During Latino-Hispanic Heritage Month, HealthConnect One is excited to celebrate our breastfeeding traditions through online and real-life conversation and support. This is the 2nd guest post in our blog series, “Celebrating our Breastfeeding Traditions,” featuring individuals who identify as Latino/Hispanic who are breastfeeding leaders, advocates of breastfeeding support, and members of breastfeeding families.
by Edith Leyva
My commitment to breastfeeding with my last child was 11 months.
Being a young teenage mother with my first 3 children wasn’t the greatest way to decide and be committed to breastfeeding. I didn’t have the support and didn’t know much about breastfeeding.
Now, I am 33 and had my last child.
Nine years ago, I attended a class to become a breastfeeding peer counselor and I said to myself that if I ever have another child, I will breastfeed. After all I learned and after all the good benefits that come with it, knowing there is a special bond with baby when you breastfeed, I had seen that breastfeeding is important. So right after I became pregnant in 2013, I was determined to breastfeed for the last time.
I said: This is my last chance.
By now, I had my family that had breastfed, too, and knew much more about it. I had my counselors and great people that supported me all the way. I had my baby, Jeremiah Salazar, in 2014 and I was determined to feed him just from me. Wow. What an amazing experience I had. I had my ups and downs and my fears and, of course, family and friends that don’t see it nice, but I stayed positive within me and I had people that supported me and kept encouraging me.
Being in the Latino community, sometimes we face a lot of discouragement and people thinking bad about breastfeeding, people not used to seeing such a thing. But I believe it is important to face that fear and show support and have moms enjoy and spend quality time with their baby. I know that the baby will grow so happy with lots of love to give. It is an amazing bond that no one can break.
After breastfeeding the baby around the family and my children and friends, they were so amazed by how determined and dedicated I was. They were so happy for me and congratulated me.
Now that I decided to stop, I miss it. I miss that bonding with my baby. I had medical reasons to stop, unfortunately … but now I say I did it, and I am so happy and blessed that I did. Now I can say I am more than ready to encourage new moms to do it:
Find help. Ask questions. Because our babies – our children – are just borrowed, and one day, they will grow and be on their own and there is no turning back.
I enjoyed every minute and second of it. The experience I had with the baby is so amazing. I wish I had this chance with my other children.
I want to send a special thanks to my role models: My cousins, Cristina Salgado and Estefania Trejo; my mom, Leticia Leyva; my sister-in-law, Darlene Leyva; and my counselors, Brenda Reyes, Liz Chang, and Helen Dimas. Thanks to these women, I didn’t give up.
It is possible and we have to stay positive. Is a beautiful thing to do for our babies. The best thing is that everywhere we went, he had milk!!
EDITH LEYVA
04/09/82
MEXICAN, AMERICAN
WIFE, MOTHER OF 4 CHILDREN , OLDEST DAUGHTER OF TWO, 3RD CHILD OF 5
CHILDREN : 17, 14,12 & 1YR
Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter and tell us:
How has it been for you?
TWEET WITH US on October 7th at 2:00 p.m. ET, for a #WellnessWed Twitter Chat about Breastfeeding in Latino/Hispanic Communities. Share your voice with hashtag #DandoPecho!
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