Bonding through Breastfeeding {Guest Post: Mommyhead Adventures}

When I was growing up, all I can ever remember was seeing bottles.  Bottles, bottles and more bottles. I can remember helping my mom make bottles for my baby brother.  I can remember feeding bottles to my sister’s children.  And then, when my dad and step-mom had my brother and sister, I can remember making and feeding them bottles as well.

All of my baby dolls came with bottles.  I can remember drinking soda out of my siblings bottles.  Life as I knew it revolved around bottles.

I didn’t even know there was a thing calling nursing or breast-feeding for the longest time.  It was just something that no one did or discussed around me.

Fast forward to when I am in my 20’s and I meet my now husband.  We were engaged on December 23^rd, 2006 and his mom gave birth to his youngest sibling 5 days later.  I was there for the birth.  I got to see Josiah latch on for the first time.

And that is what got me hooked (no pun intended).

Seeing the connection between my mother in law and her baby boy showed me exactly what I wanted for my future children.  I officially made the decision on that day that I would nurse my babies.

On March 11, 2009, I gave birth to my first beautiful baby girl!  Lilibeth Sarah (Bear on my blog) was a fiery one.  The first month of her life was a rough one.  I had the hardest time getting her to nurse.  We were up all night, and fought with it all day.  When my let down came, she would pull off until it was finished and then happily eat her meal.  I never gave up though, and one month in, she was nursing like a champ.

After she got sick, it was my breast milk that would be the very thing that would keep her healthy.  It would also be my lack of milk that would almost take her from us.  You see, brother was on the way and my milk supply dropped.  But I enjoyed the 11 months that I nursed her, and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Now, I am happily nursing my chunky, 10 month old son with Down syndrome.  I was told that only 8% of babies with Down syndrome can nurse.  I am so blessed that my son can, because I would not have wanted to miss out on that bonding with him.

Please do not take this post as me saying formula, bottle feeding is bad.  Not at all.  It is each individual person’s choice on how they will feed their children.  I made the right choice for me.  And nursing just happened to be it!

I am grateful to having this bonding time with my children.  I know that it is only for a season and then we will be on to bigger and better things.  So, for now, I will milk it for all it’s worth 😉

What is your favorite way to bond with your children?