World Breastfeeding Week!!

From August 1^st to 7^th 2012 is the WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK! Not only I am completely in favor of it for all the blessings and benefits for both mom and baby, but also we have been doing it for 26 months and so far it has been one of the best experiences of my entire life!

When I was pregnant I decided I wanted things to be the most natural as possible, I did not want a c-section but a natural birth and I really wanted to breastfeed my baby. In May 2010 my daughter was born and the first contact with her was so wonderful! The midwife put her on my breast and she latched on immediately, it was really magical!! The following days were a little more difficult because it hurt a lot (within the normal range) but I was convinced it was something I wanted to do, give my baby girl all the health and security benefits of nursing, give me the opportunity of such lovely moments and give both of us that special bond!

Thanks to breastfeeding my little one is completely healthy, it also has helped her to keep growing up (I have a picky eater), and she always knows that whatever happens she can rely on me (and my boobs LOL)!

Breastfeeding a baby and a toddler is a bit different, I mean now she is really independent, but when she is nursing, it reminds me that she is still my little girl and she needs me more than anybody else in the world!! For us, breastfeeding remains as the most special moment of our daily journey because we are alone, quiet and cuddling each other

Last couple of weeks we have been nursing only before/after naptime, before bedtime and upon awakening, so. I know she will wean soon and I know I’m going to miss it so bad!

A birth story....

Contractions started on May 19 around 10 pm, but at that moment I didn't know I was in labor; I just felt weird and had something like menstrual cramps.

I told DH what I was feeling and then I called my Mexican OB (It was late in France and the French one doesn’t have an “emergency number”, in cases like this you need to go straight to the ER) and he said “Ok, you can pack your things and go to the Hospital; you’re going to meet your baby! Congratulations!” We were so excited!!!

When we arrived to “L’Etoile”, the midwife put me 2 sensors, the first one monitored the contractions and the second one the baby’s heartbeat (everything was ok!), and she checked my cervical progress, I was only 3 centimeters dilated so we had to wait… We did some Facebook and Twitter (in order to let our friends and family knew we were at the Hospital)…

Two hours later my contractions were getting worse but I still was 3 centimeters dilated, we slept at the hospital and my OB checked me in the morning. I couldn’t believe it but nothing had changed except for the increasing pain!! They told me I needed to walk and to do some exercises in order to help dilatation but it was all for nothing so they sent us back home.

At home I took a bath, changed my clothes, ate a little of something (I can’t remember!), and went to my bed. I stayed there less than an hour because the contractions were very intense, very long lasting and closer between each other so we went to L’Etoile again.

I was admitted to Hospital because of the painful contractions but -believe it or not- I was STILL 3 CENTIMETERS DILATED!! Around 5 pm, the midwife gave me some pain medicine, I slept a little bit but when I woke up I was and again in pain!! My contractions escalated, the midwife checked my cervical progress and I was 6 centimeters dilated! Some good news huh?!

At 11 pm (May 20) I was at the “birth room” and finally get the epidural!! We started the “real labor” but I wasn’t pushing enough (I was really tired) so my OB (who – Thank God- was in guard that night) showed up and helped me (this was great and its uncommon here). N was born 2 hours and 8 minutes after (1:08 am, on May 21st), I felt her being born and it's been the best experience of my life!!!

And this is our story! It was a long birth – 27 hours total -, it was really painful but was worth it!! When I saw N for the first time and held her in my arms I realized the love I have for her is more than I could ever imagine!!

The very beginning....

The day I found out I was pregnant I was happy but scared! I hadn´t planned to have a baby (in that moment), so I was excited but I thought: I'm not ready for this! What am I going to do? I was working (as a lawyer), I wasn’t married (a little old fashioned, I know! But what can I do? It’s the way I am!!), and C (then my boyfriend, now my hubby) was moving to France… Oh boy! I wanted to laugh out loud but at same time I wanted to cry!!

I found out I was pregnant when I was almost 2 months (on October 10^th 2009), I did the “home test” and it turned positive in a sec! Next day I had the blood test and there was “8 weeks pregnancy”!! C & I told our parents that same week and to the rest of the world when I was 3 months (to our closest friends on our wedding day).

First Ultrasound - October 14^th, 2009 

We got married on November 14^th 2009, right! it was too fast but we needed to be married to get the "France Long-Stay" visa and other bureaucratic issues so that I could move with C and deliver our baby in France. We moved in February 18^th 2010, when I was 6 months.

Aside from having some early concerns, my pregnancy was pretty cool, like most of pregnant women I felt morning sickness during the first trimester and in the last two months I had difficulty sleeping. I only gained 19 pounds which was great because I almost ate whatever I wanted to!

N was born on May 21^st 2010 at Puyricard, Aix-en-Provence, France, the day I was “exactly” 40 weeks pregnant – according to my 4D ultrasound (but this deserves another post!!)

Last Ultrasound, April 1^st, 2010

And that’s it… the beginning of my life as a mommy!!! :)