By Erica McClannahan RN, BSN, IBCLC

When I think of determined mothers on their breastfeeding journey, one always comes to mind first for her unbelievable dedication.  She faced just about every challenge you can think of.  She had to be induced into labor at 35 weeks for gestational hypertension that was turning into severe pre-eclampsia.  Because of that, she was on a magnesium drip during labor and for 24 hours postpartum.  Magnesium can make you feel very sick, tired, and give you hot and cold flashes.  Worst of all, you can't get out of bed or have any food during that time either.  The labor process wasn't going well; the baby was having concerning decelerations in her heart rate, so they ended up having an emergency c-section after 18 long hours of labor.  The baby went to the NICU after delivery for low blood sugar and the need for oxygen support, so mom hardly had the chance to meet her when she was born.  

Facing Health Obstacles

During the first few days postpartum, even though mom was battling her own health issues, she was determined to do everything she could to have baby breastfeed.  Since she wasn't able to actually go to the NICU while on the magnesium, she pumped every 2 hours around the clock.  She wasn't seeing much colostrum when pumping but I encouraged her that can be normal and to keep stimulating her breasts to support the milk coming in.  When she was finally able to get in the wheelchair to visit her baby for the first time, she said it felt like the actual birth moment, even though the baby was already over 24 hours old!  

Skin-to-skin was a beautiful experience for her, and she expressed that she felt like it was all worth it for that moment.  It was refueling her energy and will to stay strong.  It can be hard for moms that are separated from their babies because they don’t get that constant reminder of what all their effort is for!  

Experiencing Breastfeeding Difficulties

The baby had been receiving bottles of donor milk since there was concern about her blood sugar and mom wasn't able to come to try and breastfeed her yet.  Mom also had very large breasts and flat nipples - a combination that can be difficult with latching.  The baby would act confused and frantically search for the nipple but couldn't seem to latch to the breast.  

Cue the nipple shield!  The nipple shield provided something more substantial and similar to the bottle so the baby was actually able to wrap her lips around it and achieve a latch.  Since she was born a little early at 35 weeks, she would just lightly suckle on the shield and wasn't actually drawing out any milk.  This didn't deter mom though, she absolutely loved spending time with baby at the breast even though it wasn't nutritively supporting her. 

Creative Solutions for Feeding Success

Unfortunately, Mom's milk supply never came in. She continued to pump every 2-3 hours, did lots of skin-to-skin with the baby, and tried to latch her to the breast often, but she only ever got a maximum of 5ml of milk from the pump. While this is sufficient for a baby that is just a few days old, their demand quickly increases. The baby was now a few weeks old and needed 3oz at each feeding—much more than what mom was producing.  

This mom and I had a teary conversation about her supply not being where we hoped.  She had multiple risk factors in her medical history and the shape of her breasts also indicated a possible anatomical issue for her supply.  Some things such as these are out of our control and no amount of effort or dedication can change them.  Despite this, she kept saying that she didn't want to give up the experience of breastfeeding. 

That's when I had the idea of introducing a supplemental nursing system so that baby could get the 3 oz of milk she needed (being offered in the form of formula) while being latched to the breast with the nipple shield.  The SNS is a bottle with a tube attached so that supplement can be offered when baby is at the breast rather than from the artificial nipple of the bottle.  We tried it and mom's tears then turned to tears of joy!  It was the best of both worlds—she got the experience of breastfeeding and baby got the nourishment she needed even though it wasn't coming from mom's breasts. 

Shared Family Bonding

The cherry on top for this family?  This was a same-sex couple, and the mom who didn't get the experience of carrying the baby also jumped in and got to have the experience of breastfeeding.  We latched the baby to her breast and used the SNS from which baby fed even though this mom wasn't lactating at all!  

What a powerful experience for these two moms to get the bonding moments of both breastfeeding their baby even though neither one of their bodies were making milk.  To them, it was their ideal feeding plan and it brought them so much joy.   This story teaches us that roadblocks as major as breasts that aren't lactating don't have to stop you from having the feeding experience that means the most to you.  

In Conclusion

This inspiring story demonstrates the power of determination and the importance of support systems in breastfeeding journeys. Through creative solutions like the supplemental nursing system and the use of a nipple shield, these mothers were able to bond with their baby through the shared experience of breastfeeding. Their story reminds us that while physical challenges may sometimes limit traditional breastfeeding, families can still find joy and fulfillment in feeding experiences that meet their unique needs.