Tuesday 7 June 2011

How Breastfeeding fits in

So clearly breastfeeding is important to me.  Massively important.  Like just about the single most impressioning thing I can do for my kids.  And now that's going to be taken away from my beautiful baby boy.  Who likes nothing more than to snuggle up in our super-king bed with everyone else and be close, and smell my warm body, and nuzzle against my shirt and sigh contentedly when he finds the nipple, has 5 sucks and drifts off to sleep.  Warm and lost in the love of his mother's arms.  We don't let our kids cry, they sleep in our bed for 90% of most nights, and we breastfeed.

Nutrition is at the bottom of the list of reasons why I do it. Oxytocin is pretty close to the top.  But at the very very top is bonding.  Being with his mother, spending time, precious moments knowing he is loved and at that moment nothing in the world is more important than him.

How can I not do this for 6 months of his life?

So this is where all you wonderful wonderful women out there with freezers full of milk can help me!  I think with donor milk, a nipple shield with no holes in it and a lactaid I can manage this.  And a VERY explicit discussion with an oncologist about drugs and choices and breastfeeding.  And that's going to be nothing compared to the poor surgeon who will never have met someone quite like me I'm sure, and if the breast isn't coming off then the breastfeeding stays and she's on a fantastic learning curve about the lactating breast and the mother who owns it :-)

PS  I have the single most supportive husband in the universe, I'm sure of it!

14 comments:

  1. Hi Jaynie. I'm a mama of a 3 year old girl and 7 month old baby boy. I breastfed my eldest til she was 2.5 when she weaned and am breastfeeding my little man, hopefully for years to come! We share sleep, respond to their cries and love to breastfeed too :)
    I would love to donate milk, if you need it. I am in Whangaparaoa so not sure of the logistics to get it to you.
    xx

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  2. Hi Jaynie, Kerry has given me your ph number - is it ok to give you a call at some stage? Let me know when is a good time. I want to help with the other aspects of your cancer journey, not just providing breastmilk.

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  3. I love this: "a fantastic learning curve about the lactating breast and the mother who owns it". Go you! I have shared your request on Human Milk 4 Human Babies, hope the mothers of NZ open their freezers to you :-)

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  4. Hi Jaynie,

    I've been breastfeeding for over 6 years now and your story is very sad.

    I am taking the Certificate of Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell and have some information you might use.

    Doctors have found that eating a plant-based diet (grains, beans, fruit and vegetables) will actually shrink cancer tumours for as long as you eat this way.

    This is better than conventional treatments because you have stopped promoting the cancer with food.

    Further information - The China Study by Dr T Colin Campbell, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University (http://www.tcolincampbell.org) or A Challenging Second Opinion by Dr John McDougall, M.D.

    Dr Ruth Heidrich's story is also amazing http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/star07_ruth-heidrich.html

    I have heaps of other information from the course I'm taking if you want to investigate this any further. Just say the word.

    Best wishes,
    Jess

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  5. My heart breaks for you.
    I can donate milk.

    I would also like to follow your blog. Can you add a follow thingy to it so I can do that?

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  6. jane here from Whangarei - we have the LLL from whangarei on the hunt for you and i have put a call out on Eats on Feets... i(yes as wanky as i am) am here for you any way you want - i will give the link to this blog to Madeliene (lll) who can link it up for the local network to get cracking with - in the meantime i send you love and strength <3

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  7. Rach, Dean and the Smithlings9 June 2011 at 09:44

    Jaynie, I am going to share this with everyone who will listen to get you some beautiful boob juice.
    Thinking of you heaps, Rachel, Austin and LIlah Smith xoxox

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  8. Karleen Gribble9 June 2011 at 13:08

    Jaynie, my very best wishes to you and your family as you embark on this journey that is not of your choosing. I have supported a number of women through cancer treatment that has necessitate that they stop breastfeeding. In those cases the mums weaned however, I have often thought that a set up with a nipple shield with plugged holes and a breastfeeding supplementer might enable breastfeeding to continue. I hope that this works for you and if you need assistance with relactation down the track, please don't hesitate to contact me- I'm just across the Tasman.
    Karleen Gribble

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  9. So Sorry you are going through this!
    this site has awesome up to date articles on most health issues, includng cancer) http://www.naturalnews.com/nutrition.html
    take the time to research all the options that are best for you and your family.

    All the best in your journey. will be praying for you!
    Rachel

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  10. I would love to be able to help if I can. I am in Auckland I my baby is 6mths old. Thanks Michelle (nursegladys@clear.net.nz)

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  11. Studies have proven that eating foods that have marijuana infused into it, cures breast cancer. I know this probably sounds nuts, but there was another study done in Jamaica showing that marijuana use was not harmful to children nursing and the mothers were healthier. You can find youtube videos showing how tincture made from the plant cured skin cancer after only a few weeks of topical use. The cannabinoids present in the plant shrink tumors until they can be removed by the phagocytes present in white blood cells. I am a super veg mamma like yourself and could never image getting chemotherapy or not nursing my babes. Best of luck to you, lots of love and light to your family!

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  12. I am touched by your story and the hug volume of people that are willing to help you. Please keep posting as your inspirational for breastfeeding mothers and beyond. The road will be hard at times but I'm wishing you and your family arrive safely together looking forward to happier times.

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  13. Hello Jaynie
    not sure how to express my mixture of sorrow for you and your family with this challenge for you all.... and my admiration!!
    BF was also massively important to me.
    Not sure what your beliefs if any in some sort of higher being but will pray to my God and Goddesses for you. Arohanui Fiona

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  14. Im a mommy to 14mo old twin girls. I have a deep freezer full of breastmilk! I will gladly donate. Just let me know. xoxo

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