Pregnancy and Breastfeeding In Spite of Hormonal Challenges

"Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful" ~Joshua J. Marine

Be inspired by Amazing Blossom Mom, Jada Wright-Greene, who shares her journey of breastfeeding over 7 years, with 3 children. 

Becoming a mother was one of the most important things to me. Soon after being married, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) which causes irregular ovulation. Through the power of God, faith and prayer I became pregnant and I instantly knew I wanted to do everything possible to give my precious jewel the best start in life. 

As any new mother I began to read, ask questions, read and ask even more questions about what to do. You always hear that there is no handbook, but there are guide books. I quickly learned about breastfeeding and all of the benefits for mother and baby. 

My mother did not breastfeed nor did her mother, so at least two generations before me thought I was a little “strange” for deciding to breastfeed.  Despite their thoughts, I was determined to give my baby the best nutritional start.

On a cold and frigid November day in 2008 she arrived and of course life turned upside down in a good way for my husband and I. Immediately after my delivery and in recovery, I asked the nurse, can you please help me breastfeed my baby, she complied, and my baby girl latched. That began my journey into the world of breastfeeding for my daughter and later with my two other children.  

I nursed for four months with my oldest child, for six months for my second child, and it has been more than a year with my youngest child. Each experience has been quite different.

I don’t want to share all of my tips because I know you have read them all by now, but I want to share my feelings.  I enjoyed every moment of this journey, the late nights, the every two hours, the pain (yes I said even the pain) all of it.  I was able to bond with my children and have a connection that no one can understand unless you decide to share the “liquid gold” to your children.  

The act of giving nourishment and the natural production of milk is remarkable. Think about it; your body produces milk that is made specifically for your child at their young age.  When I reflect back on the way God designed us as mothers, he purposely made us to provide not only food, but to be bonded with our children through the act of breastfeeding.  

Understand, I had a lot of days, where I was tired, exhausted and sleep deprived but the comfort in knowing that my angels were getting exactly what they needed motivated me.  I never imagined I would breastfeed and certainly not for an entire year, when I recall my early thoughts of being a mother. But those moments where you see your baby look into your face and hold you so close knowing that you are their mommy, their comforter, and their provider, are absolutely priceless. 

As I write this my journey in breastfeeding has ended. I can truly say I miss it at times, but I know that I gave my children a great start in life.

A Note From Blossom

PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women between the ages of 18 and 44. It affects approximately 5% to 10% of this age group. It is one of the leading causes of poor fertility. Because it is related to hormone production and hormones affect milk production, many women with PCIS have challenges establishing or maintaining a milk supply. However, Jada's story is evidence that many mothers are able to overcome these PCOS related challenges. 

For additional support with PCOS, visit these sites. 

PCOS and Fertility 

Breastfeeding and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome 

Breastfeeding and PCOS: Maximizing Success

Jada Wright-Greene is a wife, mother, an avid museum activist, author, and a lover of history.  She has a passion for revitalizing and bringing awareness to the African-American museum culture with a goal of diversifying the museum field, primarily through Heritage Salon Magazine. Jada’s most important and valued roles in life has become being a wife and mother. She is the wife of Darryl and the mother of two daughters and one son. Through her journey of motherhood she has become a strong supporter of breastfeeding and assisting other mothers in their journey.  She believes in supporting and ministering to new mothers. She is driven in the area of her work, but motivated in her role as mother and wife. Jada and her family resides in the Dallas, Texas area.

Full Circle Moments

“Life is a full circle, widening until it joins the circle motions of the infinite.” 
― Anaïs Nin

For the second year in a row, I spent Thanksgiving Morning running a half marathon, while my 2 year old daughter ran a 50 yard dash, in Atlanta. The half marathon was the final race in the Triple Peach Race Series, consisting of the Peachtree Road Race- the largest 10K in the world, the Atlanta 10 Miler, and the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon. I committed to this series when I entered a lottery sponsored by The Atlanta Track Club. 

For the second year in a row, I spent Thanksgiving Evening recovering from a race for which I was ill-prepared. While this was my 15th half, it was my fourth since having my child, and my first since turning 40. I barely trained for it. In fact, I haven't properly trained for a distance race in quite some time. I want to continue to run... especially considering I made my mother run her first half at 62, and her second a year later. I don't want to hurt as much during and after my runs. It made me think about that one time that I wrote about how much Bikram yoga complements (my) running. 

The Dichotomous Union of Running and Bikram Yoga

Then I realized that I needed to have all of my articles in one place, in this new, but very familiar life, so here they are: 

I've Got Five On It! My Review of Vibram Five Fingers

Yoga and Smoking Cessation 

Hypemesis Gravidarum: A Pregnancy Fit For a Princess

What Not To Say to a Pregnant Woman 

100 Steps To A Healthy and Happy Homecoming 

One Touch Wellness Tumblr

Bikram Yoga Challenge Blog 

Re-(w)Righting Our Health History 

Enjoy! Click! Comment! Share!

Gratitude For Every Day

"Gratitude can turn common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and turn ordinary opportunities into blessings" ~ William Arthur Ward

I awaken with a grateful heart. My first intentional inhalation of each morning is full of gratitude and expectation, as the first exhalation signifies control, grace, and confidence.

I am everyday grateful for my vibrant health, supportive family, incredible opportunities, unique vision, selfless gifts, amazing journey, and indescribable joy.

I live gratitude. This life is not perfect, but this life is beautiful. Love this life. Live it to the fullest. Remain everyday grateful for the gifts, large and small, that you have been given. Appreciate the opportunity to create a beautiful day, every day.

Thanksgiving 2011
Nosara, Costa Rica

I am grateful for Blossom and the opportunity to promote health, share love, and show compassion with those I touch every day.

I am grateful for you. 

My Miracle. My Life. My Lauren.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein 

November is Prematurity Awareness Month! Enjoy this journey from a Blossom Mom Who Rocks about her daughter's premature birth. 

My Lauren

Having a child is the most precious gift from God, and I am so blessed to be able celebrate my miracle -“My Lauren” each and every day.  My husband and I were very excited about my pregnancy, as this would be our first child together.  He made sure he was at every doctor appointment and I remember the nervous feelings we shared as we prayed that every appointment would be good news. 

When it came time for the first ultrasound, I remember the doctor having problems finding the heartbeat and then he said, “there it is!”  I believe the world had stopped and began to move again in a matter of minutes of hearing those words.  From that point on, every visit could be labeled as a good visit.  I remember feeling really energetic and active. 

Then one day I wasn’t feeling so great and I had an appointment scheduled for later that afternoon.  When I arrived as soon as my husband saw me, he asked “are you feeling ok?”  I told him I felt a little tired but overall I felt great.  I attributed my fatigue to being further along into my pregnancy and assumed it just came with the territory. I went through the normal routine… Peed in the cup, had my blood pressure checked, and waited for the doctor.  

It seemed like it took the doctor forever to come into my examination room.  When he arrived, the look on his face was a look of concern.  Clearly something was wrong.  He said, “Angela I want to send you down to the hospital for more tests as we have found a high amount of protein in your urine".  He continued that it was nothing to be too alarmed about, as this was a precautionary measure to ensure that the baby and I were okay.  

Once the hospital begin testing it was clear that I wasn’t going home and the baby and even I, were in trouble.  As soon as I received the news that I wasn’t able to go home and they wanted to monitor the pregnancy. My hands, my feet, my face, my entire body began to retain an astronomical amount of fluid.  I was informed that I had preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a condition in pregnant women where  high blood pressure and protein has developed beyond 20 weeks into their pregnancy. It can endanger the lives of the mother and the baby or cause other serious medical complications.  I was afraid for my baby’s life.  Not only was my baby fighting for her life, but I was now fighting for mine.  

I had been in the hospital for approximately 2 weeks (28 week mark) when my doctor told me, “Angela call your husband back to the hospital… The baby is struggling I have to take the baby now.”  I called my husband – whose voice began to tremble on the phone.  He said "baby I’m on my way."  I called my mother and she said, “Angela calm down and pray – God will get you through but you must TRUST and BELIEVE.”  

Those words carried me into surgery and I delivered a 2 pounds and 14 ounces baby girl.  God had blessed me though at the time the fight was long from being over.  My daughter was in the NICU for 12 weeks.  Everyday, I laid her on my bare chest and we were both wrapped in the blanket – this method is referred to as Kangaroo Kare (or skin-to-skin contact, which is beneficial in regulating a neonate's heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, blood sugar,  liver enzymes, and helps prepare both the baby and the mother for breastfeeding).  

“My Lauren” got stronger every day… She would look at me with those big eyes and I knew she loved me and she was a “fighter.” So today and everyday I celebrate “My Lauren” who is now 10 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall.  She is our miracle and we are blessed.

Do you have another miraculous premature birth story? Share it with us! 

A Note from Blossom 

Lauren is a straight A student, a gifted visual artist, and a community servant. 

Angela Walker is an Independent HR Consultant and Global Business Partner who has shaped high performance cultures at Fortune 500 and major growth brands with strategies that brought about efficiencies, robust development programs, and prolific communications.  She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Tennessee State University.  Angela recently became a Accountability Coach where she supports individuals who seek leadership development, motivation, career development, and the establishment of life goals.  Angela said her greatest professional accomplishment was becoming an entrepreneur; however, her greatest life accomplishment is her family.  Angela is married to Randy, Quality Assurance Project Engineer and they have two children, Ronnie (22 ) and Lauren (10) - who she often refers to as their "miracle baby."

Please visit Angela if you are interested in her becoming your Accountability Coach!

The Conception and Birth of Maternal Wellness

"Connecting with those you know love, like, and appreciate you, restores the spirit and gives you energy to keep moving forward in this life." ~Deborah Day

According to the Facebook Memories feature and my beloved TimeHop app, I posted the following exactly one year ago today, as a preface to the article below. It seems that this is when and where the seeds of Blossom Health and Maternal Wellness were planted: 

10/28/14

I can't say enough about this topic. As a prenatal massage therapist, I thought that I offered a nice service. As an occupational therapist treating countless repetitive use injuries- but never any related to pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, or motherhood- I overlooked a great many potential patients.  As a yogi & runner, I cheered on new mommies to just bounce back quickly, but there is SO much more to consider besides dropping 30+ pounds. Specialized intervention is sometimes necessary, as is self-care. There is a market for this kind of treatment, if docs, moms, and dads buy into it.

My Child Is Here, But My Body Is Not My Own

10/28/15

I don't think that even I imagined that less than 6 months later, these ideas, experiences, opportunities, and skills would align themselves to birth Blossom Health and Maternal Wellness, which offers perinatal fitness, massage, nutrition, education, breastfeeding support, and rehabilitation all in one place. 

Now for the buy in: moms, there are ways to help usher in normalcy, even if it is a slightly new normal. There are mechanisms and modalities to help alleviate pain, strengthen weakened areas, regain confidence. Your body will be different, your sleep habits will be different, your priorities will be different, and your emotional state will be different, but you should not be unrecognizable. You do not have to succumb to the abyss of post-baby everything. You are not weak for asking for help. Typically, when we think about postpartum ailments, we're only thinking about depression, which is good. Postpartum depression is real, affects many, and needs to be better understood and treated. However, there are also physical and physiological remnants of childbearing that do not have to remain indefinitely.

Daddies, despite what you may see on television, there is no metaphor, similie, mental image, or weighted vest that can adequately convey all that a woman's body and mind go through during and after the 40 weeks of pregnancy. Trust, anticipate, and listen. Your partner is amazing! She is a warrior! She has gone through battle and has birthed a miracle. She needs a massage. She needs an opportunity to exercise. She may even need therapy or chiropractic care. She is not a wimp. She is not looking for attention. She needs for you to understand and advocate for her. The easier and more complete her recovery, the better she will be able to take care of your family... and the less resentful she will be toward you, for the rest of her life. There's nothing worse than grandma oversharing at Thanksgiving about how her body was completely destroyed 55 years earlier by childbirth and how it is all grandpa's fault. Women remember those BC (before children) bodies and capabilities like they do the days of the week. Find ways to help her get back to that.

Physicians can help too. By listening to new moms, asking thoughtful questions, re-sensitizing themselves to the wonder of each and every birth experience, and being aware of pregnancy and postpartum community resources, they can assist moms in adjusting to life on the other side, with minimal pain and without involuntary peeing. 

We often hear about how the care for postpartum mothers in this country is amongst the least desirable and least helpful in all of the world. Our bodies were not meant to create a life, birth it forth, stick an artificial nipple in its mouth and return to data entry 6 weeks later (or whatever amazing career we have). We simply were not designed that way.

We were designed to be nurtured by our tribe and to be nurturing to our children. After giving birth, we need rest and restoration. Facilitating this recovery is the reason that Blossom Health and Maternal Wellness is here today.