mine and my baby’s favor with regards to me being able to nurse him for as long as I feel necessary. This by the way, in my book is no more than a year, even if I exclusively pump after the first 6 months or so! But only time will tell!
