Unfortunately my expressing has come to an abrupt end. I woke up yesterday morning unable to breathe. We went to hospital where i was diagnosed with a chest infection and given antibiotics for a week. With a normal breastfeeding relationship you can still breastfeed whilst taking antibiotics but you can't when it goes to premature babies. My milk supply dropped quite considerably a couple of weeks ago (entirely my own fault, i missed a pumping session one evening and it dropped from that) but i was still determined to carry on. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be and although i hadn't known it at the time Christmas Eve was my last day of pumping. I'm really sad not to have reached my goals but i have managed to donate around 780 ounces which i'm delighted about.
I really hope that it has encouraged people to persevere with breastfeeding. If i can make it to 5.5 months without having a baby for 2 of those months then i hope it has inspired just one person to keep going.
That is amazing that you donated what you did. Great Job! There are many babies that you have helped. I'm so sorry for your loss. Praying for your heart.
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy to RT your story. I am so very sorry for the loss of your baby, and amazed by your strength and perserverence to keep pumping in spite of losing your boy. Please keep sharing information so people know what to look for - it's an important task you've taken on. Peace to you & your family.
ReplyDeleteAs mum to a 27 weeker, thank you, that in this toughest of time for you that you donated milk to premmie mums like me. I'm sorry that you can no longer do so, but what you've provided is a huge amount, my baby was on 1ml feeds to start with!!!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are an inspiration. The world needs more people like you. All the very best for the future.
ReplyDeleteYou have done an incredible thing at a time of dreadful tragedy. Very few peoPle would have that strength. Wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteFirst..so sorry for your loss, and second YES if I had known I could have donated my milk after losing my son at 26 weeks preggers..the only time my milk REALLY came in..far more than when I actually needed it..I would have pumped and donated.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful you. xxxxxx massive hugs xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteBless you- I am sorry for your loss but bloody WELL DONE on your selfless act of donating breast milk. You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSitting here in the US, all choked up over your posts. I found your link from Ed Byrne's RT of your tweet. Thank you for spreading the information about the signs of meningitis, which I hadn't known before. I'm so sorry for your loss, but your work in Charlie's memory is making a difference. That you were donating breast milk is so lovely. Must have done a world of good for those little ones. Sending you and your family my very best wishes for comfort now and joy in the future.
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally affected too much by stories of others misfortunes. But reading your blog after following the link from the tweet by David Baddiel has reduced me to tears. I am so so sorry for your devastating loss and I wish I could do more to help you personally.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from Brian Cox's retweet. I am so sorry that your beautiful boy was taken from you, and I am amazed by the fact that you have poured your energy into blogging your experience to raise awareness, and donated breastmilk for so long.
ReplyDeleteYou said "Wednesday 27th October, a day I will never ever forget." I'm afraid that day is also etched into my memory for a different reason, it's the day my son was born. I was in floods of tears as I read your story nine days ago, thinking about how unfair it was.
I had no idea about how milk banking worked until I followed your link.
Now, just over a week later, I have signed up with my local milk bank, started filling their bottles, and wanted to let you know it's directly because of your blog. I know it doesn't help you, but I thought maybe I could pick up the baton, and follow your example.
Thank you for all your lovely comments :)
ReplyDeleteGem that's wonderful that you have become a donor. I'm really delighted that someone has donated their milk from reading this. The only thing that gets us through losing Charlie is that we can make a difference to other babies. Donated breastmilk makes a huge difference to those tiny babies. Thank you for becoming a donor xx
Amazing, that is such a wonderful thing to have done xx
ReplyDeleteYou are without a doubt a truely amazing woman. I was unable to donate milk this time (due to medications) but I will be doing my best to ensure I can with any future children I will. If you can do it after everything you have been through, then there's no reason (apart from medications) that I can't.
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GREAT JOB...SAD ABOUT UR LOSS THOUGH! HE MUST HAVE BEEN SUCH A LOVELY BOY!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, and so inspired and in awe all at the same time. Thankyou for being so open in sharing your tragic experience of losing your precious baby in a bid to save other children. You have empowered parents with information to enable them to challenge medical staff if necessary as well as providing all that milk- just incredible xx
ReplyDeleteWords can't tell you how sorry I am to read your story. Please know that you have touched so many lives with your courage and kindness: I came across your blog at a time when I, already a human milk donor, was thinking of quitting expressing/donating milk because I found it too demanding, what with having a very hungry 5-month old to feed as well. After crying for what seemed like hours, I became determined to carry on donating and making a difference with whatever little I can. I will speak to the staff at my local milk bank to let them know that I am donating milk 'on your behalf', so rest assured that the milk you lovingly pledged in honour of Charlie's memory will reach the children who need it one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteSending you and your family my very best wishes for the future xx
My brother is meningitis survivor. At 19 years old he almost lost his life. I feel your pain so deeply. No one can understand how quickly meningitis sets in and how utterly helpless you feel. Your mind does not even have time to accept what is happening because it all happens so quickly. I think this is a wonderful thing you are doing, Making sure everyone knows the signs is so important, because they be so easily dismissed. Having my father being an ER doctor and know the signs is the only thing that saved my brother. If you can save even one life through this, that is an amazing thing. I hope you are comforted by the fact that your baby has given you a very important purpose and message.
ReplyDeleteWow! I just wanted to commend you for being strong and selfless even while you were going through difficult times. Not many people would even think of continuing to expressing milk for other babies. I know that no words will ever be enough to console you for the loss of Charlie but I'm pretty sure that he is happy with all the love you gave him during his stay here and that he is proud of you for what you continue to do.
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