By Kerinne Werts
I just want to start by saying that I am in love with your podcast. It’s so informative and raw! I know I’m a few years behind but I’m so glad I found it! I have been working in Human Resources for the last 4 years but have recently started working my way to becoming a Breastfeeding Specialist.
Here is my long story!
I had my son on Saturday, April 10th, 2021. Even before I was pregnant, I knew breastfeeding was something I wanted to do. I researched as much as I possibly could and I’m glad I did because I never once saw a Lactation Consultant, nor was I offered one or given any resources for one. At my 37 week check up, we found that my son stopped growing at 35 weeks due to placental insufficiency. I ended up being induced the very next day. While in the hospital, I told them that I did not plan to feed right from the breast but that I did want to pump. After delivering my son and doing skin to skin, he found my nipple all on his own and just went to town. I was amazed! The nurse came in and immediately questioned me on why he was latched, I simply said, “he did it all on his own and I’m not taking him off.”
I was then taken to my recovery room where I asked nonstop for a pump. I did not get one until almost 24 hours after delivering him. However, they continued to tell me how important it was to empty or I would lose my supply. I finally received my pump. No one showed me how to work it so I read the manual and figured it out. I felt very uncomfortable with how many people were coming in and out of my room so I decided to wait until I got home to start pumping.
I got home on Sunday, April 11th and started pumping immediately, just about every hour. Later that night, I decided to latch because I wasn’t getting much milk out and I did not want to keep giving my son formula. Come Monday, my milk was in full force and my son was latching successfully but only on one side, leading to engorgement on the other side. I ended up with a clog that I could not get out regardless of what I tried. Tuesday we had my son’s first appointment where I expressed my concerns about my clogs and his pediatrician showed me how to successfully latch him. Next thing I knew, he was nursing away and my clog was completely gone. This began our successful journey that lasted 12 months! I had retained placenta which continued to come out on it’s own for about 7 weeks. My OB said that the uterine contractions during breastfeeding was what helped it come out on its own.
I ended up with an oversupply where I had over 1,000oz in our deep freezer at one time. I did always think about “feeding my freezer” because I am the only woman in my family to breastfeed and I had no idea when I wanted to stop or if I would just randomly “dry up”. I also worked full time and needed to make sure I always had some to give to the daycare. After weaning, I was still able to give my son expressed milk until he was 14 months old.
