This Mother’s Nursing Blues

I no longer knew whether I was coming or going

Rich and Julie with Baby Number One. 1988. Photo copyright Julia A. Keirns,

(This article was originally published in January 2001 at ChildrensMall.com)

I was inspired to dig out this old article after reading Keeley Schroder’s article about her battle with breastfeeding.

My Battle With Breastfeeding and How I Overcame It

I hope it encourages other mothers going through the same thing.

I no longer knew whether I was coming or going. I was so tired that I didn’t even care. I had nursed two other babies, and supposedly should have known what I was doing, right? Wrong.

I nursed my first two until they were nine and ten months old respectively. Not without problems mind you. I managed to obtain sore nipples and mastitis both times. Both times I wanted to quit, but both times I stuck it out. Thanks mainly to my older sister, who was in charge of the local La Leche League and helped me through. After a few weeks of suffering, I was fine, and the nursing was wonderful the rest of the time. I loved that special bond I had with them.