08/02/2026
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2026
We are grateful to this MyBirth client for sharing her story. The determination to feed her baby breastmilk was a huge part of her success when her pregnancy and birth had unexpected changes. She is strong, indeed! 💪♥️
“My water broke at 32 weeks, I sat in the hospital to get us to 34 weeks, and then headed to the OR for my second C section. Baby was headed to the NICU, so my doula and I planned to get me pumping to hopefully establish a supply and be able to eventually breastfeed this baby as I had my first.
I was reassembled and wheeled back to my room to start pumping. I didn’t realize how little sensation I had up through my chest, and the suction setting was too high causing a bit of damage, but nothing I couldn’t roll with since I’d seen that golden colostrum collecting and knew that I could do this.
Aside from that first time, I pumped for days without collecting anything. I was equally grateful that he was getting donor milk and so sad that my body wasn’t doing it. By the fourth day, there was something starting to come through the pump, and they were able to fortify my milk and give it to him through a feeding tube at first and then through a bottle.
I faithfully pumped and brought it all to the NICU where lactation support would help me latch him to practice. I told my husband many times that if this baby never really learned to nurse, I couldn’t keep pumping - it was too exhausting and hectic with our toddler running around. My oversupply was wild making 3x what he was eating. I was so uncomfortable, our freezer was too full, and I couldn’t see a path forward to breastfeeding my too small, too sleepy boy.
After he came home, we continued to meet with lactation support every week, and, each time, we were able to swap one of the fortified bottle feeds for a feed at the breast. I did whatever I could to keep him awake and engaged while he was nursing - each feed felt like an athletic event for both of us.
Now, he feeds at the breast unless mom needs a break, when I pump and leave a bottle with dad. I can’t believe we are doing it. Our toddler runs around the house chanting, “Baby! Big and strong!” Mama is pretty strong, too.”
