Crystal
White
February 2012
Crystal
White
,
RN, IBCLC
Lactation Center
Mission Hospital - Asheville
Asheville
,
NC
United States
Preface – I am a staff member but this is regarding my experience while a patient at the hospital.
On January 9th, 2011, I gave birth to my beautiful son K here at Mission. I knew before I had him that I wanted to breastfeed him but wasn’t sure how well this would work out for us. K was born very healthy but had swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid so he was not very interested in latching on or eating for the first few days. On the last day that we were in the hospital, we were still having issues getting him to latch and the nurse was worried since he hadn’t really eaten yet. She started talking about supplementing with formula, and I did NOT want to do that. I asked that she call a lactation consultant to come up and help me, and Crystal walked in and became my saving grace.
I was at my wits end… I was in tears and almost hysterical because I wanted my baby to be happy and healthy but I also did not know why he wasn’t latching and I knew I didn’t want to supplement if at all possible. Crystal and I talked through everything and she helped me realize a few things I needed to do in order to help Koltin latch. She helped calm me down and assured me that everything was going to be okay and that, especially since the pediatrician felt that he was okay even if he hadn’t latched yet, that there was no need to supplement. I was pumping and giving him what I could and Crystal made me realize I was doing the very best for my son and that I was not in the wrong for wanting to wait and not supplement yet. After I went home, any time I had an issue or question, Crystal was and still is amazingly helpful and always willing to answer any questions I have, all the while encouraging me to continue. Over the course of this year, I have had numerous friends have babies as well, and I always refer them to Crystal for any breastfeeding questions or concerns, and she has ALWAYS been willing to help each one out.
My son is healthy as a horse and has, so far, not had any illnesses – this I attribute to the fact that Crystal stood by me and supported me in providing my son with the very best. The bond that I have with him is so strong and I attribute a majority of it to the fact that I have breastfed him this long; something that would not have been possible if Crystal hadn’t stepped in to help me. I owe a lot to her.
On January 9th, 2011, I gave birth to my beautiful son K here at Mission. I knew before I had him that I wanted to breastfeed him but wasn’t sure how well this would work out for us. K was born very healthy but had swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid so he was not very interested in latching on or eating for the first few days. On the last day that we were in the hospital, we were still having issues getting him to latch and the nurse was worried since he hadn’t really eaten yet. She started talking about supplementing with formula, and I did NOT want to do that. I asked that she call a lactation consultant to come up and help me, and Crystal walked in and became my saving grace.
I was at my wits end… I was in tears and almost hysterical because I wanted my baby to be happy and healthy but I also did not know why he wasn’t latching and I knew I didn’t want to supplement if at all possible. Crystal and I talked through everything and she helped me realize a few things I needed to do in order to help Koltin latch. She helped calm me down and assured me that everything was going to be okay and that, especially since the pediatrician felt that he was okay even if he hadn’t latched yet, that there was no need to supplement. I was pumping and giving him what I could and Crystal made me realize I was doing the very best for my son and that I was not in the wrong for wanting to wait and not supplement yet. After I went home, any time I had an issue or question, Crystal was and still is amazingly helpful and always willing to answer any questions I have, all the while encouraging me to continue. Over the course of this year, I have had numerous friends have babies as well, and I always refer them to Crystal for any breastfeeding questions or concerns, and she has ALWAYS been willing to help each one out.
My son is healthy as a horse and has, so far, not had any illnesses – this I attribute to the fact that Crystal stood by me and supported me in providing my son with the very best. The bond that I have with him is so strong and I attribute a majority of it to the fact that I have breastfed him this long; something that would not have been possible if Crystal hadn’t stepped in to help me. I owe a lot to her.