They said it couldnt be done

by Angela O
(Lynchburg, VA)

Nathaniel was born early. IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation)...not the would a expecting Mom wants to hear. "Baby has not put on weight or grown in length the past 2 weeks. We are going to deliver today". Immediately I called for my husband to leave work, then called our Doula to meet us at the Birth Center. Nathaniel's delivery was fast, and he was small but healthy.

Jaundice and Reflux became our next fight. He lost 2 pounds the first week and was hospitalized for it. Nurses shoved bottles in his mouth trying to encourage my yellowed sick failure to thrive baby to drink. He fought them, cried, refused. He only wanted my warm breast to nurse.

At 2months he was diagnosed with a large cavernous hemangioma in his right cheek. It seemed as though we watched it grow moment by moment. Trips back and forth to UVA began again. After "watching to see what happens" for 3 months he was once again diagnosed failure to thrive, lost weight, and could not suck properly. My heart sank. The doctor told me this "your baby needs formula, your milk is NO GOOD & its is selfish for you to refuse him nutrition". I cried for days.

The local lactation consultant welcomed us with open arms & love. She never once gave up on Nathaniel's ability to breastfeed. She knew I was a low income Mom with no way to come up with money for supplies I desperately needed. So she allowed me to borrow a Lactina pump at no charge!

With her help I am now working at increasing my supply and getting Nathaniel's weight gain back to normal. He is undergoing treatment finally for his hemangioma & it seems to be working very well. He is now 7 months old & the light of my life. He is a show stopper, everyone loves his bluegreen eyes that brighten up with his huge smiles. He is still breastfeeding and we BOTH enjoy every moment.