Editor’s Note: You can read more about Laura and her nine-year experience with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas here.
In 1977 people thought you were crazy to breastfeed. However I decided to breastfeed all three of my children after a friend took me to a La Leche League meeting and I learned the about the benefits of breast milk. I learned breastfeeding would support my children and help them to become healthy and strong. There was also the added benefit that my breastmilk was free, compared to the cost of formula.
By the time I had my second child there was no question that I was going to once again breastfeed my baby. I spoke with the hospital and made arrangements to exclusively breastfeed. Ben was born and things were going well until he was five months old. Then, his three-year-old sister broke her femur in a freak accident.
The injury resulted in a three-week stay in the hospital and six weeks in a cast above the waist and down both legs. During this time I was unaware that pumping my breast milk would keep my milk flowing, so we resorted to giving Ben formula.
Interestingly, Ben became the sickest of all three of my children with reoccurring ear infections, even into his teens. When Carol, my third child was born, I made the decision again to breastfeed and continued to do so until she was 10 months old.
I can remember saying to myself, “Will they ever grow up?”
“Yes they do!” My babies are now 35, 33 and 27 years old.
The most important advice I can share with nursing mothers is to enjoy the time breastfeeding lets you spend with your child. I miss those days! Time goes by quickly and one day your children will be all grown.