Jennifer Nocerini
Dallas, TX
I met my husband, Rob, in January 2008 and married him in April 2010. We have a 3 year old son, Sebastian, and a 4 month old son, Julian.
When I was pregnant with Sebastian, we were living in San Francisco. Rob, who had been a practicing ER doctor for 10+ years was about to start another residency in Anesthesia at UT Southwestern in July. I was an investment analyst and planned to stay in San Francisco at least through the end of the year for work. Multiple risk factors put me on home bed rest when I was 21 weeks pregnant and I went into pre-term labor at 26 weeks. Doctors were able to stop labor, but I was to be hospitalized for the remainder of my pregnancy. After securing medical care in Dallas, I flew down and went directly from the airport to hospital admitting and lived at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital for the next two and a half months.
During my hospital stays in both San Francisco and Dallas, I was urged to tour the NICU to be prepared for what might be ahead for us. My heart broke for every sick baby I saw. Luckily I carried Sebastian to 38 weeks and 1 day, full term, in February 2011. I had Julian in December 2013 and quickly began overproducing milk. After talking to my pediatrician about it, he suggested I donate my surplus milk and gave me the number to Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas. I didn't know it was an option, but remembering the NICU babies I visited during my first pregnancy, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to help.
The approval process for MMBNT was really interesting to learn about. I understand all the screening is necessary for the safety of the sick babies as well as for the health of my own baby, so it being as thorough as it was, was very reassuring. My doctors were more than happy to sign off on their approvals, and in fact when I submitted the form to my OBGYN, and asked if she knew where the Qwest diagnostics lab on campus was, she was so impressed with the service that she had her own nurse draw my blood and send it over.
I drop my milk off near Children's Hospital in Dallas, which has been really convenient, and all the nurses and lactation specialists there are lovely to deal with every time I go.
Jennifer's Breastfeeding Tips
One thing that helps me a lot are super hot showers when I get sore. I also believe that lots and lots of ice cream helps me to keep up production! I have it every night when I'm nursing -- I nursed Sebastian for 15 months, and hope I am able to nurse Julian for as long!
Big brother Sebastian with Julian
Jennifer with Julian