“During my pregnancy I was worried if I would be able to successfully breastfeed. I am a Type 1 Diabetic and feared that my milk supply wouldn’t be sufficient, I would be at a higher risk for infection, and that I wouldn’t be able to keep my blood sugar under control.

After delivery, I was breastfeeding on demand every 2 hours or less, which didn’t give me much time to monitor my blood sugar and eat meals throughout the day. In fact, I actually found myself with a loss of appetite because of the stress of keeping up with nursing and attending to Riley’s needs.  My blood sugar was running so low for an extended period of time that after a while my body wouldn’t react to the low blood glucose and I would still feel and act normal, which isn’t healthy.

It wasn’t until I developed Thrush that I realized that I needed to make changes.

I experienced a lot of pain with latching, which restrained my daughter from feeling comfortable at the breast and properly nursing. I started to become engorged. I felt as though I was starting to lose my milk supply and became discouraged from continuing to breastfeed for fear of Riley losing weight.  I began to pump to maintain my milk supply and adamantly expressed to the doctor that both the baby and I needed to be treated.   I continued to breastfeed and pump through the pain, but as the antibiotics kicked in it started to become easier and easier.  In addition, I started to eat more nutritious meals, snack in between meals, and test my blood sugar often. A week went by and we were back to normal with a lot of hard work, dedication, and stubbornness.

Along this process I learned that if you put your mind to it, you can do it! Trust your body and what it is trying to tell you. Hard work and dedication was a big asset to succeeding, but my motivation and stubbornness was the biggest key to my success. I’m so happy I stuck through the pain because it made me stronger as a mother and as a provider for my child. Breastfeeding was the best bonding experience my daughter and I were able to share together.  It’s amazing what the body is capable of.”

-Nicole, mom of Riley, 17 months