Nursing Support

I was due for my annual exam with my ob/gyn this week. As I headed over to my appointment I was so excited to see my doctor and his nurses. I saw these ladies on a daily basis {some days more than once} from the time I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks through delivery. They even came to check on me after Jackson was born.

It felt weird sitting in the waiting room with all the pregnant women. I sat and reminisced about being in their shoes. There are times when I miss my pregnant belly and carrying Jackson with me everywhere I went.

Anyway, the exam started out to be pretty routine. I weighed in at 132lbs., which is a few pounds less than I weighed on my wedding day. 9lbs. less then what I weighed I my first appointment with my RE, right before we got pregnant.

As I waited for my doctor to come in, I thought about all of the questions I wanted to ask him. I wanted to see what our options were for fertility testing, if any. I thought he'd be interested to know that I had two totally natural cycles...that have stopped once again. But, I was sure he'd have some sort of insight for me, or so I hoped.

When my doctor and his nurse practitioner came in, we chatted a bit while he was checking me out. On a side note, my pap freakin' hurt. I even had spotting afterward, has anyone else experienced this?

I went through my background with them, and told them I was still nursing. I said that I knew that can make your cycles a little off. And it's not that we are ready for another baby. We just don't want to miss an opportunity to conceive on our own. If in fact I'm still in ovarian failure, I really don't want to wait and end up with no eggs of my own.

This is a huge concern and something that weighs on my mind daily.

Well after my doctor and his NP picked their jaws off the floor, they both said there was nothing they could do. I mean I'm still nursing. Seriously, the conversation went like this:

Dr: So, wow, you're really still nursing.

Me: Yep.

Dr: But, you supplement too right.

Me: If you're asking if I've supplemented with formula, no, never. If you're asking if I give him food too, then yes. He's 13 months old. He only nurses 4-5 times a day.

NP: Wait, I thought you worked?

Me: I do. I pump at work. My nanny gives him a bottle of my breast milk.

Dr: You pump at work?

Me: Yes. I have an office, with a door.

Dr: Well until you stop nursing, I won't test anything. But, you guys should go ahead and start trying. It took you so long, it wouldn't hurt to start early.

Me: Again, its not that I'm ready for another one. I just don't want these fertile cycles to go by and "waste" our chances.

Dr: Well then call me when you're done nursing and we'll go from there.

I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Where is the support for nursing moms? Why is it that Jackson's pediatrician thinks that I rock and my doctor thinks I'm nuts? I am just in shock. Not at all what I expected from the appointment. I left there feeling like I was doing something wrong. It was like he was punishing me for doing what I believe to be a very good thing for my son.

So I guess we'll wait and see what happens after I quit nursing, and hope for the best.

Some of you ask what my baby weight secret is. My answer, nursing! My best friends every night are Ben & Jerry. I eat what I want, whenever I want. This has been the best work out {and only work out} I've ever done. Others ask if it's a hassle. My answer, no more so than making a bottle in the middle of the night. Again, it's whatever works for you and your situation.

People have also commented that breastfeeding is isolating. In the beginning, it was. I didn't have a good nursing cover and I had to leave the room every couple of hours. Or I couldn't leave the house. That was until I was introduced to my Hooter Hider. Check out my Mommy Must Haves!

Now I have a few covers. I like pretty things and think every Momma should feel pretty, even while nursing! I recently ordered some new covers from Udder Covers using a promotional code. You just have to pay shipping. The promo code is "Cute". Just wanted to pass that along to you. A little reward for reading this super long post on a Friday:)

If you have any questions about nursing, pumping, and balancing it all out, shoot me an email!