...than to ever think that I'm alone. I felt good after writing my previous post. I got a lot off my mind and felt better having put so many emotions into words. Something interesting happens, though, when you put yourself out there. You find out that you are not the first or only person that has felt and thought exactly the same way. You find out that support is all around you and that things are never quite as bad as they seem.
Don't get me wrong, I have talked to Mike about all this, and he is amazing. He listens not only to what I say, but to what I really mean and knows when to offer suggestions and when to just hold me. I could not imagine a more loving, supportive partner. Even though he is going above and beyond as a husband and father, he is not a woman or a mother and can not completely understand what I'm going through.
Yesterday I went to a breastfeeding support group sponsored by our hospital. First of all, let me say that I found out that Kaylee can get 1.5 oz from nursing. This is amazing compared to the .5 oz she got when we met with our lactation consultant. I was so so excited. Anyway...I ran into a former coworker at the group and started talking with her. She has a 2 year-old and a 4 month-old. She was very interested in what brought me to the group and listened as I explained what we've been through over the past two weeks. I was amazed to hear that she had been through a very similar experience with her older daughter and has lived to tell the tale. She was encouraging and offered a few suggestions, as well as her contact information in case I wanted to talk sometime. Needless to say, this was great for me, and Kaylee and I will be returning to the group in the weeks to come.
Today I logged on to facebook and found more support from an unlikely source. A girl that I grew up with had been following this blog and sent me a message regarding my last post. She has two children and is a veteran of the breastfeeding war as well. Again, I was offered lots of encouragement and a few wonderful suggestions.
I'm slowly coming to realize that there is an unspoken bond between mothers. It's almost as if, by having my child, I earned a lifetime membership to a club that I didn't even know existed. I am so grateful for every kind word and harrowing story. I guess I feel, now more than ever, that I'm on the right path and that Kaylee and I will come out on the other side healthy and a little bit wiser.
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