By Wendy Martin
 I knew I would feed my second son at the breast before he
was even conceived. I researched which birth control pill would allow
me to nurse yet keep me from ovulating. We had only two bottles, for
just in case. I had a breast pump for all my extra milk and we froze
it in ice cube trays. Daddy called them "boob cubes."
I had nursed my first son; how could I not when it was so obviously
the best thing for him? Ben took to it with gusto in the delivery
room. He is nearly 9 months old, and it is still his favorite thing.
When he's hurt or tired or just waking up his first response after
being picked up is to push his face into my chest then SMILE! After
waking, he nurses just to help him face the world. I'm his morning
coffee!
Ben's first word was nuh-nuh. He let me know what that meant by giving
my shirt a good yank, just in case we weren't on the same page. For
awhile, after he started solids, we cut way back. He was really only
nursing at nap and bedtime. Then he hit his "my mommy is my
world" stage, and we were back to nursing on demand.
Some of my best times of day are the mid-morning feeding. We curl up
in Daddy's chair and he falls asleep at my breast. I can't imagine not
nursing Ben.
We recently found out we are expecting baby number three. It was
unexpected, and my first thought was disappointment at having to wean
Ben when he (and I!) was so obviously not ready. I have received
tremendous support from friends and family who have encouraged me to
continue.
I have now begun to research tandem nursing. Resources are scarce and
hard to come by. I wonder how will I keep up with a toddler and a
newborn? And I know that Ben and his new baby will share an incredible
bond. They will be close. They will share a room. They will share a
breast. They will be friends. What an incredible gift I will give my
two youngest children!
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Breastfeeding
Reading
Room
