I'm new to Lactnet, but this subject moved me to write.  I also was
another one who always wanted to have babies and BF.  I'm the second of six
children, and always beamed when my mother called me her "little helper'.
Sadly my Mother died of breast cancer when I was 17. How I would have loved
having her around as my children came along.  I missed her most when each of
my children were born.
         I attented LLL meetings before I was even PG.  Several friends of
mine were expecting, or had a baby , so I just tagged along.  At my first
meeting my eyes were wide.  The room was crammed with every imaginable nsg.
couple. The LLLL was tandem nsg. a baby and a 3 yo (who stood beside her and
nursed while she spoke ). There were also nsg. twin toddlers that ""helped
themselves"" including unbuttoning Mom"s shirt. Even with all this I
couldn't wait to have my own baby to nurse.
        Jake was born in 1975 and I was in LOVE.  As I sat and rocked and
nursed my newborn, a friend  (one I had attended LLL with ) asked if I was
going to sit in that chair and hold him ALL DAY?  Without a pause I told her
that I sure was. I had waited so long to fulfill this dream, I didn't want
to miss any of it.     Three years later I became a LLLL and Ross was born
at home.  Juli followed in anothe three years.  At Christmas 1989, eight yo
Jimmy joined our family.  He is developmentally disabled (Fragile X
Syndrome). Several years ago I finally received some of his early medical
records and was pleased and suprised to learn that he had been BF also.
        At age 40 I decided to return to Nursing school, something that had
been put on hold when my mother died.  I retired from LLL to attend school.
When I received my R.N. I didn't thing I would go into Maternal/Child
health, but as you can guess all roads seen to lead me back that way.  I
plan to sit for the IBCLC this summer, and appreciate any tips anyone can
give me.
        Sorry to be so long here. This turned into an introduction also.
Carrie, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland