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My name is Barb and I'm a stay-at-home-mom with 5 children now aged 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old. I had a very successful nursing relationship with my last 2 daughters. One might wonder, "How in the world can I nurse a baby while keeping up with toddlers?" I'm here to tell you it can be done!
When my youngest was born, my other children were 16mos, 2, 3 and 4 years old. I was determined to nurse the baby as I knew it would be the best thing for her. She decided to enter the world 5 weeks early. I was very sick when she was born, asleep during the emergency c-section. She was born at a healthy 5 lbs., 11 oz. and even though she was in the NICU the entire stay at the hospital I pumped diligently for her. I used an electric pump that the hospital gave me to use, so I was able to pump from both sides at the same time. I pumped every couple of hours around the clock, as that was how often she ate. She didn't have one drop of formula. I was proud to be able to do that for her, to give her the best start I could. Thankfully, she was only in the NICU for 4 days, and came home from the hospital with me.
I was finally able to put her to breast the day before we came home, she was 3 days old...and she hasn't had a bottle since that day. Coming home was tough; I was recovering from the surgery, my children had missed me while I was in the hospital, and everyone was just so excited we were home.
Once I was alone with all the children there was no doubt in my mind that I could and would nurse baby. I made my first sling when she was 2 months old. It was a lifesaver for us. I carried her in it all the time, nursed her in it, nursed her while shopping and nobody knew. We nursed this way until she was 8 months old.
I decided to get the other children involved in the nursing relationship and asked them to help us. Since they couldn't help me feed her, they got involved in other ways. They gave me diapers, helped me burp the baby and even loved to just give her kisses while we sat there and nursed. They also loved to color pictures or play a game, or watch a tv program during this time. I also read them books during this precious time. I made them as much a part of the nursing relationship as was the little one. All the children eventually picked a "baby" doll and pretended to nurse it when I nursed mine. After a while the girls even began to carry their baby dolls in doll slings while I fed their sister. They changed their babies, burped their babies, cuddled their babies, all of which are so important. The children really loved being a part of the whole relationship and I was glad to teach them through our interaction ways that they can be good mommies when they grow up.
It was great. We decided to co-sleep with the newborn, so the whole family slept better. There was no crying baby while I prepared bottles, no sitting up in the middle of the night in a cold room rocking a fussy baby, no scraping the bottom of my pocketbook looking for money to buy formula, no bottles to sterilize. Co-sleeping was the best decision for all of us. Of course, we made it the safest environment possible for our baby. Recovering from a c-section was also a factor in our decision to co-sleep. I couldn't just jump up to get the baby when she woke. It was bittersweet waking up to her sweet face.
I made sure I told each and every one of them how much I love them. I made sure they understood that sometimes the little one needed more of my attention, but I was always there for them. There were lots of little lessons taught during that time. It was one of the best times in our family. We all bonded in a way that is indescribable. If you have doubts about nursing a baby because you have toddlers or other children to chase, give it a try. You just might find it's easier than it sounds. I tried, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
By Barb (Lilsea)
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