Peanut’s first birthday not only marked a significant moment in her life, but also in mine. I achieved my goal of exclusively breastfeeding my daughter for a year. I became a statistic, joining the 16 percent of nursing mothers who make it to the magic one-year milestone.
I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of my husband and my family, as well as my accepting and relaxed workplace environment. There was one other contributing factor — the Breastfeeding Clinic at Carle Foundation Hospital. This is a free, drop-in resource available to anyone in the community; you don’t have to be a Carle patient.
The lacation consultants who work there are wonderful at their jobs. They have a way of making new moms and dads comfortable in what can be a very nerve-wracking and incredibly intimate and personal situation. They provide an objective sounding board and an invaluable outsider opinion. Most of all, they helped me keep my sanity over those first several weeks when giving up was all I could think about.(Oh, and they give out free parking passes. Can’t beat that deal!)
As a bonus, the Clinic also is the one place I have found in Champaign-Urbana that sells decent nursing bras; it also sells other breastfeeding supplies.
So thanks CBC, I couldn’t have done it without you.
5 responses so far ↓
khanada // March 28, 2007 at 10:28 am
The breastfeeding clinic is amazing.
Congratulations on reaching that milestone. I tried with #1, but he quit when he learned to crawl. We’ll see how #2 does.
Me // March 28, 2007 at 2:11 pm
wow thanks for the advice… #1 stoped at 4months… wished I could ave gone longer. Now I cannot wait to have #2
Leeanthro // March 28, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I found so much support from the breast feeding clinic as well. I had a very low milk supply and my daughter had poor latch, so we had a tough time. I had to supplement and tried pumping to increase production. They were so supportive in my decisions and were great when I called with questions. We didn’t breast feed as long as I had hoped because of the difficulty and exhaustion. The funny thing is that I didn’t really have expectations until I actually had the child and then it became important. You know, when the mommy guilt kicks in. But I think that even the few months of milk I gave her were beneficial.
I am hoping that things go better with this second child. All I know is that I am going to do the best that I can. No mommy guilt this time!
Jenna // April 2, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Congrats! I have been nursing for 3 1/2 years…just reached the 19mon mark with my latest.
I love Carle’s BF Clinic…spent a lot of time there and on the phone. It is such a fabulous resource…I wish more people used it.
lbotp // April 3, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Jenna — Wow. That’s a long time! Right now I am having a hard time getting Peanut to take cow’s milk … we might be going this for a while.
Lee — good luck. Do whatever works for you. I had a really hard time in the beginning — you name it, I had it — and it was a miracle that I lasted six weeks.
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