I think I must have an "approach me and tell me your story" face because this sort of thing happens all the time.
I run into this young woman who keeps admiring DD, asks how old she is and then tells me she has an 18 month old and a 23 day old girl!!! We were on transit and I asked if she was just taking a mommy break...she tells me she's just come from court trying to clear her name of a shoplifting charge. My immediate thought was...oh poor girl, she's having a rough time and she's probably not nursing (nice assumptions we make huh?).
So she goes on to tell me that she's cleared her record and can't wait to get home and pump. She was never able to get her daughter to latch (even with help from the local BF clinic) so instead she's exclusively pumping. I almost cheered. I know how hard it is to pump (I still do and DD is 21 months, it's just to build the stash). I told her I was totally in awe of her and how great it is that she's doing that. She was so happy to hear this as she's been getting grief from those close to her to give up.
I then let her know that she's not just doing a great thing for baby but for herself and she was very excited to find out about her decreased risk of breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and that her DD would also have decreased risk of these diseases. I also mentioned that I know some moms who were eventually able to get their kiddos to latch and she seemed hopeful.
It was so nice to meet someone so young and who at first glance seems to have a lot of things working against her still following her instincts. What strength!
Just wanted to share!
I run into this young woman who keeps admiring DD, asks how old she is and then tells me she has an 18 month old and a 23 day old girl!!! We were on transit and I asked if she was just taking a mommy break...she tells me she's just come from court trying to clear her name of a shoplifting charge. My immediate thought was...oh poor girl, she's having a rough time and she's probably not nursing (nice assumptions we make huh?).
So she goes on to tell me that she's cleared her record and can't wait to get home and pump. She was never able to get her daughter to latch (even with help from the local BF clinic) so instead she's exclusively pumping. I almost cheered. I know how hard it is to pump (I still do and DD is 21 months, it's just to build the stash). I told her I was totally in awe of her and how great it is that she's doing that. She was so happy to hear this as she's been getting grief from those close to her to give up.
I then let her know that she's not just doing a great thing for baby but for herself and she was very excited to find out about her decreased risk of breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and that her DD would also have decreased risk of these diseases. I also mentioned that I know some moms who were eventually able to get their kiddos to latch and she seemed hopeful.
It was so nice to meet someone so young and who at first glance seems to have a lot of things working against her still following her instincts. What strength!
Just wanted to share!
