(2/3) “Breastfeeding was not second nature at all. She was born a week early, by c-section, so I had a lot of struggles with my milk coming in. We ended up in the ER the first night she was home, because she wasn’t getting the nutrients she needed. I didn’t know enough to know that was what the problem was, and I should have probably given her a bottle of formula, in hindsight. I worked really closely with a lactation consultant and pediatrician after that to get on a schedule where I was both pumping and nursing, trying to get my milk to come in. There was a period of time when I was really starting to panic about it not coming in, but of course, eventually it did. That feeling, and I think that’s where a lot of my empathy for other mothers struggling comes in, that feeling of not having what your child needs, is terrible. You’re already hormonal, sleep deprived, and have this tiny creature that is completely dependent on you. And the one thing only you can provide isn’t working right.”

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