Complications In Breastfeeding

by IsRaya Arnold

March 29, 2006, What a day!

As a divorced, single parent of three (breastfed as babies) wonderful children, I became pregnant again. My older children 11, 9, 7 all were actually happy to be having a new baby.

Things went well for the most part with the pregnancy, several ultrasounds revealed no problems. I was induced two weeks early for size concerns and severe edema. After 16 hours of labor I began pushing. I was so glad to be near the end of labor, however as soon as he was out it got very quiet!

The doctor looked up at me and said, "there's a problem. Pause...but it's fixable. "What!, fixable! This is my new baby! They handed him up to me and began to explain what was going on.

My beautiful new son had a severe bilateral cleft lip and palate. I remembered seeing a show on TV about this and thinking, "thank God that is something I will never have to deal with."

My wonderful son (already named Kristopher Charles) was breathing on his own and soon crying, bringing the next problem. Even the doctor wondered how to feed him. Specialists were called, no one knew what to do.

A nurse brought us a dropper and I requested a pump. His first few meals were unfortunately mostly formula because I ended up in the ICU the next night. As soon as I came off the morphine I began pumping again. I was able to produce enough milk for twins! My mother found out about the Haberman Feeder and that is what Kristopher was able to use to feed.

Despite (3 hours one way) trips every Monday to Rileys Children's Hospital, and use of the NAM, Kristopher steadily gained weight and thrived well, a credit given to mommy's milk! I had to return to work at six weeks but have continued to pump (still enough for twins).

My son had his first surgery, lip repair, back in August and is doing great. He is nine months old now and beginning to feed himself soft foods. He has learned the difference between refrigerated and fresh milk and will wait for "tut-tut" to have fresh milk. Tut- tut being when I pump, he will sit in his chair and watch and wait.

Though I miss the convenience of the direct route I am glad I can give my son the best possible start.