But What About Breast Feeding? Part One
What about breast feeding? If your newborn is in neonatal intensive care, that’s a question you should be asking. Our son’s story tells you why. And it explains why I’m the proud owner of an early 1900s vintage breast pump.
Allen’s Story
When Allen was born with an esophageal birth defect, he couldn’t eat through his mouth for several weeks. “But what about breast feeding?” I asked the doctor.
“Get a breast pump,” he advised.
The nurses found one and taught me how to use it. To this day, I am grateful for their encouragement because it soon became evident that Allen had a severe milk allergy. Whenever formula was added to my breast milk and poured it into his feeding tube, he would spike a temp. He threw up. He was fussy and uncomfortable, and his stools were runny.
Though I have no scientific studies to back up my hunch, I believe breast feeding saved our son’s life. I know it sped up his initial recovery. And six weeks later, when complications arose requiring more surgery and new feeding tube, it made a big difference again. My breast milk was the only food he could tolerate for almost a year. Without it, I don’t know what would have kept Allen alive.
How to Get Started
Your NICU newborn may not have a milk allergy. His life may not depend on breast feeding. But even so, if you can express milk for your baby, it’s a good thing to do. Your little one needs every possible advantage to aid recovery, and breast milk is one of the best ones you can provide. So ask your child’s nurses how to get started. If for some reason that’s not possible, ask the neonatal nurses if the hospital has a breast milk bank. Or contact the closest La Leche League to see how they can help you find one.
In upcoming posts, the benefits of breast feeding will be explored, along with tips about how you can make it work, along with information about the La Leche League.
A Vintage Breast Pump in My Dining Room
But for now, let me explain the breast pump picture. My maternal grandmother broke up housekeeping just as my year-long breast feeding stint ended. When Mom unearthed a vintage, early 1900s breast pump in Grandma’s basement, she gave it to me.
“Here, Jolene,” she said. “You earned it.”
The little pump’s been on display in my dining room ever since. It’s a constant reminder of the three days after Allen’s birth, when he was 700 miles away from us. His life was out of my hands. All I could do to help him was to express breast milk. It was a small thing to do, but it made a big difference. Every time I see the small pump sitting in it’s bright red box in the dining room, it reminds me of the importance of small things.
Sometimes, they make all the difference.
Thank you so much for this little bit of inspiration. My son was in the nicu for the first 6 months of his life. He is 13 months now, and doing quite well. He has a g-tube due to his severe BPD and oral aversion… and I am pumping as I type this!
Wow! Six months in NICU. Was he a preemie? Kuddos to you for hanging in there with the breast pumping all these months. Who helped you get started? What has helped you keep going with it?
Thanks! Yes, he and his twin sister were born at 32 weeks (2 mo early). Thankfully we had a wonderful NICU at St. Luke’s Cedar Rapids (IA). They have an excellent developmental care program and the nurses and doctors are all very supportive of breastfeeding. His sister still nurses, so that has been part of my motivation. Also, I know that my milk helps him stay healthy and out of the hospital!
Lisa,
I’m so glad to hear he and his sister are doing well. You must be one busy mom, breast feeding twins. I admire you!
Jolene