Alicia
Hometown: Prosper, TX
When our first child was born, I found breastfeeding to be excruciatingly painful. I sobbed every time and was in pain even when I wasn’t nursing. My husband was so supportive of natural childbirth, but he begged me to stop nursing because he couldn’t stand to see me in such pain. Nursing around the clock seemed like a form of torture rather than the loving bond I had imagined.
After my second child was born, I was (mis)diagnosed again with thrush, a very common infection for nursing mothers. I tried all of the remedies; however, nothing worked. I saw at least five lactation consultants and was advised to try pumping. It was still very painful, but it was bearable.
Before our third baby was born, I decided to take further action. I met with a lactation consultant when I was 8-months pregnant, and she gave me some more materials to read over. As I read, I came across something that suddenly made everything clear.
Raynaud’s Disease is a circulation disorder in which your body overreacts to temperature changes and contracts the blood vessels, which constricts the flow of blood to your extremities. It can have serious repercussions for breastfeeding mothers. I had been diagnosed with severe Raynaud’s for over a decade, but did not know it could affect nursing.
Raynaud’s has no cure, and is often misdiagnosed as thrush, because the symptoms are so similar. This is why breastfeeding caused me unbearable pain and why the months of treatments for thrush did not help.
Our family joyfully welcomed our fourth baby boy this year. I am pumping once again because it is very important for me to give my babies breastmilk. I firmly believe it is the baby food God designed, containing all the healthy benefits my children needed.
I have to pump four to five times a day to keep my milk supply, which produces about 50 ounces. My baby only needs 32 ounces, so I donate my extra milk to The Mothers’ Milk Bank at North Texas.
While I still desperately wish I was able to nurse my little ones, I have come to terms with the fact that I cannot. I still enjoy plenty of snuggles and bonding time with my babies, and I am thankful for the opportunity to share my milk with others.