Danielle Andrade is on the blog (again)! She’s an amazing mom to five kids and poet extraordinaire. Today she shares about breastfeeding, which she’s been doing now for at least five consecutive years. 

Things I’ve done whilst nursing…

Breathed through post-birth uterine contractions.

Which actually hurt worse the more children you have because your uterus has to work harder to shrink back down. A direct correlation exists between the number of times it has expanded and how hard it has to work to shrink and thus – how much it hurts.  Birth on the other hand, for me, has gotten easier; but I have never given birth whilst nursing so we’ll save that discussion for later.

Taught an essay writing class to middle schoolers.

Two students currently have older sisters who are lactating, one is one of eight children (all breastfed), one has a mother who has been nursing for thirteen consecutive years, two are my own children so… Only one comes from a small and currently non-lactating family but he has attended crunchy EarthSchool for at least five years so – enough said.  All are unphased – yes, I would notice if otherwise, and no I don’t use an apron.

Vomited.

I do not recommend this one but a baby waits for no one and when you continuously get sick for sixteen hours… I will clarify that I was already nursing when it happened, (I naively thought it was during a lull in the action.) and it would have taken way more energy to unlatch then just lean over.  

Taken minutes at a council meeting (more than once).

This was also tricky, but it’s harder to hear people talking over the crying.  

Played pass with a football.

Anyone with a three, four, five, or six-year-old (any age that my son was or is while having a nursing baby) understands.  The game must go on. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we stop for the baby, but sometimes we don’t.

Played tennis (casually at home in the street). See above.

Eaten countless meals.

For a while I thought God was messing with me because I always had to nurse on the right side during dinner and – because I don’t eat well with my left hand – I’d have to wait.  Once the baby got older I’d give them whatever side I darn well pleased but with a newborn (with that intense letting down and engorgement) the side matters.

Walked through Bowdoin College campus.

Following two girls on bikes (my own two girls).

Brushed my teeth.

Yes, I’ve spit on my baby. 1 point for me, 800 for them.

Grieved

Celebrated

Danced

Worshiped

Prayed

Peed

Pooped

Slept

Tried to stay awake

Tried to sleep

And I guess it goes without saying,

Written poetry.

Something I’ve never done whilst nursing?

Started a fire in my wood stove.

I’m not crazy.