Re: Intro: Chris in NJ

[Guest guest]

Hello! I'm not really " new " to this group -- I first joined back when I passed

my first IBCLC exam in 2009. I had left for awhile due to health issues and

have recently realized that I miss you all. (Plus, I had a colleague refresh my

memory.) So, I guess you could say that I'm " new again " to the group.

I actually found my original intro, plus post script from 2009. A lot has

happened for me since then. My oldest daughter is now almost 10 and

unfortunately, she is showing some signs of inheriting my immune system

condition -- though we have hope that her's won't become as severe as mine since

we are treating it early. One surprise is that although she is petite like her

mother, she has already started puberty. Wow!

My son is now almost 4 and he reluctantly weaned during my third pregnancy. He

was more than happy to start up again after the new baby arrived and then needed

to stop a year later when I had to wean due to hospitalization and new

medication definitely not compatible with breastfeeding.

My youngest, another daughter, was born 7 weeks premature due to a double

nuchal-cord (umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck). She was in the NICU

for a month while we stayed at the Mc House and were the first

family at that NICU to syringe-feed our baby EBM every 3 hours round-the-clock

with no " fortifier " or artificial nipples. Although the docs knew that I was an

IBCLC and I was armed with the new BAMS, they still tried to convince me that:

A. It was not safe to have her at the breast and B. supplementation was

perfectly fine. We were very proud that my daughter was healthy and strong

enough for us to hold our ground. Instead of their " breastmilk fortifier " we

took fresh hindmilk from each pumping and skimmed it into little calorie

power-packed bottles.

This baby is now 17 months, just started walking and is still a little peanut

but very strong-willed! She was a champion nurser but after she was born I was

hit with: emergency gallbladder surgery, shingles and several weeks of

hospitalization one after the other. I did have to wean her right after a year

and I was sad over it but I've accepted it now.

I am also a certified doula and I had a combination practice years ago but have

decided to focus solely on lactation consulting. I'm still working in small

increments but making a lot of progress with my skills and client referrals.

I am very happy to be back and will probably check in via the homepage

periodically, so as before, if anyone wants to contact me directly, please feel

free to email me off-list. Oh, and PS: A month ago I received a wonderful,

" Thinking of you today... " email from the mother-of-twins many of you helped me

support two years ago.

Thanks for reading!

Chris(tine) in NJ

chris@...

> >

> > Hi! I'm Chris(tine) and I'm a newly certified IBCLC from NJ, USA (on the

Jersey shore). I'm hoping to start a private practice in the new year. I am a

retired LLLL and PCPA (Peer Counselor Program Administrator). I was very active

with LLLI and am grateful to the organization and the Leaders who mentored me.

I have 2 children, ages 7.5 and 18 months. My son is still nursing and my

daughter nursed for many, many years despite a severe immune-system condition.

I'm married to a wonderful hubby who supports all my dreams and goals and have a

father who is a grandpa-lactivist. In addition to being an LC, I am also a

certified antepartum, labor and postpartum doula.

> >

> > I found out about this group through the Health e-Learning IBCLC Prep Course

2009 student list on Yahoo! I look forward to learning from all of you here!

> >

> > Chris