Tongue Ties, Lip Ties, Oh My. (Sponsored by Motherlove)

It will be great, they said.

Breastfeeding is easy, they said.

Breastfeeding my second child, Jedi, started off like most. My poor nipples suffered agonizing pain, feeling as if they were going to walk off into the sunset, bags in hand, in search of a better life. I was determined to nurse Jedi longer than the five days that I had nursed our eldest kiddo, Jax. Back then, I had little to no support in the breastfeeding department. This time around, I hoped for a different outcome and received support in the form of a local mama group. We were a gang of mamas, all seeking answers, comfort, and relief from Nipplegeddon (Armageddon, but for nipples.) Eventually, Jedi and I found our stride and went on to nurse until 2 years 7 months and 4 days, or until I became pregnant with Jupiter. By this time, I was nursed out, touched out, and completely over it. I was a breastfeeding champ. We did it. We did well. It was time for a new chapter.

Me and baby Jupiter’s early breastfeeding journey were wrought with tears, sleep deprivation and triple feedings. Prior to Jupiter’s birth, I was prepared for a long labor. After all, my previous births had proven to be long and arduous. (Jax 18 hours with Pitocin and Jedi 43 hours unmedicated.) Surprisingly, Jupiter’s birth was swift, lasting only 3 hours from start to finish. I remember he and I nestling up together, basking in all of our after birth glory. I latched Jupiter to my breast. My doula, Nicole, supported his head as we began our beautiful nursing initiation. All was well. All seemed well.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Coursey Photos and Film (@rebeccacoursey_photosandfilm)

Two weeks later, Jupiter had yet to gain back his birth weight. I began to panic. Whenever and wherever I could weigh him, I would. My midwife, Racha, would be on the phone with me, talking me through the devastating pediatrician weigh-ins. Jupiter’s birth weight was 6 lbs. 12 oz. He was now 6lbs 7oz Our lactation consultant, Kimberly Durdin visited our home. It was made apparent that Jupiter had both a tongue and lip tie. My midwife secured donor milk so that we could bottle feed while we sorted everything out. In the meantime, our LC recommended triple feedings. What is triple feeding? It’s hell. It is sleep deprivation hell. Every two hours, I would breastfeed, bottle feed with the donor milk, and then pump. I would repeat this holy trinity every two hours hoping to boost my milk supply and to simply feed my child.

The days of triple feeding were intense. Let’s face it, doing anything in triplets is intense. Setting up my pump and having a bottle of breast milk ready at my bedside was a part of my bedtime routine. The nights turned into mornings. I began to lose track of time. Forming sentences and engaging in any form of conversation became quite the task. This is not how I imagined our breastfeeding journey. I had successfully nursed a baby before. In the words of the great Beyonce, I wasn’t new to this.

Being a birth worker, I was aware of a frenectomy (tongue/lip tie revision) as an option. With slight reluctancy, we decided to proceed with Jupiter’s tongue tie revision. I was sleep deprived and on the verge of giving up. My husband traveled quite a lot, so triple feeding (especially in the middle of the night without support) just wasn’t conducive or practical while raising two other children. After the tongue/ lip tie revision, I stopped triple feeding and simply nursed through the night, putting Jupiter to my breast in the side-lying position. During this time, I was introduced to Motherlove via my postpartum doula. I began taking their More Milk Tincture along with Moringa capsules. Between their supplements/tinctures and nursing on demand, Jupiter and I were able to find our breastfeeding rhythm.

“More than a generation ago, a young mother and herbalist founded MotherLove to empower women with the wisdom and healing strength of nature.” - Motherlove

Motherlove has proven to be an amazing support, enabling me to find all of my nursing essentials. My favorite being, More Milk Plus, is available in a traditional liquid Organic herbal extract and as a capsule. I love Motherlove because they are GMO-free, organic, and are tested for contaminants and heavy metals! As a breastfeeding mother, these are all things that make me feel safe using this amazing product. Along with their More Milk Plus and More Milk Special Blend, Motherlove also carries herbal supplements such as Shatavari and Malunggay (Moringa) along with nipple balms and diaper ointments.

“Known as the “miracle tree,” malunggay is widely recognized for its nutritional benefits and has been used for generations by breastfeeding women to support breast milk supply.” - Motherlove.

“Shatavari is an Ayurvedic herb native to the Himalayas that contains phytoestrogens that help balance the female hormonal system.” -Motherlove

The beginning of our breastfeeding journey was tiring AF. However, we made it and we are thriving. The takeaway? Gather support. Gather all the resources needed. Visit your local mama support group. Trust me, there is safety in numbers. It truly takes a village. Check out your local Le Leche League. Hire a lactation consultant. Can't afford an LC? Visit your cities local WIC office, where you will find trained CLEC’s (Certified Lactation Educator Counselors) available to support. Most importantly, try not to navigate breastfeeding struggles alone. Breastfeeding is not a one size fits all. Every nursing adventure is unique, presenting itself with its own set of triumphs and challenges. Nevertheless, the adventure is ours. Keep milking, mama. You’ve Got this!

It Takes a Village... My breastfeeding journey

This is a tale of two breastfeeding journeys... The first being with my oldest. I was a new mom at 23 years old. I remember wondering how I would be as a mother. I felt awkward. None of my friends at that time were having kids. Jon and I were literally the only people in our circle who were pregnant. At times, it was a bit isolating. I remember pondering how I would feel when I saw my little one for the first time... Would I immediately feel overwhelmed and put him to my breast? Or would I stare in awe? I see him.. His little face... His ten finger and toes, and I am in love. Prior to delivery, I was on the fence with breastfeeding, simply because I didn't know if I would be able to. I had undergone a breast reduction surgery at 19 years old, and most people were saying that it was unlikely that I would  be able to breastfeed. I put him to my breast. He latches... Or so I think. According to my recollection, I didn't really have much help. It honestly felt as if the hospital staff were a bit indifferent regarding my desire to breastfeed. This indifference seemed to follow suite, even with the hospital lactation consultant. Fast forward to when my milk comes in... I don't know what to do! Do I pump? Do I try to nurse? All that I know is that my engorged boobs looked pretty crazy and a close second to an episode of "Botched"... Please note that I have a fussy baby. My boobs are engorged. I try latching him. He won't latch. In fact I wouldn't know what a "good latch" looked like if it bit me in the boob... I asked my husband who at the time wasn't sure what to do. We begin supplementing with formula (which was provided by the hospital)... What else was there to do? I had a fussy babe who "seemed" hungry. In that moment, I wasn't sure if he was "getting enough."  I was in pain. I was emotional because of #postpartumlife.  I began to feel incapability creep in as steadily as my milk supply. The insecurities were as real as my full breasts. I began to feel as if my body which had served my growing baby well up until this point, yet all of a sudden, was incapable of producing milk and continuing its task in sustaining the life formed inside of me. I decided to give him formula.

The following day, I called the hospital lactation consultant and explain to her what's happening. She provided me with two options...  to continue... OR to end my breastfeeding journey. These were the obvious choices. I was honestly hoping that she would give me a plan C. It all seemed too stressful. I was alone and in desperate need of support. After five days of trying, and more people telling me that "it didn't take all that,"  than actual supporters. I stopped breastfeeding. 

Fast forward almost nine years later, and I am preparing to give birth to my second son, Jedi. Before hand, I read every book on unmedicated childbirth and breastfeeding, and hypno-birthing. I Watched every documentary... I prepared with the mental focus of an Olympic athlete.. I wanted nothing more than a healthy baby, and to be able to breastfeed to sustain that health. 

We are in labor. My husband and I ask for the lactation consultant at the hospital. This birth was taking a while, and I wanted to stimulate contractions a bit by pumping. Our LC comes in. Her name is Rebecca. I explained to her that I was unable to breastfeed my first (or so I thought). I told her about how I had a breast reduction almost 14 years ago. She looks at me and says, "well let's see what we have here."  She squeezes my boob & voila!!! Milk come out. Colostrum... She looks at me with a huge smile on her face and says, "See, you can make milk." That was all that I needed... Confidence. "I CAN MAKE MILK." In that moment, it didn't matter what anyone said. I COULD MAKE MILK. I now had all the confidence that I needed.

We leave the hospital and so it begins. My nipples feel like they are about to fall off. It's painful. Like toe curling painful. I was exhausted and overwhelmed with breastfeeding. I wasn't sure if I was "doing it right"... if my latch was "perfect," as I had read in countless books and watched via numerous YouTube breastfeeding tutorials. I was beginning to feel alone. This is when I decided to attend a Mama's Circle at The Community Birth Center! It was filled with beautiful mamas supporting and loving on each other. I was baby wearing my little one, who up until this point, was sleeping all tucked in against my chest in his wrap. He eventually wakes and I attempt to feed him, which in turn feels a lot like a game of breastfeeding double dutch. Sensing that I was struggling with this game of "perfect latch," a wonderful mom from the Mama's Circle simply asks me, "How are you, mama?"  She comes over and assures me that I'm not doing anything wrong and shows me how to properly latch Mr. Jedi onto my breast. She relaxes my shoulders. She puts a nursing pillow in place for better support. He latches perfectly... without pain. The mothers in this gathering also shared with me some tips on nipple care, and encouraged me to eat more and drink more water.  That day, I walked away from a circle of moms feeling confident and assured that I, not only was capable of nursing my babe, but capable of continuing on in our breastfeeding journey... for as long as we wanted... 

 My story is a prime example that breastfeeding is all about support.  I was able to produce milk with both babies. I just didn't have the tools or the knowledge of what to do. My body wasn't broken. I wasn't broken. My body was more than prepared to nourish my baby. I just didn't know it.  The major component that made all the difference was my support... or lack there of.  I truly believe that a mother's support system has everything to do with her continuing or ending her breastfeeding journey.  Honestly, the people around me didn't have all the answers. But they were there to offer whatever wisdom that they had available. I was supported and that made all the difference. 

My little one is now almost thirteen months old. We are still breastfeeding. It truly takes a village... I am so very grateful for mine.

Photo Credit: Nicole Gracen

#NotSoPrivateParts/ #AnjelicaMalone All Things Lactation Interview

Anjelica Malone is a Lactation Educator Counselor, wife, and mother of two little women.  Her blog, Anjelica Malone,  is a platform where women can connect with and be inspired by a global tribe of mamas, makers, and world changers. Anjelica and her beautiful family currently reside in Guam.