Hello Lactnetters,
This is my first post. So, please forgive me if it is too lengthy. But,I
have to introduce myself, and will post with what has been bothering me for
days now, in my next post.
My name is Cheryl Marian, CLC,CLE. Husband, Tibi. Proud mother of three.
Megan, 15, breastfed for 18 months (I only quit because my former husband
said, "Isn't it about time you stopped that?" Not knowing any better I did
and a few months later he asked for a divorce. Guess that was his motive.)
Never had a problem with her, born in Germany, no formula given in hospital,
just did it, husband would be gone for days (army), it was just so easy and
natural. At her fussy times I never thought of giving formula, just fed her,
held her, walked her. It was great!
Son, Camden, 5yrs.10mo., breastfed 5-7 months. I have kind of blocked out
the actual time because it was so hurtful. Many factors contributed, went
back to work, mother in law, overfed him (gave him mashed up macaroni and
cheese and chopped chicken, besides my pumped breastmilk, without my
knowledge, she laughed about it afterwards, telling me how she fooled me).
She would have him fed and down for a nap when I would come home to nurse at
lunch and be pulling a bottle out of his mouth when I would walk in the door
at 4:45 p.m!! He constantly had a pacifer(my mistake,it never affected my
daughter, but I was home all day with her. Had teeth at 4 months, during
nursing strike, bit me constantly. Etc. Etc. So, I joined LLL to help me
get over the grief. My boss (female!)wouldn't even let me pump after the
first 3 weeks, so, I had to do it at lunch time, since, m-i-l had him fed.
She wouldn't listen to me or my husband about how to wait for me and not
to feed him when she knew I would be there. By the way, he HATES macaroni
and cheese now!
He is my reason for becoming such a zealot, I have a real need to help other
women avoid what I went through. I found out that breastfeeding isn't
always so easy, and I have learned ways in which I could have corrected
things but I didn't have the knowledge at that time. I couldn't even tell
the LLL group that he had stopped nursing. I was ashamed. I, also can't
wait for Rep. Carolyn Maloney's bills to pass, particularly the one on being
allowed time to pump or breastfeed during work hours, my former boss will
receive a framed copy of the legislation!
Gaston, 4yrs., is still nursing, at bedtime and sometimes several times
through the night. When I returned to work I told my husband if his mother
came to babysit, I would not go back to work. We used daycare. They were
great. Followed my instructions, exactly, and even though work let me pump
for a month this time I was still able to keep things right by nursing at
lunchtime and immediately after work. And, when my boss cut our lunches to
30 minutes and said she felt my son was too old to worry about nursing,
(because I would need an extra 15 minutes) I quit, should have done it a
long time before, that was 3 years ago.
I started a breastpump rental, sales station when Camden was 6 months old,
and it has grown now to counseling and information, I have taken some
wonderful classes and been to many conferences, and can't get enough
literature on breastfeeding, there is so much knowledge to learn and share.
I even give Breastfeeding classes at our pregnancy center for no charge. My
husband calls it a hobby and gets pretty upset sometimes, because I have
operated in the red every year, but it will get better and I love knowing
that if I can reach just one person, they'll share that information and
someone else might decide that they can Breastfeed too. It's worth it!
My next goal is IBCLC. I wish this year but, it will probably be next. I
have even applied for a few scholarships to help me get extra classes under
my belt.
Thanks, for listening. And I love following the posts, there are so many
people here that are my inspiration.
Warmly,
Cheryl Dawn Marian, CLC, CLE
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