I hope you all don't think this is too potentially lengthy a topic to bring
up, but since we have had discussions on our birth stories and breastfeeding
experiences, etc. before, I thought perhaps this might be appropriate.  I
was just thinking about my own birth into the lactation field and my
mothering history, which of course, are closely entwined.  I'm sure we have
taken many different paths to all have arrived here helping women
breastfeed.  I started thinking about it because I just posted something
personal about my situation (that I was a divorced, single mother for 8
years) and how different that probably is from the 'norm'.  I know it sure
turned out to be different than I thought my life would be.  Then I thought,
I bet there are all kinds of stories out there, from the
educational/professional backgrounds we come from to the types of positions
we have and how we got there.  So, permit me to start, and I hope noone is
offended.

I had my first daughter almost 24 years ago, followed 22 months later by my
second, both breastfed with the help of LLL groups in the 2 different states
they were born in.  When dd #2 was one year old,  my husband and I had moved
to yet another state and I applied for LLL leadership in my new group.
Almost 2 years later (!  My leader at the time delayed my application
process because she thought we'd move again and not stay with it!) my
leadership certification came, 10 days after the still birth of our first
son.  At first thought, you might think that a cruel twist of fate (well it
was cruel...) but you cannot imagine how healing it was for me to be able to
help other mothers with breastfeeding.  That was 19 years ago this week.  I
was the leader for that group for the next ten years, at which point I got
my associates degree/RN license and my marriage broke up (not the
cause/effect you might think.  I knew the marriage was going and I would
have to support us so I went into the one vocation that I could live with
being separated from my children to do.)  In those ten years we had added
another son and a third daughter.  So, I had these 4 to raise as a single
mom, without a lot of help from anyone since their dad was a kind of
laissez-faire dad, and we didn't live in the same state as my family.  My
LLL friends were my main support system for both of these tragedies in my
life.  The next 8 years, my kids and I were family for each other.  I was
working in a hospital as an L & D nurse and unofficial lactation consultant,
developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a year after the divorce and  officially
got my IBCLC in the midst of that, at my own expense.  We eventually moved
back to my hometown, where we have been for four years and 3 of my 4 kids
are well planted here.   I finally got a BSN (25 years after graduating from
high school, having attended 4 colleges in 3 states to do it!).   Now we are
surrounded by my wonderful family and I have a full-time LC position and a
dh (of almost 2 years), who is supportive of me and my calling.  We have had
it rough blending our families, but that loving support and guidance thing
works for all situations where people are involved and it has served us
well.

Because of this background, I feel especially supportive of the patients who
want to do things "their way", no medications, VBAC, birth plan or whatever.
I enjoy being in a position to support patients the way they feel they need
it, having had much experience on that side of the fence.  I am also a
certified bereavement counselor as a result of my experience, but it is
breastfeeding support, that is helping a baby to have the best mom they can
possibly have, that I love and do most.  I do it for the babies most of all.
Moms can make choices and then have to live with them.   Babies don't get
choices so I support their mothers in making informed ones and also still in
the 'art' of mothering.  Whew, 27 years in 1 paragraph.  Not bad!

Marsha, who hopes noone is uncomfortable with me telling my story and who
would like to hear others' experiences.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations
as all other earthly causes combined.
John S. C. Abbot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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