I am proud to be my son’s mother

LONG READ AHEAD:

For the first four and a half months of my son’s life, we shared countless tears, both happy and sad. Sleep deprivation, exhaustion, guilt, and doubt were all part of our vocabulary, and it continues to be so. This is nothing out of the ordinary for first time parents, I’m told.

I’ve thought many times to throw in the towel and stop breastfeeding, as I’m producing just enough milk. He is currently being treated for a cow’s milk protein intolerance, and we were forced to exclusively feed him a hypoallergenic formula. I pump while my husband formula feeds. We just passed the one month mark of him being symptom-free (no blood in stool, less vomiting, less diarrhea), and we’re slowly re-introducing more breastmilk, dairy, and soy.

His wonderful personality, his endless smiles, and his warm touches give me life. His energy feeds my soul. I vow to do everything I can for him, no matter how difficult, forever. I know my husband feels the same way.

I am proud to feed him naturally as best I could, and supplementing with formula as necessary. I am proud to share this wonderful life with my husband, my son, our dog, and our friends and family.

I am proud to be my son’s mother.