And The Gold Medal Goes To...

Us!

Sweet boy, this post is a little late but here it is! 

We made it one year of breastfeeding! I am so proud, only about 34% of women in the USA are still breastfeeding their baby at their first birthday. A big increase from recent years but still nothing compared to the rest of the world average.

When our breastfeeding journey started there were times I truly never thought that we would make it to one year. We had latch issues, supply issues, weight issues, diet issues but we made it through all of it! 

Never once using a drop of formula, and now it's hard to remember the days where I just felt like all I did was nurse you and cried. 

Okay I do remember them but they are just a distant memory that I can say passed quickly in the grand scheme of things and were worth making it through. 

We didn't make it here on our own though.  Sure, my stubborn nature of not wanting to give up, and having to prove people telling me I couldn't do it wrong was a big part but there were many people who helped us along the way just by giving encouragement, sympathetic ear, and a shoulder to cry on. 

Dada was there from the start always encouraging me, telling me even when I was exhausted and frustrated that I was doing great and was such a good mommy. I think without him being so supportive those first few weeks I would have cracked.

Michelle, the lactation consultant we saw several time through Kaiser, was a huge with helping to get your latch right and showing us exercises to stretch out your tongue/jaw (so we didn't have to clip the frenulum). Rochelle and the whole Babies In Bloom Lactation Lounge provided expert help, experience, and a safe place to just get out of the house and not feel self conscious about nursing in public!

And look at us now!

I can say confidentially that breastfeeding has been an amazing experience that has only further taught me how strong women can be and I am already sad for when the day comes that you are ready to be done with it. No matter how many more babies we have or don't have, I will always be a lactavist!

I will always support a mothers right to breastfeed when, where, and how she wants. 

I will always preach the benefits of breastfeeding to both mom and baby without making mothers feel bad for using formula. 

Love you sweet boy, so glad to be giving you the best I can!