Photo by christyscherrer via Flickr (CC)

When we called for guest bloggers for World Breastfeeding Week, we weren’t sure what we’d get. But it was a sweet, touching entry from Lisa Sample Hamilton of Ottawa that won us over.

She’s not a blogger, simply a reader who saw our post and felt she had something to say.

Enjoy her guest post below, and share your breastfeeding thoughts in the comments. Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

I sit in a darkened room with your small body heavy against mine as I sing your song for the thousandth time. My tears fall. Is this the day? The moment to end the moments that came before? I remember the first time I held you, the first time you came to my breast. It was not easy.

I had been prepared. I read the books and watched the videos. Nothing prepared me for a too early baby. You were healthy, but small and it was a struggle for you to latch. I nursed and pumped, pumped and nursed. You had a syringe and a tube but phototherapy and tests drained what liquid I could provide. We persevered together and you were better.

I had been prepared. I had heard what others had said about pain. Nothing prepared me for the problem of having too much milk. Yes, that is a problem. You struggled to drink and closed your jaw down on my already raw nipples. It was every three hours and it hurt. I became familiar with something called vasospasm. I didn’t care what it was; I just knew I couldn’t keep going. I was ready to surrender, but with the help of a village, we persevered together and I was better.

You grew strong and tall and it was all from me. You fed anywhere, anytime and I could calm you, anywhere, anytime. It was a gift. You were mine and I was yours. Those moments when I could smell that sweet smell on your breath, I will cherish forever. Those moments when you were sick with fever and all you needed was to drink and be close, I will cherish forever. And I will cherish today because I know that change has come. I understand that last night was the last and tonight will be different. Every day from now will be different.

—Lisa Sample Hamilton, Ottawa